I recently discovered an amazing site that gives women an unprecedented global voice. These women are discussing all aspects of their lives in their respective communities. To learn more about World Pulse, and these courageous Loud Sisters, I've included the profile of Usha, a Nepalese leader specializing in gender mainstreaming. Usha's post fill me with inspiration and hope! I encourage you to read her inspiring stories.
Women and girls throughout the world are always at risk for violence. I have said this before in other post, but it is important to keep these statistics in mind, as they are part of the fabric of every relationship you form, with women as well as men. In the United States, a collection of intercultural genetics and attitudes, our statistics are as follows:
1:3 women will be sexually assaulted or molested before the age of 18
1:6 men will be sexually assaulted or molested before the age of 18
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Women and girls throughout the world are always at risk for violence. I have said this before in other post, but it is important to keep these statistics in mind, as they are part of the fabric of every relationship you form, with women as well as men. In the United States, a collection of intercultural genetics and attitudes, our statistics are as follows:
1:3 women will be sexually assaulted or molested before the age of 18
1:6 men will be sexually assaulted or molested before the age of 18
In their homes.
By someone they know,
Now, add the following variables to the picture, for women in other cultures:
war
lack of education
lack of basic needs
poor water supply
cultural bias
gender inequities
social injustice
social injustice
You may not feel you can change the worldview in another country, but you can change your view of the world by acknowledging that violence against women is an epidemic, that your attitudes play a role in its' existence, and that you have the responsibility to educate yourself on this issue as it impacts the life of people you know or will know.
A Call to Men, is one of many organizations with a focus on galvanizing men to rally and educate men on their role in stopping violence against women. The link will bring you to 10 suggestions on how men can make a cultural and psychological shift that empowers the women they love. A Call to Men has recently partnered with the Say NO campaign. You can check them out on Facebook
David Wong has written a very interesting article, 5 Ways Men Are Trained to Hate Women. One of the issues he outlines that I have experienced just in the past few months, is the idea that all women are gold diggers. I wrote a rant on how I was accused of this by a group of people who knew very little about me. The most interesting aspect of the accusation is that the women who perpetuated this lie, are financially dependent upon their husbands.
There are two types of advice that are generally given when one is being bullied. The first is to fight fire with fire, and this has proved time and again to be ineffectual. Take war - we spend money to fight aggression when we have people across the world, and in our own neighborhoods, who cannot feed themselves. This advice was often given to the girls I worked with by their mothers. More times than not, their mothers had been teens when they became pregnant with their daughters, and most had spent some length of time incarcerated as a juevenile for violence.
The second most standard response to bullying is to just shrug it off. The problem with this attitude is that it minimizes the level of distress the person being victimized is experiencing, and allows the bully to take no responsibility for their actions. Allowing others to believe that incorrect assumptions are facts, is the same as gossiping about yourself. Assumptions have a tendency to take on a life that leads to more falsehoods.
We all have a responsibility to acknowledge that there is gender bias which is harmful to both genders. These are human rights issues, as well as daily living issues. Our children and grandchildren, both female and male, deserve better.
A Call to Men, is one of many organizations with a focus on galvanizing men to rally and educate men on their role in stopping violence against women. The link will bring you to 10 suggestions on how men can make a cultural and psychological shift that empowers the women they love. A Call to Men has recently partnered with the Say NO campaign. You can check them out on Facebook
David Wong has written a very interesting article, 5 Ways Men Are Trained to Hate Women. One of the issues he outlines that I have experienced just in the past few months, is the idea that all women are gold diggers. I wrote a rant on how I was accused of this by a group of people who knew very little about me. The most interesting aspect of the accusation is that the women who perpetuated this lie, are financially dependent upon their husbands.
There are two types of advice that are generally given when one is being bullied. The first is to fight fire with fire, and this has proved time and again to be ineffectual. Take war - we spend money to fight aggression when we have people across the world, and in our own neighborhoods, who cannot feed themselves. This advice was often given to the girls I worked with by their mothers. More times than not, their mothers had been teens when they became pregnant with their daughters, and most had spent some length of time incarcerated as a juevenile for violence.
The second most standard response to bullying is to just shrug it off. The problem with this attitude is that it minimizes the level of distress the person being victimized is experiencing, and allows the bully to take no responsibility for their actions. Allowing others to believe that incorrect assumptions are facts, is the same as gossiping about yourself. Assumptions have a tendency to take on a life that leads to more falsehoods.
We all have a responsibility to acknowledge that there is gender bias which is harmful to both genders. These are human rights issues, as well as daily living issues. Our children and grandchildren, both female and male, deserve better.
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