This past Sunday, the Albright Thespian Society performed the Vagina Monolgues as a stand against the violence committed against women around the world. Coincidentally, we had just finished discussing the differen types of violence in my women's writers course. We are all aware of the physical abuse against women. This ranges from domestic violence in America to genital mutilation of women in Africa. However, there is more than physical violence circulationg the world. Many women of other cultures experience institutional violence. This denotes the government's approval of using violence against women as a form of punishment. More specific examples are commonly seen in India where women who commit adultery are stoned. The institutional violence encouraging the physical violence is a vicious cycle that needs to be stopped, but as long as the same system of power is in place, it will never cease.
Another type of violence we've discussed and we commonly see in our very capitalistic society is symbolic violence. This refers to the images of the sacrificial mother and the beautiful model we are all supposed to look like. The images that the media gives us of the mother who drops everything and gives it up for her child is detrimental to psychological health in that it forces women not only to give up their identity but to lose themselves almost completely as human beings. For the rest of us who can't quite lose ourselves to the image if the sacrificial mother, we don;t have it any easier. The media constantly bombards us with images of what we're supposed to look like, wear, what to buy, etc. We're not allowed to get old, and we also can't gain weight.
Another type of violence is economic violence. This specifically refers to women in third world countries who work long, hard hours performing arduous labor, and getting none to little pay. The average lifetime of a woman who undergoes this type of violence is approximately 40 years of age where the average lifespan of a woman in America is around 80 years.
The many types of violence are far more than what we have commonly been exposed to. Physical violence is the easiest to see, yet not the only type that we have to be worried about.
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Being involved in the Vagina Monologues helped me realize how bad the violence against women truly is. It goes beyond physical abuse and unfortunately, shows us how women in other countries are being genital mutilation. I am really glad you posted a blog about the show because it proves that we opened eyes and got our points across. I have heard of other schools performing this piece which I think is great. Many people don't know the truth and I think it was time everyone learned what is really happening behind closed doors.
ReplyDeleteI think Erika is completely right in that physical violence is the easiest type of violence to see, and yet definitely not the only kind of violence out there. In our society, physical violence is what we see the most in the news and such - whenever there is a violent crime, we are immediately notified of it. But the other types of violent remain unspoken and therefore unnoticed. I don't mean to say that other types of violence against women do not exist in the US, becuase they certainly do, but I feel like they are probalby a bigger problem in foreign countries. And sadly enough, these issues of violence do not receive enough attention there. either.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the month of March a lot of shows on televison such as 106 & Park, Oprah, the Tyra Show, etc. aired segments focusing on the nature of violence in relationships and where people should go to get help. It was really enlightening the message these shows expounded for the reasons why abuse occurs in relationships from the point of view of former abusers (men), and the steps these men went through to ease their rage and modify their outlook on life. It is very difficult for women to get out of abusive relationships for so many reasons: one, they invest a whole lot of time and energy and committment in most cases, but these shows showed women that they had to learn to be strong and confident and willing to get help and leave. Abuse in celebrity relationships was usually underwraps/hidden and not really discussed in the entertainment industry or disclosed to the public, but the horrific beating of the singer Rihanna by her boyfriend sparked a lot of fire and outrage by the public and the individuals in the entertainment business. In the past, speaking out on violence in relationships was not usually heard of because women's place in relationships was subordination and dependance. Women did not have the power to leave or make their own decisions; they were under the wrath of their husbands. Today, however, most women in the U.S. have the right to do whatever they please without a man or men telling them what to do. They are independent and strong, and in control. Therefore, when the media skyrocketed about Rihanna's beating, people took action to make sure man, woman, and child knew how to handle the situation they were either in and to help those they knew were in an abusive relationship. This was the first time I really saw day after day television shows covering the topic of abuse, and it was important that the message got across to everyone from the young to the old. It is truly heartbreaking however that this type of display by the media in the U.S. is not exhibited to the same degree in other countries where abuse is usually gone unreported by the victims. Women in other countries are suffering day in and day out, and their cry for help is not heard. We have to continue to take a stand against violence in the U.S. and for other countries. We need to speak out for those unable to speak for themselves by raising issues that are important to the cause. Abuse needs to stop,and the only way it will cease is if we all work together to encourage those in a life threatening situation to try and get help. Violence against women in other countries as well as here in the U.S. needs to be addressed.
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