Thursday, January 24, 2013

What Can Good Men Do?

What can men do to stop the harassment of women and girls? To stop the victim blaming? To ensure a safe future for our daughters?

Most men we know are not abusers. They are not rapists. They are not threatening feminists online or harassing women on the street. But maybe they crack a joke every now and then. Maybe they listen while their friends or those in close proximity harass women and girls without saying anything. Maybe they don't see it as harassment. Maybe they don't understand how hurtful these things are and the effect it has on grown women, let alone the developing minds of our daughters.

What can the good men do? Speak up. Speak up to other men. Tell everyone who will listen, and those that won't, that this has to end. That this must stop now. Advocate for feminism, understanding that doing so doesn't make your weak, but that it makes you strong. Strong for speaking up for what's right, and standing against the crowd. Understanding that not letting this crap slide will help young girls believe they can do and be anything they want. Without fear.

Reading the following Ms. blog post by Ben Atherton-Zeman is a good start. Maybe this should be required reading for all men...
How Some Men Harass Women Online and What Other Men Can Do to Stop It

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Skirting the Issue


"Judgment" by Rosea Lake


The above photograph is by student artist Rosea Lake and is entitled "Judgment." This image, clearly a response to the rape culture and victim-blaming culture we are living in now, is beautiful in it's simplicity. It's message is clear. In case the image is difficult to see, the different skirt heights are labelled from "matronly," to "proper" to "asking for it" to "whore" and everything in between. The photo has gone viral and at the very least will get people thinking, asking questions and sharing. We need dialogue. We need people thinking. We need to start changing the world. Art is good start.