We can do anything we put our minds to. We are fearless and strong. Educated, skilled and qualified. We are world travelers, dancers, artists you name it. We are free!
With freedom comes glory and responsibility. The freedom to make decisions is also the assignment of accountability for the results of said decisions. Most unfortunately we also face consequences based upon other peoples’s actions. For example people who wish to harm us while we are in the process of living our lives and being great.
Across the world women have been protesting domestic violence, violence against women and femicide. Here in America we are somewhat insulated from the conditions women face around the world. Genital mutilation, child marriage, no reproductive control, no economic standing, no political representation and overall lack of what we see as basic human rights. We are also insulated from the sex trafficking and exploitation right here in America. As the media these days does mainly celebrity news, gossip, political exposes , paid ad content and other exaggerated stories about topics that do not advance humanity.
Right here in America, Indigenous women, from the reservations in the mid and south west all the way to Alaska are facing disappearances and death. All across America, immigrant women are transported from one corner of the country to another. From Mexico to New York, as depicted in a documentary I saw about two years ago.
We are totally detracted from the dangers other’s suffer until we encounter it ourselves. So we end up ill prepared to avoid and or prevent further occurrences. For example Uber was found to have suppressed approximately over 3000 instances where passengers were sexually assaulted by drivers. If the news media has exposed this information we would be more careful when getting into a vehicle. Maybe we would be more vigilant, even for a while. Maybe the offenders would know that they are under our watchful eye and find work where they would not be in a position to exploit their passengers.
The responsibility is never on the victims.
The responsibility is for the collective society to hold each other accountable to enforce an environment of security. To punish offenders and send a clear message that justice will be swift and inexorable. We have to share our knowledge to protect our neighbors and loved ones but how can this happen when the only place he Uber story was reported on was in the business pages?
We are living our lives, that in itself is a struggle, but it is made somewhat easier with information. What locations are dangerous, what times of the day are most dangerous, where are the places criminals frequent? Where is the safest place to park?
Some may see it as oppression but the fact remains that women should consider the safety of their environment even in our relatively liberated country. There are emotionally and psychologically disturbed people who do not view you beyond an object for economic and/or sexual exploitation. Be careful out there and travel at a reasonable hour. Let your loved ones know who you are associating with and let your associates know that your loved ones know who they are.
I understand you are a strong independent and fierce womyn. That does not mean you purposely and unnecessarily walk into danger.
Featured photo: Graeme Maclean https://www.flickr.com/photos/gee01/
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