Waiting on the World to Change: End Violence Against Women.

As a rule, I try to keep the political commentary to a minimum on this blog. I started this as a way to talk about the feminine things I enjoy in my life, as a woman who is not proptypically feminine. Romantic comedies, musicals, make-up, perfume. But I named this blog “feminine things” and now I want to address something that was specific to women: violence against women.

Last week, America was once again confronted by the horrors of our own warped misogynistic culture, when George Sodini walked into a gym and proceeded to shot ten women, killing three, before killing himself. Several media outlets have correctly identified this as a hate crime against women. There can be no doubt that Sodini blamed women for his own unhappiness and, as a group, targeted them for his violent act. He even went so far as to keep a blog detailing his plans and his hatred.

It would be nice to say that this was a random crazy man acting out in a crazy and unpredictable way. But this isn’t the first time women have been targeted specifically for being women (the girls and women of the Amish school shooting just three years ago attest to that) and it won’t be the last. As Bob Herbert eloquently wrote in his New York Times piece, Women at Risk,

We’ve seen this tragic ritual so often that it has the feel of a formula. A guy is filled with a seething rage toward women and has easy access to guns. The result: mass slaughter.

We live in a culture that accepts the systematic abuse and objectification of women. Not just a global culture, but one right here in the U.S., which is one of the places where women have the most freedom. And yet, even here, violence against women is one of the highest threats to a woman's life. Victims of domestic violence and sexual assault are not only doubted in their claims, but frequently blamed for their own victimization. The “she deserved it” reactions to Rhiannon’s beatdown a perfect example of classic victim blaming. (And let’s not mince words here: that poor girl got beat down. There’s no other way to put it.)

Every few minutes, another woman is sexually assaulted. Most of these women will be assaulted by a trusted friend or loved one. Even more women will face physical, emotional, and psychological abuse from a spouse or partner. We live in the midst of an epidemic, one that is killing women. Emotionally, spiritually, and literally, we are killing women.

As a culture, we need to find a way to say enough is enough.

To that end, I encourage you to skip your next frivolous purchase – a latte, a bottle of perfume, a ticket to the next romantic-comedy – and use it to support one of the following organizations, or one like it. If money is an issue in these trying economic times, try volunteering for an organization like the ones listed below. Remember, as Margaret Mead so eloquently said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

When we finally make a change, I want to be counted in that small number.

~ RAINN
~ National Network to End Domestic Violence
~ Family Violence Prevention Fund
~ The National Organization for Women