Oct
25
Politics on a Personal Level
Filed Under Public Policy, Resource | By Rose Luna | Leave a Comment
Credit: Free images from acobox.com
The three subjects never to bring up in polite dinner conversation are politics, religion and salary. Some of us are so steadfast about this rule, that we never discuss these subjects, even to our own detriment. We can choose to participate in the political process or sit on the sidelines and pray (or meditate if prayer isn’t for you) for no cuts in funding and more supportive laws for survivors. And since 501(c)(3) organizations cannot endorse a candidate, each of us individually must do more. The purpose of this blog is not to focus on an agency’s role in public policy. IRS rules dictate how organizations (including 501(c)(3) non-profits) can interact with candidates, campaigns and elected officials. A guidebook created by the Alliance for Justice is available to give non-profits a better understanding of the laws that govern their participation in the policy process. Instead, the purpose of this blog is to encourage advocates as independent, civic minded citizens to consider the plight of survivors when contemplating candidates for local, state and national office.
It is essential that we completely analyze and critique each candidate as they vie for our vote during the next political season. This is even more critical as the landmark decision on January 21, 2011 by the United States Supreme Court (citizens united v federal election commission) now allows for individuals and corporations to anonymously contribute unlimited amounts of financial support in favor or against particular candidates. As an advocate, I argue it’s our obligation to vet the candidate’s position on sexual assault issues i.e. discern lip service from action.
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Oct
12
Sexual Assault on College Campuses: What you Need to Know
Filed Under Guest Post, Resource | By Amy Reynolds | Leave a Comment
Credit: Free images from acobox.com If you are a young woman who has just gone off to college, it can be a very thrilling time in your life. You are away from home, making all sorts of new friends, gaining new knowledge, and experiencing a variety of other things for the first time—you are on your own.
However, with all the excitement that college brings, it can be easy to get caught up and neglect some important issues. One of the most important issues is the issue of your safety. Being a new college student, you might not know how widespread sexual assault has become on campuses across the nation. Since it is such an epidemic, here are some things that you as a smart, brilliant young woman should know.
The scary truth. The following statistics were gathered by the American Association of University Women and need to be thoughtfully considered by all college students so that we can do our part in fighting against sexual assault:
• 20-25 percent of college women are raped during their time at school—equating to one in five women.
• Approximately one-third of these sexual assault cases are first year students between the ages of 17 and 19 years old.
• Less than 5% of sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement.
• The main factor in these attacks is alcohol—it is involved in 75% of them.
• One in 12 college men admitted to committing acts that meet the legal definition of rape.
• 80-90% of sexual assaults are committed by people known to the victim…most being fellow classmates, friends, boyfriends or exes.
• 60% of rapes occur in college residence halls.
• 52% of rapes/sexual assaults that are reported occur after midnight.
No one deserves to be raped. Unfortunately, many women tend to blame themselves if they were involved in a night of drinking, wearing revealing clothes, or maybe put themselves in a questionable situation. What needs to be understood, however, is that no situation warrants rape or sexual assault. Perpetrators are responsible for their own actions. Survivors are never to blame. Read more
Oct
4
I’m too pretty to …
Filed Under Guest Post, Motivating Moments, Powerful Women, Prevention | By Tim Love | Leave a Comment
Credit: Free photos from acobox.com Back in August, J.C. Penney was selling a shirt in their stores that had the following text written across the front of it, “I’m too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me.” (Brief pause for everyone to get their screams out.) Okay, so obviously the message behind the t-shirt is, let’s say, problematic. The message to young women is clear – don’t bother getting your learn on and don’t be smart, because all it is really about is being attractive so you can get men to do things for you. And this message fits in with a whole cacophony of similar messaging that exists throughout our society. As a human being, and as a father of two daughters, this message is unacceptable, demeaning and limiting. Thankfully, there was swift outrage and J.C. Penney pulled the t-shirt from their stores. If you’d like to read one of the blog stories out there about this t-shirt, you can click here.
I have written before about media and fashion messaging about masculinity and femininity, so I’m not looking to go through a more thorough explanation of the problem with this t-shirt. What I did find interesting was that shortly after stories about the t-shirt broke, one website challenged people to complete the following statement, “I’m too _____ to do my homework, so my _____ had to do it for me.” You can imagine a whole range of possible responses, but one from a friend stood out to me. Deborah completed the statement in the follow way.
I’m too manipulated by a patriarchal-capitalist system that tells me my entire self worth is dictated by how ‘pretty’ (determined by who again?) I am to do my homework, so my brother has to do it for me, which is fine because he’s going to end up getting paid more and promoted above me anyway, although if I bring this tidbit up, I’ll just be called a feminazi and possibly a lesbian.
Thank you Deborah. I laughed so hard I couldn’t see straight, and you reminded me that sometimes humor and sarcasm are particularly useful strategies when dealing with inequity.
Anyone else want to take a crack at completing the sentence above? It’s time to tap into that funny bone and let the sarcasm fly. Come on, it will feel good.