This article was interesting in that it discussed how fewer women support capital punishment in the United States as compared to men, citing reasons such as wrongful convictions, the impact on the communities, the economic impact, and impact on the victims families. -Lenna Jones
This article describes how with the technological boom of recent years and the creation of social networking sites has impacted women in a frightening way. Women are often cyber-stalked and harassed by strangers of intimate partners via e-mail, text message and through social networking sites. They even cite an instance of a man posted his ex-girlfriend’s address on craigslist along with an ad asking for a man to go there and to act out a rape fantasy…only the women wasn’t in on it. There needs to be a serious reevaluation of how people use technology and social networking sites in order to guarantee our safety. – Lenna Jones (This article cites an ECU study!)
This article explores how the United States is (very) slowly waking up to something that was realized in Sweden long ago (and was proven to work!)…that in order to truly combat the commercial sex trade (both consensual and non-consensual) they must penalize the demand and not the supply. In short, the johns and not the prostitutes. The author discusses the fairly new phenomenom of “John Schools” which teach mean who engage in transactional sex the harsh realities of prostitution. While research has shown that being sentenced to John School was less of a deterant than the “public shaming” route (i.e., posting their name and photo in the local paper or on a billboard), it is an important step in the right direction for states to realize that in order to shrink the supply, you must attack the demand. Along with these legal steps have also come legislation in Illinois that protects minors involved in the sex trade from legal punishment, an issue that has been grossly ignored. My hope is that one day, the U.S. will follow in Sweden’s footsteps and make an actual difference in the lives of millions of young girls who are trafficked here to fill the demand for sex. – Lenna Jones
This snarky article rips the GOP in several states for passing legislation which further widens the pay gap for women, or rather, girls. Safety and education apparently aren’t on the menu for working teens in these Republican states either.
-Lenna
This article examines how public toilets and latrines in slums in Kenya are not only hazardous due to their unsanitary conditions, but also because the women who use them are very often raped in the process. Many times women go to use the facilities and are attacked and raped, often brutally and by multiple offenders. One women interviewed in this article even contracted HIV from her assault. The article discusses how some humanitarian groups have been trying to invent new ways for women to be able to relieve themselves in safety, but also without creating further public health hazards. A Dutch inventor has created a kind of bag that turns human waste into compost after a few, alleviating the problem of human waste being thrown from the houses where these women are very literally imprisoned in order to remain safe. It leaves to question…is even having access to a toilet a basic human right? Apparently not for women. Lena Jones
http://womennewsnetwork.net/2010/12/27/kenya-flying-toilets-women/
I had the opportunity the other morning to catch Vice President Joe Biden’s speech live on the internet regarding sexual violence against women, especially on our college campuses. He gave a very emotional appeal regarding how universities often treat the issue, and plead openly with the young men in the audience and all over the country to learn to respect women and to learn that “no means no”…no matter what. He gave several emotional examples of young women who were survivors of sexual assault, and how they faced second victimization from their friends, families, schools and society. He implored that violence against women in this country (as well as all over the world) is, and has been, at endemic levels, and that for too long it has been regarded as a “personal” issue that should be handled within the family, and how women and girls who are sexually assaulted are too often blamed for what has happened, especially in the court system. He discussed President Obama’s The White House’s Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and how it will continue to do great things if given the chance. I am extremely thankful that Biden gave this speech and gave it the emotional pull that this issue desperately needs, especially within the government.
This article tells the story of a 13 year old girl who had acid thrown on her by an older man whom was rejected as a suitor so that she could continue her education. The author discusses how acid crime has risen since the 1960′s, and how easily it is obtained on the internet and elsewhere. She also discusses how despite laws that prohibit acid attacks and their strict punishments, that law enforcement and government agencies do little or nothing to enforce these laws or to protect the women and girls who may become victims.- Lenna
This article offers a new twist on insight into the problem with rampant maternal/infant mortality rates in Kenya, Africa. While disease and lack of access to proper medical care contributes to these problems, the issue of access to clean water is often overlooked. The article cites that out of 160 hospitals in the country, around 120 do not have proper plumbing and safe water supplies for their patients. So while the few women who can even afford to enter a hospital to give birth under what they would assume are safer conditions may have doctors to care for her and her baby, she may be unintentionally exposing herself and her child to even more risk of disease from drinking unsafe water while in the hospital. Is access to clean water a basic human right? I say yes. Lenna Jones
http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/02/26/022611-opinions-column-parents-valenti-1-2/
Feminist author Jessica Valenti discusses how the American woman is still being subjected to a unequal division of labor in the home – after the birth of a child. She cites how in recent years, American couples are increasingly marrying for “love” as opposed to “traditional reasons” and may have egalitarian marriages, until they become parents. Once they have a child it seems that the traditional gender roles seem to rear their ugly heads once more, leaving the woman the lions share of the labor at home – in addition to being discriminated against in the workplace (even more so now as a mother – the U.S. being the only industrialized country without paid maternity leave). These sobering facts and more are presented in a sardonic humor typical of Valenti, leaving us with an important piece of information with the appropriate aftertaste of the ridiculousness of these issues that for some reason still plague women into the 21st century. -Lenna Jones