Although this is not new news anymore, I think it's important to talk about the new inclusive Violence Against Women Act. VAWA was originally enforced in 1994 as part of Title IV to protect victims of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual violence. This was an incredible progression for women's rights, but it failed to include members of the LGBT community. In 2012, VAWA was up for reauthorization and this resulted in a lot of political wars on what should and should not be included and funded. After much debate, it passed including rights for the LGBT community, Native Americans, and immigrants. VAWA has done wonders for victims of these crimes, and since it was enforced it has sparked a revolution of women's rights becoming human rights.
As a Gender Studies major, I find myself a humanist as well as a feminist because I find it necessary that everyone be treated equally. Violence should not occur in anyone's lives, and if we can provide advocacy and services to one group of people, we should provide it to all people. Without getting too political or analytical, I want to stress the importance of these human rights issues in our society as priorities.
I think our country took a great stride when they approved the inclusive VAWA that now protects the LGBT community as well as Native Americans and immigrants. I have said it before and I will say it again: it doesn't matter how different the experiences are or who is experiencing the abuse...abuse is abuse no matter what, and it hurts.
As well as providing services for victims of these crimes, VAWA has been able to fund programs in preventative efforts by engaging men and bystanders. Since I am going to pursue a career in prevention of these crimes I think this is fantastic. Ending the abuse (whether it is dating abuse or sexual assault or stalking) requires two independent but equally necessary parts:
1: We need to provide services and resources to victims of these crimes
2: We need to engage all members of the community in work to prevent these crimes
Obviously those are very broad expectations, but in essence these are the two primary focuses of ending abuse. In part 1, we are intervening when necessary to help those in need. In part 2, we educate the public about abuse as well as provide information to help prevent abuse. VAWA covers both of these parts by providing services for the victims as well as engaging bystanders and men in prevention efforts.
For those who are concerned with the money that funds VAWA...if we can decrease the number of victims of these crimes, our country would save billions of dollars. I'd hope that money would not be the most influential factor in wanting to stop violence against women, but it may help people better understand the impact domestic violence has on society (which means it includes all of us, not just those directly affected by the crimes!). Domestic violence alone costs the US over $5 BILLION in healthcare, medical costs, legal services, housing and shelters, and more. Healthcare and medical costs are the most detrimental, costing the US over $4.1 billion annually according to the CDC. So, it is worth funding VAWA if we can not only eliminate these heinous crimes but to save our country billions of dollars. Not so bad for a country in billions of dollars of debt.
If you would like to learn more about the costs of DV in the US, here is where I found my source of information: http://www.stopvaw.org/community_costs_of_domestic_violence
I hope you found this interesting as well as informative, and stay tuned for most posts about sexual assault since April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month! Please spread the word, and share Stop the Hurt's Facebook page!
Do your part and stop the hurt.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
What's So Funny?
Too often we hear sexist jokes, or jokes about wife-beating and abuse. Why do people laugh? What's so funny about someone getting abused or raped? Nothing.
We need to stand up and say that we will not accept this behavior anymore. We cannot stay silent when someone makes a joke about beating or raping someone. It is our responsibility to say something and stop this from being deemed socially acceptable. By doing or saying nothing in reaction, we are encouraging this sexism and adding to the problem.
A couple weeks ago I overheard a group of students talking and sharing jokes they made up. I heard one guy say, "What's black and blue and hates sex?" as a riddle. He then replied for the punch line: "a rape victim." The group laughed, both boys and girls. I was absolutely appalled. I shouted out "HEY! Did I just hear you say a joke about rape?" and, embarrassed, he shook his head and said no. His friends looked embarrassed, too. I said, "Well that's nothing to joke about. Being raped is not funny," and stopped myself from going on too long of a tangent. A girl in the group apologized looking awfully ashamed. The rest of the group stayed silent. I walked away that day fuming mad and baffled as to how someone could make up such an idiotic joke, and then have his friends actually laugh at it and think it was funny.
It is not okay that we laugh. It is not okay that we ignore it. Maybe after I walked away that day, they shrugged their shoulders and forgot about it. Or maybe they silently thought to themselves about the consequences of their words. Maybe next time they're tempted to say a joke about rape, or laugh at a joke about rape, they will pause and realize the impact of their behaviors. Just maybe. But maybe is a start. Maybe is a ripple in the long term wave.
By laughing or ignoring the issue, we are normalizing the rape culture we live in. What is "rape culture"? Rape culture is where people get their definitions, ideas, and opinions about rape. They get these from the media, laws, language, and imagery of rape. The rape culture is defined by the people who participate in it; through one's language and attitudes, jokes, TV or movies, etc. Rape is portrayed much differently than the true facts about it. Often people have the attitude that, "it's just the way it is" which normalizes it. Another similar saying is, "boys will be boys". These sayings and attitudes perpetuate the very violence and gender inequalities that exist in our society. We have to stop accepting that these are "norms" we must live with. They aren't, and shouldn't be. We can change these norms and this culture and stop the violence.
We can start small. Plant the seed. Start by saying we will not tolerate jokes. This may not end them, but it will put these jokes and the jokesters in the spotlight. By shining the light on the inappropriateness, insensitivity, sexist, and inhumane nature of these jokes, we are starting the wave. We can encourage bystanders and speak up and say "that's not cool". One person can turn into three. Three into a hundred. Ripples into waves. Be a ripple. Make a difference.
Do your part and stop the hurt.
Cara Mackler
We need to stand up and say that we will not accept this behavior anymore. We cannot stay silent when someone makes a joke about beating or raping someone. It is our responsibility to say something and stop this from being deemed socially acceptable. By doing or saying nothing in reaction, we are encouraging this sexism and adding to the problem.
A couple weeks ago I overheard a group of students talking and sharing jokes they made up. I heard one guy say, "What's black and blue and hates sex?" as a riddle. He then replied for the punch line: "a rape victim." The group laughed, both boys and girls. I was absolutely appalled. I shouted out "HEY! Did I just hear you say a joke about rape?" and, embarrassed, he shook his head and said no. His friends looked embarrassed, too. I said, "Well that's nothing to joke about. Being raped is not funny," and stopped myself from going on too long of a tangent. A girl in the group apologized looking awfully ashamed. The rest of the group stayed silent. I walked away that day fuming mad and baffled as to how someone could make up such an idiotic joke, and then have his friends actually laugh at it and think it was funny.
It is not okay that we laugh. It is not okay that we ignore it. Maybe after I walked away that day, they shrugged their shoulders and forgot about it. Or maybe they silently thought to themselves about the consequences of their words. Maybe next time they're tempted to say a joke about rape, or laugh at a joke about rape, they will pause and realize the impact of their behaviors. Just maybe. But maybe is a start. Maybe is a ripple in the long term wave.
By laughing or ignoring the issue, we are normalizing the rape culture we live in. What is "rape culture"? Rape culture is where people get their definitions, ideas, and opinions about rape. They get these from the media, laws, language, and imagery of rape. The rape culture is defined by the people who participate in it; through one's language and attitudes, jokes, TV or movies, etc. Rape is portrayed much differently than the true facts about it. Often people have the attitude that, "it's just the way it is" which normalizes it. Another similar saying is, "boys will be boys". These sayings and attitudes perpetuate the very violence and gender inequalities that exist in our society. We have to stop accepting that these are "norms" we must live with. They aren't, and shouldn't be. We can change these norms and this culture and stop the violence.
We can start small. Plant the seed. Start by saying we will not tolerate jokes. This may not end them, but it will put these jokes and the jokesters in the spotlight. By shining the light on the inappropriateness, insensitivity, sexist, and inhumane nature of these jokes, we are starting the wave. We can encourage bystanders and speak up and say "that's not cool". One person can turn into three. Three into a hundred. Ripples into waves. Be a ripple. Make a difference.
Do your part and stop the hurt.
Cara Mackler
Monday, March 18, 2013
Stop the Hurt Expanding!
Hi everyone! Stop the Hurt has been 100% about dating abuse, but I want to expand. If you haven't yet heard of NO MORE, it is a new campaign symbol to raise awareness about dating abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. You can learn more about it from Love Is Not Abuse or loveisrespect.org. There is so much to talk about sexual violence, and today will just be an overview of all of the topics I plan to discuss.
Sexual assault and rape are very serious and prevalent issues in our society today. 1 in 4 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, and 1 in 6 men will be sexually assaulted in his lifetime. Not only can it happen within abusive relationships, but it happens 87% of the time with someone the victim knows! This fact startles many because of what the media tells us. This is just one of the many topics about sexual assault that I will talk about. I will discuss where it happens, who it happens with, its relationship with alcohol, date rape, date rape drugs, victim-blaming, rape culture, effects of victims, the law and responses in law, sexual harassment, sexual assault within abusive relationships, and more.
My next post will define what sexual assault is and most likely go over some key statistics that may shock you! I will go over the basics of sexual assault and rape, and mainly what consent means. I will talk about how college students are responding to sexual assault on campus as well.
Please feel free to share any topics you would like me to discuss about sexual violence or dating abuse! Share here, or on the Facebook page.
As you can see, the posts here will be much shorter in length depending on the subject. Always feel free to leave comments! And please share this blog and the Facebook page with friends and family- you never know who will need it!
Do your part and stop the hurt.
Sexual assault and rape are very serious and prevalent issues in our society today. 1 in 4 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, and 1 in 6 men will be sexually assaulted in his lifetime. Not only can it happen within abusive relationships, but it happens 87% of the time with someone the victim knows! This fact startles many because of what the media tells us. This is just one of the many topics about sexual assault that I will talk about. I will discuss where it happens, who it happens with, its relationship with alcohol, date rape, date rape drugs, victim-blaming, rape culture, effects of victims, the law and responses in law, sexual harassment, sexual assault within abusive relationships, and more.
My next post will define what sexual assault is and most likely go over some key statistics that may shock you! I will go over the basics of sexual assault and rape, and mainly what consent means. I will talk about how college students are responding to sexual assault on campus as well.
Please feel free to share any topics you would like me to discuss about sexual violence or dating abuse! Share here, or on the Facebook page.
As you can see, the posts here will be much shorter in length depending on the subject. Always feel free to leave comments! And please share this blog and the Facebook page with friends and family- you never know who will need it!
Do your part and stop the hurt.
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