Time for some activism (in the form of political humor)!

Just a normal guy, taking a stand against gender violence.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence

Male Sexual Assault

Sexual assault against males is a very important and understated issue in society today. Men can be raped – just like women – by men and women. It is expected that men want to have sex, so the idea that they can be forced is foreign to many people. Unfortunately, this has caused an issue to be under-acknowledged and swept under the rug. Gender violence is not exclusive to women and the law is often biased towards issues of this nature. Men are less likely to report a sexual assault against them, but it makes me wonder – how many men report assault but are not taken seriously? Gender inequality goes both ways and this is just one of the many examples. Luckily, there are some groups that have accepted the challenge of advocating for victims of sexual assault –regardless of their gender.

Here are some links, hopefully we can all become a little more informed.

Pandora’s Project, Support and Resources for survivors of rape and sexual abuse

Rainn, The Nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.

Male Survivor, Overcoming Sexual Victimization of Boys and Men

Rape Victim Advocates…helping victims become survivors

This article written by Oliver Meth, Male Rape Survivors Demand Equal Services focusing on South Africa

Death Sentence for Chinese Sex Slave Owner

“A Chinese man was sentenced to death Friday for holding six women as sex slaves in an underground lair and ordering the deaths of two of them…”

 

The 35-year-old man kidnapped the women to sell their bodies for money via forced prostitution and web pornography. While in his makeshift dungeon basement, two of the captives died with assistance from three of their fellow captives who also faced prosecution for the murders. The three who assisted with the murders were given lighter sentences because of their situation and coercion from the captor. Thankfully the horror has ended, but the lives of all women involved will be forever altered and for two ended abruptly. Photo links to the article.

“Independence Day” by Martina McBride

“Independence Day” is a song about a woman who lashes out against her abusive husband and dying with him in the blaze she set of their house. It is a lyrical story told through the eyes of the young daughter and its message is clear: it is perfectly fine for a woman to stand up for herself and gain retribution as long as she is also punished. In the case of this account of abuse, the abuse is ignored by the community and the woman only receives relief in death.

Death and the Maiden a play by Ariel Dorfman

“In 1991, Ariel Dorfman brought the horrors of Pinochet’s Chile to the stage in Death and the Maiden. Here, he explains why he is revisiting the play’s darkest themes.”
The photo links to a fantastic article featuring the author of “Death and the Maiden”. The Chilean discusses the aftermath and his feelings during the reign and fall of General Pinochet.