As well as being the United Nations Elimination of Violence Against Women Day, today is also White Ribbon Day – a day set up by the White Ribbon Campaign. Each year the campaign urges men and boys to wear a white ribbon for one week, starting today, to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women. Wearing a white ribbon acts as a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.
The campaign is an interesting and much needed one because it takes the onus of responsibility surrounding male violence against women away from women and sees men as part of the solution. Here is some information from the campaign’s educational material;
Why violence against women is also a men’s issue:
*Men are the main perpetrators of violence
*The lives of partners, friends, sisters and daughters of men are damaged by violence and abuse
*Men can speak out and intervene when male friends and relatives insult or attack women
*Men can help create a culture where the behaviour of a minority, who treat women and girls with contempt or violence, becomes unacceptable
*Men can examine their own behaviour and consider changes which will create a world based upon gender equality
10 things men can do to help prevent male violence against women:
1. Realise that gender violence is a men’s issue that affects women we care about
2. Never remain silent – confront abusive behaviour of other men
3. Understand how our own attitudes and actions may perpetuate sexism and violence – work towards changing them
4. Offer help and support if we suspect a woman is being threatened
5. Respect women and treat them as equals
6. Ally with women who are working to end all forms of gender violence
7. Speak out against homophobia
8. Educate ourselves about masculinity, gender inequality and the root causes of gender violence
9. Mentor young men about ways to be men that do not involve degrading or abusing women
10. Refuse to purchase any magazines, videos or music that portrays women in a degrading or violent manner
Today, the 25th November, is the United Nations Elimination of Violence Against Women Day and, to mark the day, there will be candle lit vigils held in both London and Edinburgh.
Million Women Rise, along with other women’s organisations, like Object, the Women and Girls’ Network and Roshni, are inviting self-identified women and male allies to come along and bring a candle to light in remembrance of all women who have suffered male violence.
It was with great joy and enthusiasm that myself and (soon-to-be regular Uplift blogger!) Dearbhaile Kitt attended the Reclaim The Night march on Saturday. It might seem strange to outsiders that this march protesting violence towards women would be so happy and exuberant but, for me, those emotions felt totally right.
Along with over 2000 other women marching through central London, I was able to gain the strength to process my anger and sadness at having been harassed and sexually assaulted whilst walking alone on the streets at night (and during the day!) and evolve those feelings from fear into a powerful assertion that all women should have the right to walk the streets without being afraid. Through our singing, dancing (the drumming group SheBoom really got us going), cheers and chants we were able to deny those who have hurt us any negative and destructive power over our bodies, minds and memories. It was a wonderful feeling of freedom, one we so seldom feel as we simply make our way from A to B.
This amazing video from Hannah Nicklin really conjures up the empowering spirit of the evening;
Photographer, writer and Uplift contributor, Alex Brew will be giving a talk tonight at the opening of new exhibition ‘Shattered’. Brew will be exhibiting and discussing images from the Asking For It project that was first shown at Ladyfest London in May 2008. To create the series of images, Brew approached men in public spaces and asked them to fully or partially undress for her and her camera. Her resulting images raised questions about objectification, sexual freedom and power relations between the genders.
Brew will be joined by ceramicist Claudia Clare for the discussion, which runs from 7 til 9pm. Clare’s work consists of five, giant sized, broken and mended clay pots, which were made in response to contemporary women’s stories of surviving sexual violence.
The Shattered exhibition is a product of working with Rape Crisis, England & Wales. It runs from until the 12th of December at The Original Gallery, Hornsey Library, Haringey Park, N8 9JA. Opening times: Monday – Friday, 1-7.00pm, Saturday and Sunday, 12-4.00pm
Women of London! Women of Britain! It’s time to dust off your banner and wrap up warm, because Reclaim The Night is here again.
Saturday 21st November will see women gather at 6.30pm at Whitehall Place, Central London for the women’s march to the Camden Centre in Kings Cross. From that point onwards there will be a mixed rally and a party until late.
And to remind us why we still need to Reclaim the Night, a quote from RTN’s own website;
“In every sphere of life we negotiate the threat or reality of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. We cannot claim equal citizenship while this threat restricts our lives as it does. We demand the right to use public space without fear. We demand this right as a civil liberty, we demand this as a human right.”
To mark the first annual Anti Street-Harassment Day, Dearbhaile Kitt reports on a growing movement that is aiming to put a stop to this most anti-social sexist practise.
Stephanie Phillips, of Don’t Dance Her Down Boys blog, went along to the launch event for UK Feminista to see what prospects the site might hold for the advancement UK women’s movement.
