A new report has found that violence against women in the form of burning and acid attacks is on the rise in Pakistan. Women who are seen as dishonoring their families are often the targets of these attacks which leave both devastating physical and emotional scars.
Read more at Care2.
Joseph Brooks, the Oscar-winning composer and director of “You Light Up My Life,” has been accused of raping and sexually assaulting women he lured to his apartment for a starring movie role via a Craigslist ad. What a pig!
Read more at Care2!
A while back on Care2 I wrote about the backlog of rape kits in California that have gone untested.
It was so shocking to me that evidence with the potential of putting rapists behind bars was just sitting in labs without any urgency. With so many women victimized each year this is completely unjust not to mention stupid!
Now it seems that a budget deficiet in Cali could delay or stop the testing altogether. So women continue to be raped and rapists continue to walk free. Someone explain to me how any of this makes sense?
1 in 4 men in South Africa admit to rape. Of these almost half admit to being repeat offenders.
I know sexual violence in South Africa isn't a new concept, but that doesn't mean that these statistics become less impactful. In fact, I feel the very opposite. The more I read about it and the more studies that confirm its existence, the more saddened and angered I get!
Read more at Care2!
The sale of a computer game, RapeLay, that simulates rape (yes seriously) in Japan is being challenged by Equality Now!
This game is absolutely appalling! I wrote about it a while back on Care2 and was shocked when I discovered the gruesome details of the game - repeated rape, forced abortions, gang bangs, sexual slavery. All of this is the name of "fun" because after all this is a game, right? What kind of a sick game is this and what kind of a sick person would play?
AHHHHHH! Violence against women and girls is not a game. Trivializing the issue in this matter is reprehensible and only serves to perpetuate the problem, not to mention the slap in the face it gives to the thousands of women that are victimized by sexually violent crimes every year.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that is angry and even more glad that Equality Now has taken the initiative to challenge the sale of the game and all forms of hentia in Japan!
Read more at Care2 and learn what you can do to help!
Imagine being sold to an older disabled man for $585 – a man who is only the first of a number of men you are forced to marry.
Imagine having to do 100 squats followed by 100 laps around a soccer field only to finish and endure an intense beating.
Imagine being forced to terminate a pregnancy by having two men stand on a plank that was placed on your pregnant belly and then losing not only your child’s life but yours as well.
Women from North Korea know this unbearable treatment all too well – for them it is reality.
Read more...A while back I wrote a post for Care2 about the backlog of rape kits in CA that have gone untested. I was outraged by the Human Rights Report that made this discovery and was even more outraged that the issue wasn't getting the attention it deserved.
Finally though last week I came across a column by one of my all time favorite columnists Nicholas Kristof who was just as outraged as I was!
"Some Americans used to argue that it was impossible to rape an unwilling woman. Few people say that today, or say publicly that a woman 'asked for it' if she wore a short skirt. But the refusal to test rape kits seems a throwback to the same antediluvian skepticism about rape as a traumatic crime..."
"It’s what we might expect in Afghanistan, not in the United States."
The only silver lining:
"New York City has made a concerted effort over the last decade to test every kit that comes in. The result has been at least 2,000 cold hits in rape cases, and the arrest rate for reported cases of rape in New York City rose from 40 percent to 70 percent, according to Human Rights Watch." (emphasis mine)
Check out my piece on Care2 >
Read Nicholas Kristof's column >
Read more...
The New Agenda is presenting a Violence Against Women forum in New York City on Saturday, April 18, 2009, from 3-5pm at the Benjamin Hotel followed by a cocktail from5-6pm. See the invite below!
If you're in the area you should definately check it out and report back (I'll try to make it but have a friend visiting so may be unable to).
RSVP: tnavawforum@yahoo.com
Learn more about the panelists:
Read more...
About a year ago my sister and I went down to New Orleans to celebrate VDAY's 10 year anniversary. It is honestly difficult to put into words what an inspiring weekend it was. Let me just say this - it is possible to make a difference with one idea, one person. I've seen it happen thanks to Eve Ensler who decided it was about time to give the vagina a voice - a powerful voice. In doing so, her play the Vagina Monologues was created and from this tiny seed an idea sprang and an incredible movement to end violence against women, one that has spanned the globe and raised millions upon millions of dollars was born - from one person, one voice, one idea, one vagina.
Eve Ensler you are an incredible woman. Vaginas of the world - you are all incredible women.
Hey KIDS! Sorry I've been MIA lately. Work / life has been crazy so I've slacked on my little virtual home here! I'm also sick of looking at all this purple so need to find time to do a revamp of the look - something that has been on my to-do list forever! Getting on the twitter band wagon (tips anyone?) is yet another to-do list item that has taken a back seat (as well as posting more faithfully - sorry!).
Anyway, while I get my act together over here please stop by and check out my latest post on Care 2 about the backlog of untested rape kits in California that is allowing rapists to walk free! This is seriously ridiculous! Please read, comment, and participate in the poll! I'd love to hear from you!
A friend recently brought a new video game called Rapelay to my attention the other day. And surprise, surprise the game is in the name. Yes, that's right. Rape. The entire purpose of the game is to rape women. The features are incredibly disturbing and what's even more disturbing is that such a game is available for the profit of others. Disgusting!
Check out more of my thoughts on Care2!
After celebrating International Women's Day on Sunday it was a shock to read that 8 women in Iran have been sentenced to death by stoning after being accused of adultery.
My friend Tracy over at Care2 reported on the incident after learning about it from Amnesty International.
Now, I'm not one to condone adultery but death, let alone by stoning, for committing adultery is extreme not to mention inhumane. I mean talk about cruel and unusual punishment.
Make sure you sign the petition to eradicate the law in Iran now!
After much speculation about what happened between pop star couple Rihanna and Chris Brown, today Brown was charged with felony counts of assault and making criminal threats.
The statement below about what "allegedly" happened is horrifying.
Read more...According to the statement: (Thanks CNN!)
"Brown was driving a vehicle with Robyn F. as the front passenger on an unknown street in Los Angeles. Robyn F. picked up Brown's cellular phone and observed a three-page text message from a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with.
"A verbal argument ensued and Brown pulled the vehicle over on an unknown street, reached over Robyn F. with his right hand, opened the car door and attempted to force her out. Brown was unable to force Robyn F. out of the vehicle because she was wearing a seat belt. When he could not force her to exit, he took his right hand and shoved her head against he passenger window of the vehicle, causing an approximate one-inch raised circular contusion.
"Robyn F. turned to face Brown and he punched her in the left eye with his right hand. He then drove away in the vehicle and continued to punch her in the face with his right hand while steering the vehicle with his left hand. The assault caused Robyn F.'s mouth to fill with blood and blood to splatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle.
"Brown looked at Robyn F. and stated, 'I'm going to beat the s--t out of you when we get home! You wait and see!'"
The detective said she then used her cell phone to call her personal assistant, Jennifer Rosales, who did not answer.
"Robyn F. pretended to talk to her and stated, 'I'm on my way home. Make sure the police are there when I get there.'
"After Robyn F. faked the call, Brown looked at her and stated, 'You just did the stupidest thing ever! Now I'm really going to kill you!'
"Brown resumed punching Robyn F. and she interlocked her fingers behind her head and brought her elbows forward to protect her face. She then bent over at the waist, placing her elbows and face near her lap in [an] attempt to protect her face and head from the barrage of punches being levied upon her by Brown.
"Brown continued to punch Robyn F. on her left arm and hand, causing her to suffer a contusion on her left triceps that was approximately two inches in diameter and numerous contusions on her left hand.
"Robyn F. then attempted to send a text message to her other personal assistant, Melissa Ford. Brown snatched the cellular telephone out of her hand and threw it out of the window onto an unknown street.
"Brown continued driving and Robyn F. observed his cellular telephone sitting in his lap. She picked up the cellular telephone with her left hand and before she could make a call he placed her in a head lock with his right hand and continued to drive the vehicle with his left hand.
"Brown pulled Robyn F. close to him and bit her on her left ear. She was able to feel the vehicle swerving from right to left as Brown sped away. He stopped the vehicle in front of 333 North June Street and Robyn F. turned off the car, removed the key from the ignition and sat on it.
"Brown did not know what she did with the key and began punching her in the face and arms. He then placed her in a head lock positioning the front of her throat between his bicep and forearm. Brown began applying pressure to Robyn F.'s left and right carotid arteries, causing her to be unable to breathe and she began to lose consciousness.
"She reached up with her left hand and began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself. Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and then released her. While Brown continued to punch her, she turned around and placed her back against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest, placed her feet against Brown's body and began pushing him away. Brown continued to punch her on the legs and feet, causing several contusions.
"Robyn F. began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle and walked away. A resident in the neighborhood heard Robyn F.'s plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F. was issued a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order."
I'm sure many of you have heard about the pub attack on a group of Indian women back in early February. I was both horrified by what happened and empowered by the reaction of the women and wanted to help raise more awareness.
Check out what I have to say about the attacks and the campaign on Care2.
I read today that 4 more women have been attacked in Banglore in broad daylight with witnesses watching that did nothing to help the victims! Unbelievable!
Hello all! I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing weekend and a nice start to your weeks! All I can say is that I'm glad tomorrow's Wednesday!
I've recently come across some interesting articles / projects that I've been meaning to share so here we go:
1. CNN: "Men see bikini-clad women as objects, psychologists say" - Now I'm sure many of you may have already seen this article and thought, "Well gee surprise, surprise" but I thought in case you didn't I'd share so you could at least get 
a chuckle at the defintion of the researchers of hostile sexism as, "a more adversarial viewpoint which includes the belief that women attempt to dominate men." And what about this gem: "This is just the first study which was focused on the idea that men of a certain age view sex as a highly desirable goal, and if you present them with a provocative woman, then that will tend to prime goal-related responses." I'm glad we've begun research on the fact that men view sex as highly desirable. I had no idea!
2. Vanity Fair: "P
lastic Surgery Confidential" - It's also no surprise that many women have warped defintions of what it means to be beautiful. Thanks to our culture's fascination with thinness, many women are willing to go under the knife to attain this ideal, creating a $13 billion industry that only serves to perpetuate the strive for body perfection. This undercover piece offers great insight into the behind-the-scenes business of plastic surgery and leaves you wondering what business any of these doctors have in suggesting plastic surgery for a woman that is 27-years-old, five-foot-nine, and 120 pounds.
3. Intended Consequences: Rwandan Children Born of Rape -
Over the past 3 years photographer Jonathan Torgovnik has traveled to Rwanda to document and tell the stories of women who bore children from the rapes they endured during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. These stories are no doubt heart-wrenching and difficult to share, but ones that need a voice. Depicting them through photos will be extremely interesting and certainly create an eye opening experience for many. Bravo Mr. Torgovnik!
4. Missing Mothers - Every year 500,000 women die from pregnancy related 
complications that could have been avoided - That's one woman missing for every minute of every day. Unbelievable!
I can’t think about Valentine’s Day without thinking about The Vagina Monologues. I lost my Vagina Monologues virginity my senior year of college – I know that’s pretty late for some but I’ll never forget it. I was so moved by the show’s honest and raw appeal and its ability to explore women and their bodies in such a new and exciting way. I’d never heard anything like it and I knew I wanted more.
That same year on a whim a friend and I decided to invite Eve Ensler to our college campus as our Spring Women’s Studies speaker. We knew it was a long shot, but we decided it couldn’t hurt to ask. And I’m so glad we did. Within the hour we had an email response saying Eve would love to come. I could have died.
It was an incredible speech and one of the most incredible moments in my life, especially because it opened my eyes up to V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls that developed as a result of the popularity of The Vagina Monologues. The idea is so simple, but it’s impact so great and effective. Performances of The Vagina Monologues, and other plays of Eve’s, are performed in over 120 countries around the world with the proceeds going to local efforts to end violence. In over 10 years V-Day has raised over $60 million in over. Incredible. 
Last year I went to New Orleans to celebrate V-Day’s 10-year anniversary. It was an amazing weekend with star-studded performances of The Vagina Monologues, slam poetry, dancing, local New Orleans musicians, speeches from world leaders, a non-violence parade through the streets of the city, and so much more! It was the most inspiring weekend of my life.
Here are me and my sister before entering the SuperDome - the Superlove for the weekend (notice the wind blowing in her hair - haha!).
Here is the stage in the Superlove - one of the biggest, most beautiful vaginas I have ever seen.
Second runner up for biggest / most beautiful vagina - that vagina sculptor was the entrance to the Superlove.
Marching through the streets of New Orleans with Code Pink and lots of other fabulous people!
Eve Ensler and Agnes Pareyio, the woman who opened V-Day's first Safe House for Girls in Kenya.
The stage where the star-studded performances of The Vagina Monologues took place with a huge performance of R-E-S-P-E-C-T at the very end with Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson and lots others!I found this great article on allAfrica.com that links the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to violence against women - very interesting!
Click here to read!
Ok, ok so it was yesterday, but forgive me for being late. I'm sick . . . again!
60 years is a momentous anniversary, but to me it really signifies how far we have left to go before women's worth and value is really taken seriously. Take for example Article 5: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Now let’s look at the facts:
- In the U.S. every two minutes someone is sexually assaulted;
- In the U.S. every 15 seconds a woman is battered, usually by an intimate partner;
- Globally, at least one in three women and girls are beaten or sexually abused in their lifetime.
- Fewer than half of all rapes and sexual assaults and only about half of domestic violence incidents are reported to the police.
- When factoring unreported rape cases, only one out of twenty rapists ever spend a day in jail. 19 out of 20 walk free.
How is this humane or just? Let’s hope with the election of Barack Obama that women will begin to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve as human beings.
I wish I’d known sooner that October was Domestic Violence Awareness month, but it’s better late than ever.
What does Barack have to say about this issue?
"We'll stop treating this as just a woman's issue, and start recognizing that when a woman is attacked, that abuse scars not only the victim, but her loves ones, sending currents of violence that ripples across our society."
Well said. Domestic violence isn’t just a woman’s issue and we have to stop treating it that way. So many solutions are centered around what a woman can do to end violence (don’t walk home late at night alone, don’t dress slutty, don’t drink too much, etc.) when they should really be focused on what we need to do to change the culture we live in that condones this violence.
What especially angers me about domestic violence is the enormous amount of victim blaming that is centered on the wives (not that victim blaming is exclusive to domestic violence – it’s not – it’s rampant in all sorts of violence against women). People always ask, why didn’t she just leave? Well, it’s not that easy. The circumstances surrounding each situation are so complex and different and asking why someone didn’t leave is incredibly insensitive, not to mention condescending. The better question is why couldn’t she leave; what made it so difficult to leave that she risked her life by staying?
Raising awareness just one month out of the year won’t end domestic violence. We need to raise hell about this issue every single day and we need a President who will make ending violence against women a national priority.
