International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November 

Since 1981, the united nations general assembly set November 25th to be the day to remind the world about violence women face and importance of eliminating it.    

• 1 in 3 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most frequently by an intimate partner (UN, 2018)

• Only 52% of women married or in a union freely make their own decisions about sexual relations, contraceptive use and health care (UN, 2018)

• Worldwide, almost 750 million women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday; while 200 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) (UN, 2018)

• 1 in 2 women killed worldwide were killed by their partners or family in 2012; while only 1 out of 20 men were killed under similar circumstances (UN, 2018)

• 71% of all human trafficking victims worldwide are women and girls, and 3 out of 4 of these women and girls are sexually exploited (UN, 2018)

• Violence against women is as serious a cause of death and incapacity among women of reproductive age as cancer, and a greater cause of ill health than traffic accidents and malaria combined (UN, 2018).

Couple of weeks ago, I visited "the National Underground Railroad to freedom", which is a museum in Cincinnati, Ohio. I was touched by these pictures at the museum (Sorry the lighting was not the best there)

They talk about sex trafficking in Moldova. They presented how some traffickers got their victims through job ads targeting women in need for work and aspiring for a better life. Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. It plagues every country. The United States is one of the largest destination countries in the world. Victims are sometimes deceived into accepting a job offer that promises them a better life, or they are sold, or kidnapped. Later on, they find themselves trapped in a cycle of physical and psychological abuse. They are prisoners who cannot escape. Their lives are full of pain, brutality and despair.

The story of Tatyanaa is not a unique story, but approximately 18,000 persons are trafficked into the United States from over 50 countries every year (according to innocentsatrisk.org). However, in such issues the numbers are not well documented and this rises the question of how many humans are suffering and their human rights are violated? In addition, there are many like her even here in Ohio. Ohio state ranks as the 4th state with the highest rates of trafficking. Following California, New York, and Texas. A national human trafficking hotline was created for empowering service providers, law enforcement, and other professionals in Ohio to serve victims and survivors of trafficking, respond to human trafficking cases, and share information and resources. In 2018, 219 human trafficking cases were reported from Ohio alone and 500 calls were received on the Human trafficking hotline (hotline human trafficking, 2018).

It is heartbreaking and shocking to read and to watch this material. But this is an issue that can happen to any person and is occurring in every community almost. We need to stand up and speak up. It starts with simple harassment and gets to extreme cases of human trafficking. We need to understand the importance of campaigns such as the me too campaign and to assure that it is not only a wave. As there is a real need that can`t be ignored. The highest rates of the victims are around the ages of 13- 14. To conclude, this issue is huge and one country on its own can`t solve, but we need humanity to stand up together to end human trafficking.



Sources: 

http://www.un.org/en/events/endviolenceday/

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/state/ohio
http://www.innocentsatrisk.org/human-trafficking/trafficking-news-articles

FGM: The Maasai woman on a mission to educate her community

That is interesting and empowering!

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-45296849/fgm-the-maasai-woman-on-a-mission-to-educate-her-community

Global Solidarities Lecture Series- Contemporary Renewals of Black-Palestinian Solidarity, Nov. 27 

by Noura Erakat from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. in Schoonover 145.

https://www.ohio-forum.com/2018/11/global-solidarities-lecture-series-noura-erakat-on-palestine-on-tuesday-nov-27/?fbclid=IwAR3Z4Q-M7buZdwp5u_i7zwJbdrpdt6q8gfDPqpmyjJkQIyHhJaO0qlJbdVE

Hashtag Why I Stayed

Why I Stayed

Why I Stayed is a hashtag and movement that was created by Beverly Gooden, an African American writer and activist who has focused on domestic violence and women's health. She recently visited Ohio University hosted by a number of organizations and departments including the student senate and the women's centre. Her talk was based on her twitter trending hashtag #WhyIStayed that has started many conversations, movements, and organizing around Gender Based Violence (GBV) and domestic violence. This blog will highlight the reasons why many women who've reported violence stayed and the contribution of families and friends in these instances.

We're seeing movements and hashtags like #MeToo and #WhyIStayed become the driving factor in addressing issues women face pertaining violence. 

To date many women have since come out to tell their stories when they experienced violence. Some have confessed to have stayed in these relationships for many years before they could even realize they were being abused and took them even longer to gain the courage to leave. Some of the responses they got from the public were appauling with people questioning their credibility and redusing their experiences to nothing. In our school curriculum, we have read stories of what's expected from a husband in marriage and that includes disciplining his wife through violence but making sure the bruises don't show to avoid public questioning. One may wonder whether the public would be involved in the matter though if they knew of the abuse. Otherwise, this is a proud practice that may be sidelined but affects many women in relationships, whether married or not. 
I've since read many posts that are against the Why I Stayed hashtag with reasons pushing towards responsibility and choice. The more I read these posts the more I wonder if we're heading the right direction by creating a platform to discuss these issues, or whether we're giving troll a platform to distribute senseless hate!

Statements like "Boys will be boys" perpetuate negative and abusive behavior presented by boys towards girls and women. These give them an excuse to still behave like no rules apply to them while they get a pass for it. It's unfortunate that we live in a society today where girls are still experiencing violence at the hands of their male counterparts but that abuse is still excused by such statements. In the presentation by Bev, she mentioned that the more she tried to escape, the harder it became the longer she stayed. This was influenced by separation from friends and family, lack of independent financial support, dependence on her spouse for everything, as well as the hope she had that her partner would go back to the person she knew that expressed love towards her. In the end, she realized that this is the person she married and she should understand that she is not responsible for someone else's behavior and actions but her own. She managed to gain some courage and security to actually escape from her abusive relationship, and today, about 10 years later she still lives in that space of pushing forward and regaining trust towards other people. 

Women should not be shamed fo staying in abusive relationships because we do not know the situations they are in. This regards to financial status, security, fear for their lives, seclusion from friends and family support, as well as the awareness of their situation that they are indeed living in an abusive relationship. Instead of hate and judgement, we should create platforms where women can feel free and safe to tell their stories in order to open up the conversation as well as create awareness. We should also create spaces that would take in women who flee from these situations and help them rebuild their lives. But the most important thing right now is to also raise a generation that knows and understands that it's not OK to oppress, abuse, and violate another human being for whatever reasons. Statements such as 'boys will be boys' should not be taught.

A powerful talk about women in Palestine that presents lots of topic we discussed from violence, women empowerment, human rights,etc.  
(Its only few minutes 🙂) 


https://vimeo.com/297103081?ref=fb-share&fbclid=IwAR2nSWVrGpY8J7mBjVZEjuMNsMH1jXToCt-CPp0riFnUZD6byHMWm2KcLic

Human Rights are Gendered too...

Coming from a country that is still experiencing a longstanding occupation does not make me feel comfortable when international human rights are invoked. It is not only about my personal experience as a Palestinian that makes me feel irritated about the feasibility of human rights but also learning about the global system in which human rights have evolved. I am addressing primarily the readings by Heaton (2014) and Sivakumaran (2010) in this blog post because they will help me critique the international human rights regime.

First, when INGOs and/or IGOs focus too narrowly on one aspect or violation of one category of human rights, they neglect other vulnerable categories within a society. By doing this, they further neglect other basic rights and specific needs of victims. Thus more problems emerge than solutions when international actors take control and dominate the discussion. Looking closely at male sexual violence, for instance, international human rights activism raises more questions than answers. How many men and boys (and boys are inexplicably excluded from the category of child victims) will be exposed to sexual violence before drawing the attention and reaction of the international community? How long must we wait before an intervention happens in one place, but not another? What is the international community’s criteria for evaluating a situation that warrants an intervention? It is interesting and shocking to see how the UN adopts a double standard. For instance, male sexual violence against a male in one case is classified as torture; while in another case, UN language does recognize sexual violence only against women and girls. The emphasis on a certain discourse when promoting awareness of sexual violence against women and girls leads me to think deeply about the incoherence of that discourse and to question UN capabilities, impartiality, and morality.

Second, I want to highlight another point, based upon my own observations at home in Gaza. During the three massive wars launched on Gaza in the last 10 years, many journalist’s stories featured women that were killed or severely injured during these wars. These stories covered the pain and suffering resulting from a mother’s absence or inability to fulfill her expected role because of the injury. On the other hand, I have rarely heard stories about families who lost their male breadwinner. They, of course, talk about the economic/financial impact of losing that man, but no one addresses in what ways his wife suffers emotionally and socially. No one highlights that a widow is forced to marry her deceased husband’s brother, in order to protect her and her children. There are many problems that affect a family at least as much when a woman loses her male partner as when a woman is killed. Women need protection, of course, but why do we invoke gender issues narrowly, even in wars? Why are human rights, which theoretically treat men and women on equal footing, so often gendered? If a man and a woman were injured in the same conflict, who should be rescued/protected/treated first? And why?

I attached a video below prepared by Save the Children about gender equality in emergencies. Regardless of stereotypes displayed in the video, the undue focus on non-Western victims, and the human rights “cheap talk,” I believe human rights protection should be first offered to those who first need it regardless of their gender, color, ethnicity…etc.

PS: what I mean by "cheap talk" is how INGOs produce such films and other documents with an eloquent discourse, but their interventions on the ground perpetuate (if not worsen) the existing problems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSK3D0pTd-s&t=75s

Globalization, Media & Identity (and food)

There are a lot of ways to explore globalization- especially when coming from a gendered perspective. In the most basic definition, globalization refers to the companies, the integration of new technology, and the resources that expand to other cultures to add to the world-wide economy. Interaction is influenced by international trading and types of innovation or resources can be positive and negative. However, I wanted to dig deeper on Marchand's article because while she briefly touches on globalization and its impacts, I found a need to address the impact that globalization and media can have on one's identity (and food because I'm a foodie and I can't help myself!!)

"Being such a multidimensional phenomenon, globalisation, or global restructuring, has touched upon many facets of our lives, ranging from a restructuring of the (welfare) state, the omnipresence of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as mobile phones and the internet, to the creation of neoliberal subjectivities" (Marchand p.926)

Perhaps by coincidence, I was watching a show on Netflix  this week called Ugly Delicious. In this show, an acclaimed chef travels the world meeting writers, activists, and other chefs who break down common misconceptions of food and go into depth about culture and cuisine. The episode I watched revolved around Chinese culture and I was amazed to see how much globalization has affected their food practices, identity and culture. This spreads further than the Americanized Chinese food we enjoy in the states. In this case, globalization (or Americanization??) has spread as far in the classrooms of China where they teach American restaurant language. What is this you may be asking yourself? Well, according to the show, part of it was teaching them to speak “more American,” when they pronounce foods such as “fried rice.”

While I see good in connecting cultures, I have trouble with the underlying racism and sexism that can come with globalization-specifically in the media. Messages in the media can exclude pertinent information or lie all together. In Ugly Delicious, they mention when Chinese migrated to America, they were forced out of jobs traditionally held by American men and eventually took the jobs normally held by women so the men would not have competition in their fields. Furthermore, Chinese were viewed in the media as "dirty," which is turn made a stereotype that translated to their restaurants. Similarly, the media went wild over MSG in Chinese food and people claimed it was making them ill. Yet, they go on to further explain how MSG is in almost every American junk food on the market and no one complains about getting sick from Ruffles or Doritos. Some could argue that we are a product of what the rich companies advertise in the media and we believe what they want us to believe. Is is a coincidence that all cleaning commercials are of women? 
I would be interested to see just how far globalization has impacted male and female identity. It is hard not to think we have all been touched by this and someway. Whether that be how we view ourselves or how we view others. I think it is important to take a step back and think about the bigger picture. Making assumptions may be necessary to categorize all the information we receive on a daily basis, but we must start thinking about how we act on these assumptions. 

In anticipation that not all hope is loss, current ideals and technology allow for the eye-opening truths in forms of other news and information outlets. There have been several eye-opening documentaries and shows that can give the population pertinent information in a form they can understand. While they might not be as well known as some of the more acclaimed media outlets, they do exist. I believe if we wish to see a social change we must start by demanding more transparency with big companies and government. I find my faith learning towards the power of the collective and we should be the change we wish to see in the world.

I've attached an article over-view of the episode and if you ever have some time to spare- this show is really good!! 

Ugly Delicious- Episode 7 recap (Read me!!)