Sheril Kirshenbaum leads a vital blogo-spheric initiative called SILENCE IS THE ENEMY starting today, June 1st, to help a generation of young women half a world away. She says:
An International Rescue Committee survey suggests 12 percent of girls aged 17 and under acknowledged having been sexually abused in some way in the previous 18 months. Further, of the 275 new sexual violence cases treated Jan-April by Doctors Without Borders, 28 percent involve children aged 4 or younger, and 33 percent involve children aged 5 through 12. That’s 61% age 12 or under. We read about their plight and see the figures, but it’s so easy to feel helpless to act in isolation. But these are not statistics, they are girls. Together we can do more.
As a woman who has two close relatives who were abused under the age of 17 – one by her sibling and one by a family ‘friend’, I hope to forward the information of this day to as many people as possible. I’ve seen women be blamed for the attacks upon them, told that they ‘asked for it’. I’ve known a professor who stood up in court on behalf of his secretary, who was assaulted in the parking lot of the campus, and heard how she was accused of seeking trouble rather than merely trying to get her car to start. I’ve heard of students who were abused by their peers and had photos taken of them with mobile phones during an attack.
These things make me hesitate to tell the next generation that women are truly empowered. These things stop me from endorsing women to embrace their sexuality in the public sphere and ponder if the spectrum of ‘being sexually confident’ just turns into ‘getting your tits out for the lads’ – and whether ‘new-wave feminism’ is really ‘pushing the likelihood that you’ll just be used and abused’. I become confused, conflicted and even more silent in the face of these issues, afraid to speak out. These things make me wonder if things really have changed for the better in modern times. And wonder what can be done to help and make a difference.
Today begins a very important initiative called Silence Is The Enemy to help a generation of young women half a world away.Why? Because they are our sisters and children–the victims of sexual abuse who don’t have the means to ask for help. We have power in our words and influence. Along with our audience, we’re able to speak for them. I’m asking all of you–bloggers, writers, teachers, and concerned citizens–to use whatever platform you have to call for an end to the rape and abuse of women and girls in Liberia and around the world.
The Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières Donation Page and the Congressional Directory donation and signing links are here.
Even if you are overseas, like myself, you can take part. Help maximize donations by visiting the sites of Isis, Jessica, Tara, Neurotopia, Mike, and returning to The Intersection – because every click will help raise money.
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