Violence against women

This is a belated post for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, November 25th.

I can say that we are not post-sexism. When I say we I refer to the whole world. No matter the culture women are second to men. There are worse and better situations, the top 10 countries in the Gender Equality index are: Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Germany, Slovenia, France, and Iceland. I have personally visited Sweden and can affirm to this, it was enchanting and modern.

Notice how big countries like the USA and Spain aren't on this list. I feel that in the states violence against women and other minorities is still prevalent. However, just as bad is how our media and society has internalized all sorts of misogyny into men and women.

I will say progress has been made in human rights for women, but laws only do so much; it is the people and their beliefs that must change. A recent example of this would be the Steubenville High School rape case (x). A young girl was intoxicated at a party, surrounded by peers, when she was raped by two football players. The whole thing was caught on camera on some kid's phone. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth thinking about it. She was violated and hurt and humiliated by this dreadful act only for locals to complain about losing players for the ol' football team. Where is the compassion? The humanity?

Such terrible things happen despite the laws against them, but there is also the case of Malala whom we spoke of earlier. Targeted by thugs because she wants to learn! I am appalled by our world's behavior.

I am proud that our school has recognized this day to some degree, but I am not ready to give anyone pats on the back.

While branching off of the topic of women I think its also important to mention how minorities such as "race" and sexual orientations and disabilities suffer the same discrimination and mistreatment due to the "supremacy" of the white, straight, male.

A major deal in the USA currently is the distress in Ferguson over the racist cops killing black kids. Consider this, a 12 year old boy, Tamir Rice, was murdered by a cop simply for having a toy gun (x).  Again and again police kill black people without hesitation whereas they are capable of calmly arresting known killers or even James Holmes, the shooter in the Aurora theater. It's despicable and I, like many others, am sick of it.

To end on a lighter note, our recent hero Malala has brought hope in her brave stand for our human rights. The strength of us women is inspiring always and we can do this.