I came across this image a year or so ago and it really impressed me with it's relevance and it's brilliant marketing. (Whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, i'm sure you can appreciate this? )
Also on that note, using the terms "pro-life" and "pro-choice" surely has pre-implied connotations about negative and positive, such that "pro-life" sounds like the "positive" phrase and therefore giving that argument a bias?
Check out a website article I just wrote for the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) to see one idea!
Apparently.
Because while the threat of stoning is just that-a threat-breasts are on display throughout the world today in support of Amina Tyler, the nineteen year old Tunisian woman who posted pictures last month of her bare chest and the words “My body belongs to me, and is not the source of anyone’s honor” in Arabic. A second photo, declaring “Fuck your morals” in English, was also posted.
Yesterday I had a fascinating conversation with the director of the Erdenet Children's Palace regarding sexism in education and the way it affects Mongolian family dynamics. The Children's Palace is the seat of this aimag's branch of the Department of Children and Family Development (that's a loose translation); essentially, it's a youth center, offering classes in music, art, dancing, and wrestling, hosting competitions and plays, and providing a number of other services.
I know I usually only share the bad stuff that happens in my daily adventures (because it’s usually funnier), but there are many incredible, wonderful, great things and people that I come across every day as well.
Firstly is the man who sits at the end of my alley. I would guess him to be in his late 50s and he is always hanging out at the end of the alley way, sitting at a table with his friends either eating or playing cards. When I walk by in the mornings he goes out of his way to say hello and share what English words he knows (usually ‘Thank you’ or ‘I love you’). When he thinks the weather will be either cold or rainy that day and doesn’t think I’m appropriately dressed he rushes me back down the alley to make sure I have a jacket or a sweater. In the evenings when it’s dark, he watches and waits for me to make sure I get into my house safely. When I have friends or family over, he always asks who they are if he doesn’t recognize them. He just truly goes out of his way each and every day and it ensures that I start each day with a smile thinking of how kind he is.
Second is the woman on bus #32. I met her last month and I think that she thinks that I just moved to Hanoi and don’t know my way around but every day she has waited to make sure I get on the bus and, as she gets off at the same stop, she also chit chats with me and is just really friendly. She’s been openly curious about me and has shared information about her life. It’s great to have a friend on a long, crowded bus ride and since I’ve met her I haven’t been groped by any strange men – coincidence? I think not.
Third are the xe om drivers (motorcycle taxi) near my street. As I cross the perilous, crowded, traffic disaster that is Kim Ma Street, they watch me, waiting to see if I need help. When I get across the street they usually smile and applaud – it makes something like crossing the street feel remarkably accomplished. The drivers on the other side of the street always wish me a good day and a good bus ride.
There are many more people and things that just make this placement absolutely incredible, but these three people/groups of people are the ones that I encounter every single day who bring a bit of happiness into the day (especially when its pouring rain like today).
There are days when gender issues infuriate me and when people/problems just seem absolutely ridiculous. There are things/opinions that I actually cannot believe I have to voice or express. There are so many things that you would think would be common sense by now.
I can’t believe that I have to say I believe in gender equality.
I can’t believe that I have to say that I believe men and women should have equal rights, opportunities, responsibilities and receive equal respect.
I can’t believe that I have to say that I think that girls and boys should be able to go to school.
I can’t believe that I have to say that I think that every person should have access to family planning education, counselling, and support (through contraception, abortion, help with fertility, STD/HIV testing, treatment, prenatal and postnatal care, etc.).
I can’t believe that I have to say that I think men and women have the right to live free from fear of being assaulted (physically, sexually, emotionally), free from fear of rape, free from fear of being drugged, etc.
I can’t believe that I have to say that I think that all genders and people within genders, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, identity, religion, age, political beliefs, size, physical/mental ability or disability etc. are equal and should be treated equally.
Worst of all, I can’t believe that people think I’m radical for believing these things. Is it so radical to believe that all people (without conditions, no ifs, ands, or buts) are equal.
Period. All people are equal.
In class last year we spent some time learning about advertising and to try to think of a time, place, day where you haven’t been exposed (or even inundated) with advertising seems practically impossible from project placement, billboards, commercials, clothing, the products you buy and consume – its everywhere.
If advertising is going to be so prominent in everyones lives, why not make it more functional? Why not have advertising serve a greater purpose or provide a service?
In Peru, that exact question is being answered: researchers have developed a billboard that will provide clean, potable, drinking water to anyone who wants it for free. This billboard is taking advantage of the 98% humidity in the areas outside of Lima that have little to no rain during many parts of the year (conditions common in many tropical areas) and captures condensation. If this kind of technology can (and has been) developed for conditions of high humidity, why not find a way to develop other services as well? Perhaps advertising space could come at a lower premium if it serves a greater purpose.
What better way to promote your product or company than by already showing how you can meet a need?
It seems that the Vietnamese government is contemplating paying cash to families with daughters in an effort improve the ratio of births by gender. They believe that providing economic incentives to families will reduce the abortion rates of female fetuses.
I personally believe that while economic incentives can have a role in developing gender equality, this is not the way to do it. Instead provide equal opportunities to girls through scholarships, free primary school, provide job opportunities for girls, provide pension plans so that parents are not reliant on their children to provide for them, fund educational programs on gender equality, safe sex, and reproductive health.
Do not give money to families that have girls – that division and distinction plays into the belief that girls are worth less than boys, that the funding is a consolation prize for having a daughter. Work to develop a society that values the inputs of its daughters and women as more than wives and mothers; value women as equal contributing members of society because they are. Raise women to be more than just someone’s wife and value them for their work both inside and outside of the home; value them for their ideas, minds, and the potential that they have.
Work to create a society where each child is valued.
I'm tired. I've been oscillating between apathy and the kind of anger that makes my chest feel tight, that makes my voice tremble when I shout. Sometimes I'm despondent; the silver lining on Ghanaian clouds is the first flash of a lightning bolt, watch out for that, it'll get ya. Sometimes I'm hopeful; it's still better here (for me) than elsewhere (and I don't mean the places with war and strife, I mean the UK and the US).
Tet is the New Year in Vietnam (which you can read about here, here, or here); its a lunar new year and is the only solid week off that we get as interns here!
Myself and 5 friends decided to go to Bangkok and Bali for the week (meaning we slept in the Bangkok airport and experienced major taxi-induced anger, then relaxed and enjoyed the wonderfulness that is Bali). Read about how exciting it was to prepare from Daniel’s perspective here. If you want the details of the trip you can check out my friend, classmate, and travel partner’s blog where Christian explains the trip much more eloquently than I ever could. If you want more information on one of the trip highlights – climbing Mt. Batur (active volcano) you can check out my friend, classmate, and travel partner’s blog out (I’m actually going with her to Cambodia next week), where Madiha explains why it was such an incredible experience.
As they have covered the details so well, I thought I’d just share some photos.
Bangkok
Bangkok (gold everywhere)
Bangkok
Bangkok (Reclining Buddha)
Bangkok (Democracy Monument)
Bali (Sunrise on the beach)
Bali (Sunset on the beach – see a theme here?)
Bali (Sunrise from the peak of Mt. Batur)
Bali (WE DID IT)
Bali (The descent – Can you spot my friends?)
Bali (Still descending. . )
Bali (Mt. Batur – Yes, we actually climbed that in the middle of the night with a flashlight)
Bali (Ubud – explored after climbing a volcano)
I’ve experienced a fair share of battles here regarding how men treat women, and today was no different.
While on the bus, the bus attendant announced to someone that he thought I was beautiful; someone disagreed and said I was ugly. This was followed by a fair amount of debate while pointed at various parts of my body and garnering a small attentive crowd. I turned around and announced that I understand Vietnamese and was met with silence.
People felt as though they had the right, ability, and freedom to openly discuss what they did and did not like about my body, while pointing to the body parts in question and when it became obvious that I knew and understood what was going on there wasn’t even an apology. Then on the rest of my trek home I had several men try to get me to sit and eat with them; what is it a joke or game to try to get the girl to sit down and eat or drink with you? Do people really expect that someone they have never met or spoken with is really going to want to sit down right at that moment to enjoy a meal with a stranger? I sure wouldn’t. But when I say no I’m met with someone who is shocked and offended that I don’t want to sit down with a strange man and eat whatever he offers just because he asked.
Just because I’m female does not mean I’m your property. Just because I’m different than you does not mean you have the right to discuss or debate my body. Just because you ask me to do something does not mean I have to say yes. I am human, I am not your property, I do not exist as a source of entertainment for you, and I deserve the same level of respect you want to receive.
Lately I’ve seen some things online which have bothered me, but I have been guilty of them in the past as well.
I find that people are often apologetic when posting opinions online – particularly opinions supporting gender equality. Why should I apologize if my words offend you when your unapologetic actions offend me on a daily basis?
We have nothing to apologize about – there is nothing wrong or shameful about being opinionated and sharing that opinion. There is no need or reason to apologize when asking for equal rights, freedoms, and opportunities. If those actions should happen to offend someone, let it happen. If they are so easily offended that the notion of treating both men and women with a high level of respect and dignity offends them, then perhaps it may also educate them.
You should never apologize for believing that humanity can be better.
Once winter hit Hanoi, I decided to hit the tarmac and fly to southern Vietnam. Some friends and I travelled to Mũi Né and Ho Chi Minh City to ring in the New Year. Now that I am gearing up to celebrate New Years for a second time (Vietnamese New Year which goes according to the lunar calendar), I wanted to remind myself of how wonderful it was the first time around.
Originally written for the International Women’s Initiative. See the original post here.
In light of the recent media regarding sexual assault and rape in India as well as the information presented via social media in the past month, I would like to remind everyone that sexual assault is not only a problem in developing nations. In fact, sexual assault occurs in every country in the world and globally between 15-71% of women ages 15-49 have experience sexual assault (the statistic shows the range of national averages). Yet despite the remarkably high number of women affected by sexual assault there is still a stigma associated with it, a stigma that exists in every culture and society I have ever been, seen, experienced, read of or heard of.
Women around the world are raised and told to protect themselves; don’t show too much skin, don’t walk around alone at night, don’t walk around alone, cover your drink at a bar, and the list goes on and on. Women are taught these things from childhood and it seems normal; I remember being thirteen years old going to my first school dance and reminded to cover my water or pop, never put my drink down, and to be careful. It may seem insignificant because actions like that were probably normalized for you as well. Like many people I grew up in a society where I had to constantly be on guard, there exists a fear of being drugged, or raped, or beaten; women receive information every single day about how to avoid a sexual assault, how to escape a dangerous situation, and what life changes should be made to be safer. Does it still seem normal? Does it seem normal to have to change aspects of every single day of your life to be safe, to be able to life out the same rights and freedoms as the male half of the population?
Canada, like all but six countries, (United States, Sudan, Somalia, Iran, Palau, and Tonga) has signed and ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women yet, like most countries, these policies have failed to result in significant societal change at this point in time. In Canada only 0.33% of sexual assaults result in convictions and many factors play into this; only 9% of sexual assaults are reported, only 33% of reported sexual assaults result in charges, and only 11% of charges result in convictions. Why is this? Canada, like many nations, places the responsibility and blame for a woman’s protection on the woman herself; why else would we be telling women to cover up and dress more ‘appropriately’? Women are regularly questioned regarding their conduct prior to the sexual assault and encouraged to not press charges, in many cases by the authorities tasked with upholding justice and the rule of law. Sound familiar? It should be, as this is the case in almost every country in the world.
When you read about sexual assault and rape do not ignore it, do not pass the information by, instead take it to heart and know that statistically a minimum of one in seven of your female friends have experienced sexual assault, although that number is likely much higher. So do not let this become a statistic, do not wave it off as something that will affect you because likely it already affects you and at least one person who is close to you. Make it personal and do something about it: you can be an advocate for women and victims of sexual assault, you can denormalize victim blaming, and you can do something.
The English language has far too many differences in each region. If you utilize American English then your organization or center works extremely hard and put in lots of labor to run programs. But if you utilise British English then your organisation or centre works extremely hard and puts in lots of labour to run programmes. What does that mean for a development organization?
If you live and work in a country where English is not the first language then you don’t have an official national English dictionary, and therefore either of those options could be correct. But what would be incorrect would be to mix American and non-American English in the same document or sentence. This may seem boring but to an NGO working with partners and donors around the world it is remarkably important.
Development organizations are constantly stuck in this middle-ground, with no ‘official’ English in the country of operation they must constantly switch between different regional versions of English and this means tailoring each document to the donor or audience. This is hard enough to do if English is your first language, but even harder if its your second or third.
As much of my job involves editing and reviewing documents I get to spend a lot of time up close and personal with the oddities of the English language and this has made me more aware of how to properly tailor your writing to your audience. If your donor is British do not write a document full of the letter z or words ending in or. If your donor is American use the letter z all you want, don’t end words in our. This stuff matters a lot. Using the wrong language or the wrong grammar will make sentences and documents look ‘wrong’ to a reader and can very well be the different between FUNDED or BROKE.
Re-blogged from Wronging Rights
Calls for Men to Be Blindfolded in Public
In response to claims that men are unable to restrain themselves from committing rape if they see women in skimpy clothing, members of law enforcement agencies around the country have called for men to blindfold themselves when they are in places where they might encounter a female wearing a tank top or a short skirt.
Have you ever had someone insult you?
Maybe you were called a bitch, a slut, a whore? Perhaps it was a one-time thing uttered by a stranger and the words stung a little bit but you never heard it again.
But maybe it wasn’t said by a stranger, maybe it was said by someone close to you, someone you believe. Perhaps you were called a bitch, a slut, a whore. Perhaps you were told you were worth less than other people? Maybe you were belittled and made to feel as though you were constantly doing something wrong?
Many people don’t realize that verbal abuse is still abuse; that words are not meaningless. Each word, each syllable has meaning and has the power and ability to affect another human being, another person’s life. Words are used as weapons, as tools to inflict pain, to harm others. Words are used to reduce people to less than they are. Words are used to convince people that their lives will never be better. Words are used to convince people to stay with people in situations or places that they have a right to life free of, this is done by either convincing them that everything they believe is wrong (no person will love you, take care of you, believe you) or that they don’t deserve better.
KAFA, a Lebanese organization, discovered that 50% of Lebanese women are victims of verbal abuse (statistically are not-surprisingly lacking for most nations) and they sought to show that words hurt and that verbal abuse is a devastating and harmful form of abuse.
The photos are extremely powerful and extremely triggering, so if you feel safe enough to check them out, please do so here; this also links to a Lebanese helpline for victims of abuse.
To find an agency in your country and/or language of choice offering support for victims of domestic abuse and verbal abuse click here.
The beautiful young Khmer girl I observed dressed in a short tight blue dress dowsed in make up and uncertainty danced upon a blurry eyed western looking man with her back to him and her eyes fixed on the floor. He turned her around and swayed to the music before leaning in for a kiss. She pushed him away immediately, joined her hands together and bowed her head and said , ‘I cannot, I cannot, please you come with me, we go to the hotel.’ She danced so provocatively but with so little confidence, she won’t kiss him yet wants to go to a hotel, the disparity between what she displayed and what she really felt was glaringly obvious to me.
Much has happened in India since December 16, 2012.
Her family, friends and loved ones are perhaps still trying to come to terms with their irreplaceable loss. The accused have been charged with abduction, gang rape and murder and a magistrate has called for another hearing later this week. The government has given assurances to the public that this case will be handled on a “fast-track” basis.
So then, what is it about this 23 year-old girl who raised the conscience of India on December 16, 2012?
Was it the barbaric way in which she met her end?
Was she the last straw that broke the back of an overladen camel?
Was it her young age, her thwarted ambitions and aspirations, or her
parents’ unfulfilled hopes, dreams and expectations?
But seriously, y'all.
The traditional Disney Prince has about as much sparkle and panache as something completely lacking in sparkle and panache. He has a creative name like "The Prince" "Prince Charming" "Prince Phillip" "Prince Eric" or "Prince Adam" (that's the actual name of the Beast, apparently), and no personality. Ok, well, the Beast has a personality, but the only thing anyone else does is be obsessively fixated on some girl he met once in the woods.
In the past I’ve tried to go into each new year by learning to let go of things, stop trying to control everything, just take things as they come.
This year that will be different – I don’t want to take things as they come, I don’t want to accept things. I remember reading that change cannot happen unless you get uncomfortable. In 2013, I will get uncomfortable: I will try new things, I will speak out against what I believe is unjust, I will not let fear of the unknown get in my way.
That is what I promise for 2013. I will become a better person.
“This is the first time women have gathered to protest the kind of daily violence many of them put up with.”
Ravi NessmanI find it both sad and empowering that this is the first time women have gathered to protest the kind of daily violence many of them put up with. Imagine putting up with sexual violence, harassment, rape, abuse, violence, etc. every single day and having no opportunity for recourse? No opportunity for justice or self-protection? Even worse, imagine having people tell you that it’s your fault you were raped? Imagine the very people who are supposed to promote justice and safety telling you its your fault you were raped?
It is empowering because this never has to happen again. It’s empowering because it is an opportunity for change – not only in India, but around the world. This is a chance to teach women and families that men and women are equal, that no person deserves to experience violence, and that such violence and inequality will not be tolerated.
After the peak hours, these female police officers will return to the office.
A representative of the Road and Railway Traffic Police Agency said that the traffic policewomen standing on the podium to regulate traffic in rain or shine are beautiful images and some cities have used traffic policewomen to regulate traffic for years.“
Why not have the female police officers act in full capacity like all police officers? Reward them for their ability and work, not physical appearance..
That girl, the one without the name. The one just like us. The one whose battered body stood for all the anonymous women in this country whose rapes and deaths are a footnote in the left-hand column of the newspaper.
Sometimes, when we talk about the history of women in India, we speak in shorthand. The Mathura rape case. The Vishaka guidelines.
