Violence Against Women
description
Transcript of Violence Against Women
International Violence Against Women
Peace Over Violence
Leona Smith, M.S.W.
Katie Virant, intern M.S.W. 2010
Points of Discussion….
Feminist Theory of violence against womenPerpetuation of violence against womenGlobal manifestations of violence against
womenThe myth of “Us” vs. “Them”How can we impact change?
Feminist Theory of Violence Against Women
• Inequality:• economic • political • social • religious
• Objectification
Perpetuation of Violence Against Women
• Media Messages
• Political and religious suppression
• Social norms and cultural beliefs
Media Messages
• Unhealthy relationship standards
• Unhealthy concepts of femininity
• Unhealthy concepts of female gender roles
Media Messages
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Media Messages cont.
Political and Religious Suppression
• Afghan Marriage Law passed March 2009• Based on religious fundamentalism• Quotes by Mohseni, a top Afghan cleric, supporting the law “Women and men are not equal in Afghanistan and shouldn't be
treated as equals” Referring to man’s role as breadwinner: “For all these expenses,
can't we at least give the right to a husband to demand sex from his wife after four nights?”
”…it is essential for the woman to submit to the man's sexual desire.”
“…it is the right of a man to ask for sex and she should make herself ready for it. This is the right of a man."
• Exceptions = wife is ill, would be harmed by intercourse, fasting for Ramadan, preparing for a pilgrimage, menstruating, or has just given birth
• Afghan marriage law can't be changed: cleric: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/04/11/mohseni-law.html
Social Norms and Cultural Beliefs
• Both influence, and are influenced by, political, social, economic, and religious inequalityGenital Mutilation in AfricaMyths of Rape Internationally
Myths of Rape InternationallyUNITED STATES
Denim Day Campaign
GREAT BRITIANTruth About Rape Campaign
• She was wearing tight jeans
(inspired from case in France)• She was asking for it (sexy clothes)• She was flirting online
(technology sex crimes)• She was his steady girlfriend
(intimate partner SA)• She was drunk and partying
(alcohol related rape)• He had it coming (male rape)• She was his wife (spousal rape)• I have to do everything for her
(elderly rape)• The intensity got to him
(military sexual violence)
• Only young attractive women get raped• Women who get raped were asking for it• Rape is a misunderstanding• Rape isn’t an everyday occurrence• Most women who report rape are lying• Men rape because they lose control•http://www.truthaboutrape.co.uk/4682/54973.html
•http://www.denimdayusa.org/
Manifestations of Violence Against Women
Global Accounts of Violence
Sexual Slavery in Taiwan & South Korea Tradition & Abuse in South Africa Abduction, Rape, Murder & Impunity in
Russia Exploiting Domestic Workers in Indonesia
• http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women/international-violence-against-women-act/i-vawa-slide-show/page.do?id=1091586
Global Accounts of Violence Injustice and Violence in Turkey Abuse of Military Power in the Democratic
Republic of Congo Girl Soldiers in Liberia Trafficking Women in Kosovo Rape as Weapon of War in Chad• http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-
women/international-violence-against-women-act/slide-show-ii-international-violence-against-women/page.do?id=1091588
Understanding rape as a weapon of war: Darfur
• http://darfur.3cdn.net/77da04664a2f8ee291_mlbgcwar2.mov
Myth of “Us” vs. “Them”
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The Myth of “Us” vs “Them”: Are we really that different?
Amnesty International:
• In the U.S., a woman is raped every 6 minutes; a woman is battered every 15 seconds
• This year, more than 15,000 women will be sold into sexual slavery in China
• More than 7,000 women in India will be murdered by their families and in-laws in disputes over dowries
women = sex objects
* sexual slavery- comfort women in war- sex slaves out of war
Taiwan and South Korea
objectification- value in virginity
* rape and sex slavery in war- demoralizes oppositionby devaluing its women
- entertainment
Congo, Chad, Darfur
women 2nd class citizenswork of women devalued
* exploiting domestic workers- physical, psych, sexual
violence- no union, no workers rights
Indonesia
women 2nd class citizens- property to men- value in virginity
* Rape* Domestic violence
* Honor killings
Turkey
objectification- modern day slave trading
* Trafficking- farm work, sweatshops,
domestic servants,prostitution
Kosovo
women 2nd class citizens- property of men- value in virginity
* Rape* Domestic Violence
* Overt political inequality
Afghanistan
media: women = sex objects2nd class citizens
* Rape* Domestic Violence
* myths excuse abuse* rape kit backlog
United States
Common Beliefs Impacting Women Across Nationalities* political, social, economic, religious inequality
* objectification
*political: underrepresented* social: inequality/objectification
* economic: unequal $$* religion: patriarchal values
In Reality…
How Do We Impact change•Individual contributions
•Community contributions
•Neighborhood
•School
•Work
•Global
•Campaigns
Global Campaigns EVAW: End Violence Against Women International
www.evawintl.org
Education, MAD Project, Conferences, Donations
Amnesty International
www.amnestyusa.org/women/violence.html
Peace Over Violence www.peaceoverviolence.org