Standing Together: Ending Sexual Assault on Campus

    April is Sexual Assault Awareness Monthn honor of this I want to do something a little bit different from my other posts. This post is dedicated to the hardworking organizations helping to end sexual assault on college campuses. I for one am sick and tired of constantly feeling the need to be looking over my shoulder while crossing the street at night. Transferring to a women’s college has eased that tension, but for too many young women it is all too real. I hope this information will inspire you all to take a stand to help end sexual assault on campus.

       The truth is too many women are victimized not only by their attacker but by the justice system, their schools and those around them. Victim-blaming is an unacceptable reality; we would never ask a victim of robbery if they were asking for it, so why do we ask rape victims?

         The first organization I want to spotlight is RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network); they offer information from “What is Sexual Assault” to “Public Policy and Action” to offering information on how to get involved on campus. Too often women do not know what to do after a sexual assault takes place because they are never told what to do. RAINN works to connect victims with the proper channels in order to receive the help they need. This includes navigating the criminal justice system, counseling and medical attention. RAINN’s student activism page offers us information on how we can help to bring about an end to sexual assault on campus. RAINN hopes to break the stigma of sexual assault and offer a safe space for victims.

         SAFER is a student-led activist group working to change colleges’ sexual assault policies. SAFER was founded in 2000 at Columbia University after a student-led movement successful reform of the campus’s sexual assault policy. This led to an influx of requests from students across the country for help. The organization works to help students change the way their campus deals with sexual assault, and the website provides a list of policies every effective college sexual assault policy should contain. SAFER shows all of us that if we want to ensure positive, successful change, then we have to do it ourselves. It is those who are impacted by injustice who must fight for change.

          End Rape on Campus is a group that “works to end campus sexual violence through direct support for survivors and their communities; prevention through education and policy reform at the campus, local, state and federal levels.” The co-founders Annie E. Clark and Sofie Karasek began their work at their colleges and helped bring public attention to the problem of sexual assault on campus by filing a federal complaint on their campuses. The site offers ways you can get involved on your campus. We all need to get our hands dirty and take care of this issue.

          As a society we need to stop teaching girls to hide their bodies and focus on teaching men that rape is not OK. (But please always remain vigilant) How many of you are told how to behave yet never once hear someone tell the men in your class: “Hey, don’t be a terrible person and have sex with someone who is unconscious/saying no? Because I never have, and I am done with it.

          So I am asking you to get involved anyway you can. Because sexual assault is never ok. And women can never have equal rights when victim-blaming is still allowed. Let’s all be a little bit more like my favorite television character d make sure these creeps get off the streets by removing the stigma of victim-blaming.

            One of the main issues society has is that we do not understand animals to be intelligent, empathic creatures.

 

 

The New Activist: Emma Watson

       Most of us know Emma Watson as a British actress who is best known for her role as the bookish Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise. What some of you may not be aware of is that she is making a massive impact on gender equality around the world. I know it sounds weird to write about a British woman for an American political blog; however, her work as a UN Goodwill Ambassador makes her a global crusader for gender equality.

      Watson grew up in Oxfordshire, England, and at the age of 11 she became a global phenomenon as a member of the Harry Potter trio. In 2009 the intelligent Watson began her college career at Brown University in Providence, R.I. After a yearlong break to complete the Harry Potter series she went back to Brown and graduated in 2014 with an English degree (because those are the best degrees), and later that year she was appointed a UN Goodwill Ambassador.

      On Sept 20, 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York she announced the launch of , an organization dedicated to gender equality as a human issue not just a women’s issue. The organizations mission statement in part reads, “HeForShe is inviting people around the world to stand together to create a bold, visible force for gender equality. And it starts by taking action right now to create a gender equal world.” After her powerful speech, she was hit with threats of private pictures being leaked because, sadly, too many people feel the need to tear down powerful women. But like all the women on this blog she would never let adversity keep her down. She knew the pictures were not real, and instead of backing down, it inspired her to do more. Her organization is now creating massive impacts worldwide, and while she is still better known as an actress, she uses that power of celebrity to enhance the lives of so many in the world.

      She is an advocate against women shaming women, a problem we all need to address and stop doing. As she pointed out, “Feminism is about giving women choice.” It is not about judging another woman for making a decision you define as antifeminist. And while she’s not busy making movies, or running HeforShe, she is running her online book club, “Our Shared Shelf,” which details a book each month on equality. She really makes me feel like I should sort out my priorities.

(Warner Bros. Pictures)

(My face when I hear women shaming)

             As a child star, Watson had many directions she could have followed, but she chose to use her voice for those who do not have one. As young women, we need to look at this 26-year-old and decide what we will use our voices for.

         Let’s use our voices for good and become a part of the movement. Post your reason for why you are a feminist to our Facebook or Twitter page @WarpaintWomen:

                            

Almost Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Hillary Clinton

 

              This past week I was fortune enough to tour the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. While there, I started thinking back to all the women who came before us to get us where we are today. One in particular is the first woman to inspire me and my commitment to being an involved leader: Hillary Clinton. Many of us know Clinton as a controversial person in politics, and this made me apprehensive to write about her. Clinton’s influence, however, cannot be denied, and so I ask you to look past any ideas you may have concluded about her and look at the impact she’s had on women’s advancement in government.

            Hailing from the suburbs of Chicago, Clinton actually was a proud supporter of the Republican Party. This changed in 1968 upon hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak at a civil rights rally in Chicago.  Clinton attended Wellesley College (because women’s colleges rule!) and later Yale Law School where she met her husband Bill Clinton. He may sound familiar as he was our country’s president in the 90s!  But let us get back to Hillary’s ground breaking contributions to the structural progress in many American communities.

            After law schoollinton went to work on the Watergate case as an advisor to the judiciary committee in 1974. As both the first lady of Arkansas and of the United Stateshe worked on dozens of child welfare committees and headed the Task force on National Health Reform in 1993. She was also twice listed as one of the 100 most important lawyers in The National Law Journal. She has never conformed to traditional gender roleshich empowered her to become a driving force in many educational, social and humanitarian programs.

(One of my favorite biographies by Carl Bernstein)

After Bill Clinton’s two-termresidency the Clintons relocated to New York state where she ran and was elected U.S. Senator from New York. After being a senator of N.Y. since 2001, Clinton decided to run in the presidential race in the 2008 election. She lost the nomination to Barack Obama. Under President Obama’s first administrationhe served as Secretary of State where she fought vehemently for human rights.

 Her biggest battle came in 2016 when she became the first woman to be named a presidential candidate of a major party. Though the glass ceiling seemed to be shattering, she lost in electoral votes and thus left the infamous ceiling intact. In her concession speechlinton stated, “To all the little girls watching…never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance & opportunity in the world.” This powerful quote sums up who Hillary Clinton is look past all the controversy, look past the policies you disagree with and see this. She is a fighter for gender equality.

So let’s all look past the disagreements, and see her as she truly is, a fighter. Yes, the glass ceiling is still there, but shattering it is more attainable than ever thanks to Hillary Clinton’s accomplishments and her struggles. Just remember her statement during a U.N. conference that “women’s rights are human rights.”

And who else can rock this many pantsuits:

(WIREIMAGE, FILMMAGIC, GETTY IMAGES (5)

Or have this killer of a Twitter Post:

So let’s all get up and get to work on this glass ceiling!

Let’s Talk About Nikki Haley

(AP Photo/ Richard Shiro)

           For a change of pace, let’s focus on a Republican powerhouse, South Carolina’s own and newly appointed United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Born to Indian immigrants, Haley was born and raised in South Carolina and attended Clemson University. (The 2017 National football champions! Go Tigers!) Haley achieved a degree in accounting which enabled her to grow her mother’s small clothing company into a multimillion dollar business. After proving herself as a successful businesswoman and chamber member, she decided to run for the South Carolina State Senate. In 2004, she became the first Indian-American to be a state senator of S.C.

         Haley became the first female governor of South Carolina in 2010! You go girl! This was after having to deal with two separate accusations by men claiming to have had affairs with her. She denied these abhorrent rumors, but people will try trying to tear down powerful women is still aggravating. She also had to deal with Senator John Knotts, a supporter of her opposition, calling her a “raghead.” The comments Knotts made are still disturbing, having been reported by CBS News. Her parents are immigrants of India and practice the Sikh religion. She stood her ground against all of these oppositions and still won the election.

(Photo by Mark Wilson for Getty Images.)

         As governor, Haley brought new business to South Carolina and helped to stimulate its economy. Her defining moment as governor came from her handling of June 17, 2015 when convicted murderer Dylann Roof shot and killed nine people at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. In a country already battling race relations, and riots breaking out across the country over other racial slayings, Haley kept S.C. united. The morning following the massacre Haley stated, “We woke up today, and the heart and soul of South Carolina was broken.” Instead of giving in to the sensationalism of the media, she stood behind her state and insured the peaceful mourning for the families and citizens and withheld the dignity of the innocent victims.

          The media spot light on S.C. continued with the discussion of the removal of the Confederate Flag. A controversial aspect of S.C. was the flying of the Confederate Flag on the State House lawn. With the tragedy of the Charleston shooting, Haley called for the removal of the flag stating: “This flag, while an integral part of our past, does not represent the future of our great state.” While some disagreed, it speaks the unifying nature of Haley. This act not only removed a flag that caused many pain, but helped to ease the racial tensions from the Charleston shooting. With her firm graciousness, Haley’s management of this malicious crime put her on the map with the rest of the country, and talk of furthering her political career soon began.

         With the election of President Donald Trump, he quickly announced that he was nominating Haley to be the new ambassador to the United Nations. On Jan. 24, 2017 Haley was confirmed as ambassador. It is important to note that throughout her confirmation hearing she went against several of Trump’s ideas, proving that she will do what is right for the country and its citizens. Haley’s confirmation hearing proves that to have an important role in government, one needs only focus on what is best for the nation and its people, and not the political game. So let’s follow former governor Nikki Haley’s example and get up and get to work!

(Photo by Matt Segar)

The OG Activist

This post goes out to the legendary activist Gloria Steinem! I could not have a blog about women making an impact in government without talking about Steinem. Hailing from Toledo, Ohio, Steinem graduated from the famed Smith College. Smith is also the alma mater of notable alumnae Nancy Reagan, Sylvia Plath, Julia Child and Betty Friedan. While in college, Steinem showed her rebel side early by majoring in government, an uncommon major for women in the 50s.

Now that you have some background, here are some of her most important contributions to the women’s rights movement. As a freelance writer, she went undercover as a cocktail waitress at the infamous Playboy Club in New York City. Her article “A Bunny’s Tale” discusses the misogyny and all around degradation of the women who work in the club. In the 60s she helped to create New York magazine and became the political columnist for the magazine. Steinem, Friedan and other activists helped to found the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971. The caucus’ goal was to focus solely on women’s issues. She also became a leading member for the National Organization of Women or NOW and still supports the organization to this day. Possibly her most important contribution to the feminist movement was the creation of the revolutionary Ms. magazine. This feminist magazine celebrated and empowered women while also challenging the patriarchy. A personal favorite article discusses what it would be like if men had periods. The article from 1978 entitle “If Men Could Menstruate” discusses the absurdity of women feeling shame for their bodies. The truly absurd part of the article is how fitting it still is today. Steinem was able to talk about subjects the rest of media was not covering. In 1976 she wrote “The Truth About Battered Wives,” which was the first article on domestic violence. Steinem is a pioneer who believes in discussing what many want to forget.

(Photo from Ms. magazine. One of Steinem’s most groundbreaking articles discusses domestic violence.)

           From marching in support of legalized abortion, to equal work equal pay, to LGBTQ rights, Gloria Steinem has fought tirelessly to bring about the change needed for all human rights. Steinem is one of the founders of the women’s rights movement and has maintained her passion for justice throughout the last 50 years. We would all be lucky to one day look back at our lives and see that we have accomplished a tenth of her work.

So I encourage all of you who are reading this to stop worrying about whether or not you can make a change. You can, and you will. So get up and get to work!

(Photograph by Inez and Vinoodh for The New Yorker)

The Notorious RBG

           Lets kick this blog off with one of the OG’s of politics, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton. A graduate of Cornell University, Ginsburg is the longest sitting woman ever on the Supreme Court.

             Now that the basics are out of the way, let’s discuss why she is one of the most amazing women to ever be in government. First, she wrote an autobiography entitled Notorious RBG, which discusses her career. The book’s name pays homage to the late rapper Biggie Smalls aka Notorious B.I.G. One might ask how this petite, 83-year-old justice is able to pull off the name? It is because she is a gangster. As one of nine women in a class of 500 at Harvard Law, she was asked why women were occupying seats that should go to men. Did she back down? No! Like a boss she transferred to Columbia and graduated at the top of her class. Later as a professor at Columbia University, she became the first woman to receive tenure at an Ivy League school. For more than 50 years she has fought for women’s rights. In an interview with Lynn Sherr from ABC news Ginsberg stated: “Women will have achieved true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.” Ginsburg is a realist and isn’t going to sugarcoat anything. Ginsburg has worked tirelessly as a professor, lawyer and judge to fight not only for women’s rights, but for LGBTQ and civil rights. Unlike many who simply accept the way things are, Ginsburg has refused to allow any injustice to go unanswered.

          Obliviously, Ginsburg leans to the left of the political scope, and she is not afraid to voice her opinion. When asked what she thought about presidential candidate Donald Trump, she told CNN: “He says whatever comes into his head at the moment. He really has an ego.” She has since apologized for the quote for being unprofessional, but she still believes it. She does not worry herself with using kind words or acting “like a lady”, instead she gets down to business and gets stuff done!

         All it takes is a simple Google search to see how far her influence reaches. Many praise Ginsburg for being a woman warrior. That is exactly what she is, a warrior for anyone the big guys try to push around. She digs in her heels and will destroy any opposition with a well formulated argument that is impregnable.

       When an 83-year-old grandmother has the strength to fight for what she believes in, then we all need to look around and see what needs changing. So get up and get to work.