It's not okay if you're in silence or lie (Human Rights)

I was reading a very interesting article on 3 naval football players who allegedly sexually assaulted a 20- year old female midshipman. The alleged victim was a 20-year-old sophomore in April 2012 when she attended an off-campus “toga and yoga” party, drank heavily, and had alleged sexual contact with the three men while being allegedly too intoxicated to give consent ; the article was titled Navy Hearing Grills Alleged Rape Victim on Her Oral Sex Technique, Whether She Wore a Bra. The title lost me a little but, as I read more in depth there was more meaning to it. People didn’t know whether to believe those allegations if this was true seeing that allegedly was used so much in this case; “reports showed that an estimated 26,000 service members experienced some form of sexual assault last year, up from 19,000 two years before. Of those incidents, 3,000 were reported; only 302 went to trial” (www.slate.com). As I kept reading this article, it was easy to see why so many victims might prefer to disappear rather than face the punishing interrogations and institutional pressures that come with speaking up about being sexual assaulted.

We as women have human rights but, to falsify that you have been allegedly raped is going to far which makes the real raped and assaulted victims even more afraid to speak up because of women coming up with false allegations. Being willingly and being forced are two different things and some women just don’t get the two. Allegations towards the naval football players not only were falsified but, the now 21- year old female midshipman repeatedly  said that her memory of the night was fuzzy; she came to believe she’d been raped after she heard rumors and saw posts about her on social media. In my opinion, this is a complete disrespect to those females who would have been bold to speak up not only in the Navy but, in other occupancy if this trial wasn't so shaky and somewhat unreal; also many women falsely accuse men of rape. There are several stories of the falsely accused and numerous comments in their support. Of course it is possible for a woman to falsely accuse a man of raping her, and of course it does happen, but it’s not an epidemic. “But from the disproportionate number of stories detailing a false accusation (far more than 3 percent), you might think it is” (www.motherboard.vice.com). Crime statistics on rape are notoriously unreliable. “Studies put non-reporting rates at anywhere between 75 percent and 95 percent. The largest study in the United States into false rape allegations, published in 2005, put the number at approximately 3 percent of the 2,643 cases of sexual assault reported”(www.motherboard.vice.com). A lot of people make judgments on the type of women that are sexually assaulted victims saying that they were asking for it; which makes the victim become more in denial questioning if they were really raped or not.

Women Human Rights on rape and assault have been talked about globally because nowadays rape and sexually assault is considered as a weapon of war in some countries as for America it’s just commonly considered rape and assault in my opinion. We as women have the right to choose who can touch us or not whether it is of consent or not. Today Shame, Fear, Depression, also Lack of trust in the criminal justice system are the four that come to mind which is traumatic to women who have been sexually assaulted or raped. Depending on one’s ethnicity or cultural claims, the virtue of chastity or modest is held in high regard, often to a ridiculous level. I feel that Society mocks or did the rape victim. Also if the rapist is not caught fear of being attacked again or fear that more violence will be done to more women being silenced. Women should come together and make it easier for the real victims of sexual assault and rape crimes and for them not be scared to speak up because not because to don’t want to but because some women are taking advantage of our Human Rights as women.

Reporting of Sexual Violence Incidents." National Institute of Justice. The Bureau of Justice Statistics, 26 Oct. 2010. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.

Waldman, Katy. "Navy Hearing Grills Alleged Rape Victim on Her Oral Sex Technique, Whether ..." Slate Magazine (blog). New York Times, 24 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.

Bourdet, Kelly. "Rapists Are Sharing Stories of Their Rapes on Reddit Right Now." Weblog post. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.

Women in the workplace ( Gender Bias)

Yesterday I had an intriguing conversation with my mom about her relations to Gender bias and Gender equality in the workplace. Did she feel like men were put before women in the work place or in any environment work related?  Was there ever a feeling that her male counterparts were getting more acknowledgement then the women that worked with them? My mom was a Licensed Practical Nurse for 7 years before a huge brain tumor came in the way which left her legally blind after a few months of recovering from her surgery. I was a little skeptical about asking her anything about her past career because I knew if she could do it all over again she would. “A conversation or two became a long line of questions more like an interview”, she said. My mom opened up to me and said, “When I became a Nurse it was so competitive even with the degree and all, furthermore as time would past a several of new Nurses would work together or under the Registered Nurses and Doctors, I know from the outside looking in everybody may think Gender bias isn't in a workplace as such as an hospital but, there was”. My mom explained, “Male Nurses especially the new ones were always competing with the women Nurses and their specialty for favoritism, that the director and other people would acknowledge more of their progress while some female Nurses would do exceptional jobs with their patients and not get acknowledgement for it. “Are you all supposed to work like that or as a team? , I mumbled”.

 She responded, “At Emory Hospital or even every were else I worked with male counterparts who felt that they had exceptional power over the females in the same positions as them, it was like they wanted to prove something to the women and they gaved us a look as if they would dominant the hospital someday”. Mom, how did you feel when you wouldn't get acknowledge for your work with the patients knowing that your male counterpart was trying to do the same? , “I was deranged knowing that this is still happening in today’s work place, and that both female and male had the same level of education why be split into two categories” ?she said.

I went through the same thing my mom went through when I wasn't acknowledged at my job. Back in 2010 I worked part time as a trainer at Planet Fitness gym; being the only girl trainer there was quite fascinating but, what startled me was some men would walk in there and laugh because I wasn't a male training them so they asked me was this what I really wanted to do? Now that I think about it I was being put down because of my gender and probably how physically fit I was, that my male counterparts didn't take me serious. Yes I would call this situation being gender bias, thinking that a man is only fit for a job as a real good personal trainer or that women can only do a certain job or they won’t get the amount of satisfaction and results they need because of me being a female, that’s a load of crap if you ask me. What did my gender have to do with my ability training them; I can have as much knowledge just as a male.

My Grandma sadly stated as I was still talking to my mom, “Everyday here in America and across the globe women are still subjected to abuse, often paid less than their male counterparts, and do not occupy leaderships roles in the numbers that their competency skills and number reflect”. I felt as if she could relate to this topic I was writing about. My Grandma was a school Math teacher back in her country of South Africa with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in the 1970’s, based on her gender she was among some of the women that were pay less and subjected to abuse to teach while the male teachers earned more. My Grandma told me that when she was teaching or on lunch break another male teacher would call her out her name just to feel that he is the man and she was the female in his world. Back then gender equality and rights were very bad; men were allowed to work while some women were housewives because men felt as if they were in command. “Demand has been matched by supply: women are increasingly willing and able to work outside the home. The vacuum cleaner has played its part. Improved technology reduced the amount of time needed for the traditional female work of cleaning and cooking”. (www.economist.com). As years went by more like decades female had the empowerment to further their education and career just as the men did. Across the rich world more women are working than ever before coping with this change will be one of the great challenges of the coming decades. To me this is a woman world and men are just guest in this world of ours, women have the power to do anything and everything and shouldn't be categorized by gender.

WE ARE THE SAME LET’S JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT!

Dennis,Gwendolyn. “Gender Equality”. Personal Interview.25 Sept.2013

"Female Power." Economist. N.p., 30 Dec. 2010. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.

Value and Respect Women; we do hold up more than half the sky!

Growing up I never had a sister, the only people I could really rely on was my Mother and Grandmother which were two hard working individuals in the field of Nursing and Education. When it came to becoming a woman oh yea they did that; I remember feeling so grown in my mind, body and soul knowing I could get so much knowledge passed down to me felt so good and unreal. I find myself reflecting on the important influence of women both-on a personal and professional basis because the women in my life were so important to me.

 Yet, here in America and across the globe women are still subjected to abuse, often paid less than their male counterparts, and do not occupy  leaderships roles in the numbers that their competency skills and number reflect. Sometimes I sit down and wonder about my future and also my future daughter years from now, Will this epidemic be the same? Will both of us still be in the category of gender discrimination? Will we have our rights? These questions are still lingering in my head. My mom is a Licensed Practical Nurse which started of making $45,000 a year now she makes approximately $65,000 a year which is based on her years of experience; What if she was to get paid less than her male counterparts? Will it be fair? No, in her field sometimes she would tell me it has been gender discrimination but, not salary wise just competition.

Last week I read a book by Ann Dolye, the author of “Powering Up”, on how America’s women achievers become leaders- who speak about issues in powerful ways. She laid it on the line when she stated in her book “No one is going to invite you or me to the leadership dance. It’s time to invite ourselves and invite other women. I hope this is the year you’ll: Run for office. Raise your hand for stretch leadership roles. Be a rainmaker for other female professionals. Raise your voice to ensure that women at your company are paid equally with men for similar responsibilities.” Another year has now passed with the collective intelligence of the other half of the human race — female brainpower, perspective and life experience — barely tapped. How long will we wait before millions of women find the courage and commitment to take our rightful places in leadership roles?  Her saying this was like a wakeup call for all the women out here; how long will we wait for us to unite as one and make a change and that we have the power to.

 I ran across this enlightening quote on the topic Women Rights, To cite an old, and far from naive, feminist saying: “If you think equality is the goal, your standards are too low.” It is not enough to be equal to men, when the men are acting like beasts. It is not enough to assimilate. We need to create a world worth assimilating into”.

— Barbara Ehrenreich, What Abu Ghraib Taught Me⁶⁰, Alternet, May 20, 2004.

There is a Chinese saying: “Women hold up half the sky.” In reality, it is more.

For your daughter and my future daughter, for our grandmothers, mothers, aunts and sisters, those of us propping up the other portion of the sky need to do our share, as well….