activism
Feminist activists are not deterred by the daunting statistics so much as they're fueled by them.
Bystander's Log
A man entered the car from a restaurant where he had lunch with a sales client. He smiled and did a double take from the door. He commented about my appearance first off, which under normal circumstances isn't inappropriate, but still makes me uncomfortable. He asked me if I was married or had a partner, where I was from etcetera. I answered in kind and asked similar questions to which his responses were; Texas Gulf area, he is married, has children. So for propriety's sake, we'll allow that the boundaries based on his and my answers were set. Platonic, family-oriented conversation, staying away from prying inquiries that veer toward sexual innuendo. He broke these boundaries immediately. He commented that my top was inside-out. He said what kind of a partner would let me leave the house without informing me of this mistake. From my interpretation, this was said with flirtatious intention, and sexual tone. From there forward, it never quite left the conversation for the duration of the ride. He began to ask me what I did for fun. I answered with my hobbies. Shortly there after he asks again. I answered again and I asked him what it was he meant or what he was looking for specifically. He said sex, drugs, and rock'n roll. "Can't help you there, pal." I told him where people go to drink and get silly downtown. He said "Where do you go for fun?"... I had answered this question in very similarly phrased terms for this man twice already. I respond, "Nowhere, really." I stop responding. And more than a few times, he interjects with, "Huh?"
By K.B Roscoe7 years ago in Viva
What Is the #MeToo Movement?
The #MeToo Movement has sparked a lot of debate and conversation across the globe. It has challenged a lot of common conceptions about the current standards around consent, gender bias, and power imbalances. We are exploring deeper into personal autonomy and how that relates to other people. The movement is giving a voice to many victims/survivors that never felt they had a voice before and highlighting some of the injustices people have endured. The movement is bringing a lot of things to light, many of which have never really been discussed before.
By Teela Hudak7 years ago in Viva
Making Concrete Standing: Scream Your Voice in Activism
Your heart increases the amount of beats with every solid formation you preach upon yourself, as strong as the foundation you've built you happened to tell yourself "no" in the making, in hopes that that'll work out better than your biggest idea.
By Robyn Henson7 years ago in Viva
Another Perspective
Although much is written on the subject of violence against women, on any given day one can search the Internet to find a myriad of stories regarding Domestic Violence from Academic Research from students and those working as professional advocates to thousands of blog, magazine, and news articles directed toward general readership audiences of all age ranges. However, there is very little written from the first-hand perspective of a formerly battered woman as told by the woman herself without speaking through professional advocates or journalists.
By Lilbutch Me7 years ago in Viva
Story of the Alternative Black Girl
The historical and systematic policing of black women’s bodies has not stopped at the legislative level, where rich, old, white men pass laws denying us the right to choose. It has not stopped with the trauma of police brutality and the catcalling in the streets. Black women are scrutinized even in the intricacies of their lifestyle choices, and it comes from all angles.
By Jessica Galloway7 years ago in Viva
Pro-Choice VS Pro-Life
Pro-choice versus pro-life has been a continuous debate for years. The pro-life movement believes that human life begins at fertilization and that abortion is the killing of an innocent human being; on the other hand, the pro-choice movement holds the position that the women who are pregnant should decide whether or not they want to give birth. This debate is worldwide and abortion has different laws/regulations in every country. The rightful answer between this argument is the pro-choice movement; this is illustrated by the subjugation of women, sexual liberation, men, religion/politics, the pro-life movement, rape, forced abortions, financial need, women’s health and rights, and science.
By Selena Vazquez7 years ago in Viva
Sex! Stigma! Shame!
Could the above picture be the reason why sometimes these words are associated with each other? I remember when I was younger, and was sat watching TV with my parents, and my niece who is seven years my junior (Hi Sam), and a sex scene would come on during the film or programme. Sam and I would look at each other with a mix of sheer embarrassment and wonder, as in I wonder what Dad is gonna do now? I can still feel the heat in my cheeks as I remember.
By Gillian Foster7 years ago in Viva
A Movement and a Celebrity
As a consultant my role changed drastically from that of a court advocate. I still felt I was speaking to a system on behalf of survivors of intimate partner violence. Recently my role as a consultant is placing me in a position to educate, change minds, and create culture. It is very different from engaging a system that already is to actively create teaching moments to change a system. However, change and growth is part and parcel of this work. How else are we going to eradicate gender-based violence? Change and growth in my path have not been easy and have not been without mistakes. What has helped me is to be humble, sit down with the people who started doing this work before me, read the foundational and theoretical work, and be close to the communities and people affected by intimate partner violence. And always, always feel a dedication and a responsibility to the people I am serving. Not as numbers and statistics, but the people I dedicated years to sit across and besides, hearing their stories every day, witnessing trauma, being a steward to witnessed pain.
By Shanali Inchaustegui7 years ago in Viva
I'm Tired and Angry
Capitalism and patriarchy played, and still play, a major role in sex inequality. However, some Marxists would argue that patriarchy, the unequal power relationship between men and women, has been around long before capitalism. Therefore, how could capitalism play a role? Easy, capitalism is controlled by private owners for profit instead of the sate. Which means, like capitalism’s private owners, the men of high stature in a patriarchal society are the “controllers” of the inequalities happening between the sexes. As these men continue to obtain power, the inequalities between females and males continue to grow, as do the generations to fuel capitalism. Socialist-feminist theorists say that patriarchy reenforces the idea that women are to be housewives and mothers, while capitalism reenforces the idea that men are to be the breadwinners of their families. They say, the division of labor, as it were, brings the private-domestic, and public-economic spheres into contact.
By Taylor Kelly7 years ago in Viva
