Sexual Violence Against Women

Hey everyone, sorry about how long it's been - it's finals week over here at PC and I have quite a few papers due.  Anyways, I figured I should get going on the women and violence post that I promised a couple of weeks ago!

Here's an amazing video I found - watch it, it's only a minute.  It focuses on all violence against women, but it's very powerful.

I'm going to focus here on sexual violence against women in the United States specifically.  I got all of this info from the University of Minnesota's online resources on violence against women, a seriously great resource on this stuff if you're interested or want to find out more.

Here's a few basic terms:

Sexual Assault - any unwanted sexual touching, whether above and underneath clothing

Sexual Abuse - sexual assault, but referring to a series of repeated acts

Sexual Harassment - any unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, inappropriate sexual comments, or hostile environment

Rape - "an event that occurred without the victim's consent that involved the use or threat of force in vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse" (National Violence Against Women Survey)

And here's the statistics from 2006 (I know they're a little outdated, but it's the best and most comprehensive set that I could find!):

• In 2006 260,940 acts of rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault were counted. (NCVS)
• 10.7% were male and 89.3% were female. (NCVS)
• Of these, 38% of the perpetrators were strangers, while 62% were someone the victim knew. (NCVS)
• 17.6% of women and 3% of men reported being raped at some point in their lives. (NVAWS)
• 16.7% of female victims and 22.8% of male victims were raped by strangers. (NVAWS)
• Only 1 in 5 women in the study reported her rape to the police. (NVAWS)
• Women between 16 and 24 experience rape four times higher than the rate for all women. (CDC)

(All statistics from the 2006 National Crime Victimization Survey [NCVS] and National Violence Against Women Survey [NVAWS], and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]).

There's a few really important things to take note of here:

1. Even though men and women both experience sexual violence, women experience it at a much higher rate than men.  Of course, that women are usually more likely to report acts of sexual violence against them than men, but it's a startling statistic nonetheless.
2. Only 1 in 5 women reported their rape to the police.  If women are so unlikely to report their rape or sexual violence to the police, imagine the amount of other women out there who don't report it at all.  It's a seriously scary thing to think about.
3. Most of these acts are performed by someone the victim knows, rather than a complete stranger.  If that's not a really messed up way to take advantage of someone, I don't know what is.
4. Lastly, the experience of rape rate is four times higher for women between the ages of 16 and 24 than it is for women overall.  That means that it happens WAY more in this age group than any other.  Think of where many women are during this point in their lives...college.  I know that I was definitely taken aback when I read that statistic.

Bottom line: sexual violence is not okay, and it can really affect anyone - the statistics show that.  Also, the fact that 16-24 year-old women are much more likely to face an act of sexual violence is troubling.  Last month Vice President Joe Biden introduced his new sexual assault awareness campaign, which he intends to implement not only at colleges but at all the education levels.  He's actually done a lot on this subject, including helping to create the Violence Against Women Act in 1994.

The most important thing, of course (and I know I keep on saying this but it's so important), is awareness and education.  So, the next time you're with some of your friends - drop a statistic, gauge their reactions.

Also, if you or someone you know is a victim of sexual violence and wants to get their hands on some resources, I recommend again the University of Minnesota's Violence Against Women site.  It has or has links to all of the information you could possibly need.

Feminism & Food

Feminism truly has application across a smattering of different topics.  Even though I've only really talked about some of the big ones so far (body issues, discrimination, etc.), I hope that you'll all be able to see how much feminism and women's issues affect just about everything in one way or another.

As I was reading a few articles for my sociology class this morning about food and the food movements that are currently sweeping their way across the U.S., this point became extremely clear to me.  One of the authors actually mentioned how second-wave feminism contributed to the increased popularity of pre-prepared or pre-packaged food and suddenly this huge question hit me: how can women contribute to the new food movement without upsetting the already delicate balance of their work and family lives?

For those of you who aren't really sure what's going on in the U.S. concerning food right now, I'll try my best to give you a brief description.  Recently, a lot of attention has been given to the food industry and their methods of production.  Many big businesses (i.e. Tyson, Perdue, etc.) have been buying out small farmers because, due to their quicker and cheaper production methods, are able to make a much bigger profit than small farmers can make.  Another side to the issue is the strict health and safety requirements that agencies like the FDA put on farmers, making it very difficult to comply with these standards with only a small supply of funds.

How can we buy out of the system?  Well, start buying organic and local, and, instead of buying already prepared foods, spending time in the kitchen to make them at home.  This means much more time in the kitchen, which may be difficult, especially for working mothers out there who have spouses who are working as well.  One of the big things about second-wave feminism was getting women out of the house and the kitchen - but the food movement is encouraging the opposite.

So I did a little research about what feminists out there are saying about this issue.  It seems to me that many of them are in agreement - even if it means more work and a tougher time for women, there is not reason why women should not be supporters of the food movement.    If someone thinks a system is flawed, then they should not support it, even though it might mean more work for her.  So, it may mean more time in the kitchen and a bit of a crazier balancing act, but at least she can make a difference.

What happens when two causes seem to oppose one another?  Make a compromise.  Yes, women should be able to make a living the working world and should not be forced to stay at home if they do not want to.  However, if you support the food movement, then you can still do everything you can to make some more time in the kitchen and stay away from pre-made meals.  Sure, it's tough - but women are tough, too (at least I know I am! :) ).

There is certainly room for women's rights in the food movement.  You just have to figure how much you can compromise without compromising everything that the feminist movement has worked for.

Take Back the Night

So a couple of weeks ago I went to another great event at PC called Take Back the Night.  The event is held all over to raise awareness about and to help end sexual violence.

The first Take Back the Night event happened back in 1975 when a group of people from Philadelphia rallied together in response to the stabbing of a young woman, who was a microbiologist, as she was walking home in the dark.  A year later, in Brussels, Belgium, the International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women was held.  Since then, there have been countless events around the world.

What happens during a Take Back the Night event?  Well, at PC it went like this: we gathered in a large room that was in complete darkness, with a microphone at the front.  There were no chairs, but everyone brought their own blankets and pillows to sit on.  And of course there was food for everyone.  After a quick introduction, the microphone was open to anyone who wanted to come up and speak about her personal experience with sexual violence.  It's all about telling your story and making your voice heard.  The event also had counselors available for anyone who needed them.

Take Back the Night first became an organization in 2001.  There has been much progress in raising awareness about sexual violence against women and there have also been many women who have spoken public about their experiences.  Of course, though, there is still much work to be done.  This kind of violence not only happens in the real world, but is also constantly portrayed in our media, including movies, music, and TV.

It was truly a great event, and I encourage any of you that are able to go to one, to go.  Women have been keeping silent about the sexual violence that they have suffered for too long.  Both the Clothesline Project and Take Back the Night are about raising awareness and making women's voices heard.  It's the only way that we'll be able to make a change.

If you're interested in the Take Back the Night organization, check out their website.

Stay tuned for post just about women and violence soon!

J.Crew Ad Controversy & Gendered Children

I am shocked and disappointed about the controversy that's currently surrounding one of J.Crew's ads.

If you aren't aware about what's going on (as I wasn't just a couple of hours ago), here's the scoop: In a recent ad for J.Crew clothing, Jenna Lyons, the company's creative director, posed with her son Beckett. In the picture, Jenna is painting her son's toenails pink:

The ad reads "Lucky for me, I ended up with a boy whose favorite color is pink. Toenail painting is way more fun in neon."

Beckett is 5.  When I first saw the ad, I thought the picture was adorable.  What is so wrong with painting a boy's nails.  I mean, come on, how many of us painted someone's little brother's nails when we were kids (or even our own friends)?

I was not really surprised about the controversy that has erupted because of the ad, because of course people are going to react differently to this issue.  Transgender is certainly gaining more attention right now than ever before, clearly making it a hot topic.

I am surprised, however, at the extent to which people have gone to criticize the ad.  Psychologist Dr. Keith Ablow said the following about it on FOX News:

"It is unwise to dress little girls like miniature adults (in halter tops and shorts emblazoned with PINK across the bottoms) and it is unwise to encourage little boys to playact like little girls."

I'm not sure about any of you, but in my opinion that's not really a fair comparison to make.  To me, a fair comparison would have been that it is unwise to allow little girls to play with trucks and action figures like little boys just as it is unwise to let little boys put on nail polish and play with Barbies like little girls (which I don't believe, by the way).

Why didn't the psychologist make that comparison instead?  Well, of course I'm not sure, but maybe one reason is because our society has made it acceptable for girls to plays with boys' toys.  I used to work at a fast food restaurant, and when we had separate girls' and boys' toys for the kids' meals, if we weren't sure what the sex of the child was, we would always give them a boys' toy.  Why?  Well, because, if a boy got a girls' toy, 9 times out of 10 they would bring it back in order to exchange it for a boys' toy.  But, if a girl got a boys' toy, 9 times out of 10 they would not bring it back (these aren't actually calculate statistics, by the way, just my own estimate).  In fact, sometimes the girls would come back with the girls' toy and ask for a boys' toy instead!

In our culture, it has become completely acceptable for girls to want to play with boys' toys.  Legos, action figures, race cars - you name it, and girls most likely are allowed to play with that toy.  As soon as a boy touches an Easy Bake oven, however, we tend to freak out (even though executive chefs are predominately men, however).  For some reason, girls can usually cross gender boundaries without problems, whereas boys simply cannot.

And it's not just Dr. Ablow that has spoken out against this.  Large amounts of people (including many parents) have responded negatively to the ad, saying that it's simply not right.  So many people feel uncomfortable with the idea of hot pink nail polish on a boy's toes.

There is a little glimmer of hope, however.  With the increasing publicity concerning the ad, more people, including parents and psychologists, have come out in support of the ad.  Who cares?  If the boy wants to wear hot pink nail polish, then let him!  Why do we care so much about gender lines?

If you feel uncomfortable about this kind of crossing of the gender boundaries, then that's fine.  But think twice about why you do.  Is it because society tells us that we have to fit neatly into one gender, or is it because you truly think that boys should not be doing "girly" things.  And, if it's the second one - do you think the same about girls?  Should young girls not be allowed to play with Tonka trucks?

I applaud Jenna Lyons.  She did a brave thing, breaking societal norms, and hopefully will continue to stand by her decision.  If her son likes pink nail polish, then more power to him - he should be able to choose his likes and dislikes.

There's so many articles on the topic right now, but here's a link to the one I mostly used for the blog on CBS News.  And here's the one on FOX News.  Both have links to the TV coverage of the story.

One more thing - if you support the ad, I encourage you to sign this petition thanking J.Crew for putting up the ad.  The company should know how much support it may have for it in the midst of all the controversy surrounding the ad.

PS - Thanks Sam for telling me about the story! :)

The Clothesline Project Comes to PC

I went to a couple of great events last week that have a ton to do with women: "The Clothesline Project" and "Take Back the Night."  I'm going to talk about that second event later this week.

So, a couple of girls from my Women's Studies class put on a great event called "The Clothesline Project Comes to PC."  The Clothesline Project was started in 1990 out of Cape Cod, MA, by a small group of women.  They wanted to find a way to educate others about violence against women.  They were startled by the staggering statistics on the problem, and wanted a more direct way to communicate how big the problem is and its consequences to others.

The concept is simple and pretty great.  They wanted women to be able to tell their own stories of sexual violence - so they gave the women a T-shirt and had them decorate it with words or artwork, each telling her own story.  The organization has had huge success - there are over 500 projects and about 50,000 to 60,000 shirts.  

The shirts are color-coded:

• White - women who died because of violence
• Yellow and beige - battered or assaulted women
• Red, pink, and orange - survivors of rape and sexual assault
• Blue and green - survivors of incest and sexual abuse
• Purple and Lavender - women attacked because of their sexual orientation
• Black - women attacked for political reasons

Anyways, I think that the event at PC was a huge success.  It was really eye-opening to see the real stories of women who suffered this kind of violence - the personal stories really hit home, much more than statistics.

Here was one of my favorites, a story of survival and hope:

If you're interested in creating a T-shirt, starting a project, or just learning some more, here's the link!

P.S.  Awesome job Brittany and Mabelle!

Why Is Her Paycheck Smaller?

So in my Women's Studies class this past week my teacher showed us this amazing interactive graph that shows the gender wage gap in different occupations.  I can't post the graph directly here, but here's the link.  It's really fun and super revealing.  If you don't have a lot of time to look at it a little, here's a few of the facts that I found most interesting:

• There are only 3 occupations in which women make more than men.  They are:
• Postal Service Clerks (4% more)
• Special Education Teachers (3% more)
• Data Entry Keyers (1% more)
• The biggest wage gaps are in the following occupations:
• Physicians and Surgeons (40% less)
• Financial Managers and Medical Scientists (37% less)
• Human Resource Managers (32% less)

It's interesting that in the few occupations where women make more than men, the wage gap is in the single digits, whereas where men make more than women in almost all areas, and the biggest gaps are high up in the double digits.

The graph is a little more detailed than the classic statistic that for every dollar a man makes a woman earns 77.5 cents, but it's interesting to see just how widespread the wage gap is.

Oh yeah, and Registered Nurses, an occupation that is often stereotyped as a woman's job, also falls under the wage gap.  Women Registered Nurses make 11% less than male Registered Nurses.  Interesting.

Just some food for thought.  Hope you enjoy the graph!

Eating Disorders Among Middle-Aged Women & A Success Story

On March 29th the New York Times published an article in their Health section called "An Older Generation Falls Prey to Eating Disorders" by Tara Parker-Pope. 

I think we can make a pretty general assumption and say that magazines photoshop every picture that appears in their issues, no matter how old the person is.  Look at the original versus the final cover picture of Faith Hill (late thirties/early forties) here:

Or Nicollette Sheridan here (early forties):

These obvious retouches are everywhere - so maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that many older women are now experiencing the difficulty of eating disorders.

The article talks about a specific woman, Judith Shaw, who, when she was close to turning 40, started to become obsessed with eating healthy and working out.  So obsessed that she ended up developing and eating disorder, at one point weighing just 85 pounds at 5'3". 

It is so important that women in their 40s and 50s receive the right diagnosis when they have an eating disorder because it can be mistakened for early menopause, the article points out.  One of the first ways a doctor can tell that a woman is suffering from an eating disorder is when she stops menstruating - the same thing that happens when a woman begins going through menopause.

Another problem that Ms. Shaw points out is that no one ever approached her about what she sees as her obvious obsession with losing weight.  Instead of telling her that she may need help, most people "praised her efforts to keep her weight down and her commitment to exercise."  She tells the the author of the article that "'None of my friends, my ex-husband, no one ever said anything.'"

This article is super-important in so many ways.  First, it points out that eating disorders are not just problems among young women.  In fact, it says that a "significant minority" of middle-aged women are developing eating disorders.  Also, the article points out that instead of approaching her about the problem she may have had, people instead praised her for being conscious about her weight and keeping it down, a problem that many women fighting eating disorders face.  Our society is so obsessed with being thin that we fail to see when someone is too thing and is actually putting his or her health at risk.

What is most important about her story, however, is that Judith Shaw beat the eating disorder.  After checking into a program, she started to create her own original art to help her deal and combat the illness.  The article shows pictures of some of what she created, including a life-size silhouette of her body and a plaster cast of her thighs.

Judith Shaw is not only a success story from eating disorders, but has also created some great artwork that helps raise awareness about the problem.  Her pieces are currently on display through mid-April at the Center for Eating Disorders at Columbia University Medical Center in Manhattan.  The exhibit is called "Body of Work: The Art of Eating Disorder Recovery."  She is truly a symbol of hope for many out there struggling with an eating disorder.

Remember, if you think a friend has an eating disorder, say something!  These huge health risks often go unnoticed for too long.

If you're interested in the full article, here it is.