A few months back I read an article in a magazine about men cat-calling, whistling, or touching women walking by and thing it was OK for them to do that. It was written by a woman who had recently had these things done to her. She decided that it was no longer OK and that she should not have to feel scared or annoyed at the thought of walking on certain streets because of the men.
I wholly support the action she took to stop the men from doing those things. She did her research, she spoke up, she lead a community in educating people about why it should not be considered normal or OK to treat women in that regard, but I didn't understand why it upset her so much. Until now.
Today I was walking to class and a boy cat called me and whistled at me. Now this has happened to me many times before. It never bothered me before and often times I would get a little ego boost when men would honk, whistle, or look me over.
This time it was different. Instead of getting my usual ego boost I felt extremely annoyed. There was no reason for him to whistle at me or cat call me.
It was rude and quiet frankly a big turn off. I love getting compliments, but that doesn't mean I like men blatantly showing me disrespect just because I am a woman.
Men who cat call and whistle at women and touch them without their permission are cowards. They are the reason most women hate walking down streets or feel that there are no good, a.k.a polite and respectful, men where they live.
Men doing these things to us may seem like the norm and not a big deal, but that is only because we have allowed them to think that it is OK.
It is up to us ladies to stand up for ourselves and say what we think, what we believe and how people can and cannot treat us. I am not saying change will happen over night. I am saying that it needs to happen.
So the next time a guy does one of these things or a combination of them I am going to stop him and ask why. I will tell him to stop and I will tell him that isn't how you show appreciation towards women.
For me being disrespected in the streets ends today.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Consumer rights
In my last post I talked about the rights of publishers. In this post I want to talk about the rights consumers have.
There have been many cases of harassment, bullying and stalking done through websites. The consumers being stalked and harassed flagged content, sent e-mails to the publishers, reset their own privacy accounts, basically they did everything they could to stop what was going on.
This is called Cyberstalking and Cyberharassment. To get definitions and state law information about it go to http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/telecom/cyberstalking-and-cyberharassment-laws.aspx.
In the case of Cyberbulling the website http://cyberbullying.us/Bullying_and_Cyberbullying_Laws.pdf will give you state laws on it.
Sadly it is now common place in our technology ridden world to be bullied, stalked and harassed through the Internet and social media tools.
It is a victim's right to have the publishers help in any way possible when these situations occur.
Publishers need to decide where to draw the line when it comes to comments or other means of communicating on sites.
Consumers have the right to feel safe while they are on websites and social media sites. They have the right to ask publishers to help them if they are being attacked online. They have the right for the publishers to actually listen to their complaints.
They also have the right to drop their accounts and tell the publishers why they did it.
In the end when it comes to the Internet the rights of consumers and publishers can sometimes clash. It is up to both to decide what they want to do.
I would like to note that if you are being Cyberbullied, Harassed, or Stalked you can always file a police report with your local police. You can file as many as you want.
There have been many cases of harassment, bullying and stalking done through websites. The consumers being stalked and harassed flagged content, sent e-mails to the publishers, reset their own privacy accounts, basically they did everything they could to stop what was going on.
This is called Cyberstalking and Cyberharassment. To get definitions and state law information about it go to http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/telecom/cyberstalking-and-cyberharassment-laws.aspx.
In the case of Cyberbulling the website http://cyberbullying.us/Bullying_and_Cyberbullying_Laws.pdf will give you state laws on it.
Sadly it is now common place in our technology ridden world to be bullied, stalked and harassed through the Internet and social media tools.
It is a victim's right to have the publishers help in any way possible when these situations occur.
Publishers need to decide where to draw the line when it comes to comments or other means of communicating on sites.
Consumers have the right to feel safe while they are on websites and social media sites. They have the right to ask publishers to help them if they are being attacked online. They have the right for the publishers to actually listen to their complaints.
They also have the right to drop their accounts and tell the publishers why they did it.
In the end when it comes to the Internet the rights of consumers and publishers can sometimes clash. It is up to both to decide what they want to do.
I would like to note that if you are being Cyberbullied, Harassed, or Stalked you can always file a police report with your local police. You can file as many as you want.
Publisher rights
Today in my Media Writing 2 class we went over why it is not the publisher of a website obligation to remove flagged content as soon as possible. In fact they don't have to remove it at all.
Now I disagree with this completely, but I think it is necessary to say why publishers have just as many rights as consumers do.
Publishers create their websites or open their websites to the public so the public can get information freely and easily.
It is not their job to be consumers mommy's and daddy's by telling people what they can and cannot say on their websites.
Consumers have the responsibility to keep themselves under control. They also have the responsibility to work things out with the people they have problems before they go to the publishers.
Consumers need to realize that even if they flag content or tell publishers about inappropriate content the publishers have a right to not take it down.
What content is seen and what content is not is up to the discretion of the publisher.
Now I disagree with this completely, but I think it is necessary to say why publishers have just as many rights as consumers do.
Publishers create their websites or open their websites to the public so the public can get information freely and easily.
It is not their job to be consumers mommy's and daddy's by telling people what they can and cannot say on their websites.
Consumers have the responsibility to keep themselves under control. They also have the responsibility to work things out with the people they have problems before they go to the publishers.
Consumers need to realize that even if they flag content or tell publishers about inappropriate content the publishers have a right to not take it down.
What content is seen and what content is not is up to the discretion of the publisher.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Give me rights or give me death
I don't mean to be dramatic but I know that I would not do well in a society without rights or with very few rights.
No doubt I would become a rebellion leader or possibly a criminal master mind if I lived in that society.
Rights are the basis for freedom I need freedom. So why then are rights so hard for people around the world to get?
Why, even in the U.S., are some people still being told they don't have the right to be happy or have their basic needs met.
The answer is not a simple one. People are complex.
I have a few theories as to why people deny other rights, don't fight for rights, and why people ignore rights.
1. People are like sheep. They like to be herded and have hierachy's. It makes them feel needed, protected, and wanted.
2. People are cowards. They don't like to get involoved because it puts them at risk.
3. They are ignorant. They do not know what is going on around them.
4. They are making themselves believe that there is nothing wrong.
and last but not least,
5. Nothing in life is ever easy to get. It takes time, dedication, focus, love, strength, and support to get things done. People are slow to jump on board anything and politics are even slower.
The point to all this is when it comes to rights, wars are raging all over the world and battles are being won and lost everyday. Rights will always be here because people will alwasy want them.
No doubt I would become a rebellion leader or possibly a criminal master mind if I lived in that society.
Rights are the basis for freedom I need freedom. So why then are rights so hard for people around the world to get?
Why, even in the U.S., are some people still being told they don't have the right to be happy or have their basic needs met.
The answer is not a simple one. People are complex.
I have a few theories as to why people deny other rights, don't fight for rights, and why people ignore rights.
1. People are like sheep. They like to be herded and have hierachy's. It makes them feel needed, protected, and wanted.
2. People are cowards. They don't like to get involoved because it puts them at risk.
3. They are ignorant. They do not know what is going on around them.
4. They are making themselves believe that there is nothing wrong.
and last but not least,
5. Nothing in life is ever easy to get. It takes time, dedication, focus, love, strength, and support to get things done. People are slow to jump on board anything and politics are even slower.
The point to all this is when it comes to rights, wars are raging all over the world and battles are being won and lost everyday. Rights will always be here because people will alwasy want them.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Fashion forward
I am a big believer in fashions ability to help forward different rights. One way fashion has helped a rights movement is the right to be an individual.
Now some people will say that all fashion is the same. That it has an agenda to make everyone look a certain way and act a certain way. That it levels no room to be an individual. That it promotes materialism.
I am saying that is only true if you allow what people say about fashion to dictate your feelings on it.
Fashion is not meant to make people unhappy and identical. It is meant to give people unlimited options to create persona's that are unique to them.
Fashion has helped lead the way for women to show their sensual and sexual sides without feelings of guilt (in most cases).
Fashion is paving the way for men to show their softer sides as well. From skirts and dresses made for men to soft pastel colors being incorporated into men's wear, men have more options than ever to find a way to show off another facet of their being.
Beyond helping men and women break out of their shells fashion is also leading the way with saving the Earth.
Many designers are choosing to go green by making their goods from organic materials or materials made from sustainable products.
From clothes, to shoes, to jewelry, to make-up, fashion gives people the option to be anything they want to.
Fashion is probably one of the best leaders of most rights movements. Celebrities, designers, and everyday people use it to further what they believe and make a stand.
Now some people will say that all fashion is the same. That it has an agenda to make everyone look a certain way and act a certain way. That it levels no room to be an individual. That it promotes materialism.
I am saying that is only true if you allow what people say about fashion to dictate your feelings on it.
Fashion is not meant to make people unhappy and identical. It is meant to give people unlimited options to create persona's that are unique to them.
Fashion has helped lead the way for women to show their sensual and sexual sides without feelings of guilt (in most cases).
Fashion is paving the way for men to show their softer sides as well. From skirts and dresses made for men to soft pastel colors being incorporated into men's wear, men have more options than ever to find a way to show off another facet of their being.
Beyond helping men and women break out of their shells fashion is also leading the way with saving the Earth.
Many designers are choosing to go green by making their goods from organic materials or materials made from sustainable products.
From clothes, to shoes, to jewelry, to make-up, fashion gives people the option to be anything they want to.
Fashion is probably one of the best leaders of most rights movements. Celebrities, designers, and everyday people use it to further what they believe and make a stand.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
LGBTQA
In April my college's LGBTQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and allies.) organization will be doing a number of activities promoting and educating people about the LGBTQA world.
The reason they are doing it in April instead of June is because we are not in school in June. I think that it is a good decision to allow this organization to do it in April instead.
It shows that the school backs their rights as individuals. That is what all schools should do. Back the rights of the students and teachers who work and go there.
Education is the way people can gain tolerance and understanding of people different then themselves.
This may sound like I am harping or advocating for gay rights. I am not. I am stating that I think it is a school's responsibility to educate and accept all of their students. Why bother with having schools that do not educate?
Now no matter how schools are run, they will never be able to please everyone. That being said they should accept everyone. No one should tell someone who deserves what should be a safe place for people and who does not.
Education is about rights. The right to be educated. The right to safety while being educated. The right to be ask questions. The right to receive answers. Most importantly education holds the right to help people become who they want to be.
Education is the foundation of rights, with out it we would all be screwed.
The reason they are doing it in April instead of June is because we are not in school in June. I think that it is a good decision to allow this organization to do it in April instead.
It shows that the school backs their rights as individuals. That is what all schools should do. Back the rights of the students and teachers who work and go there.
Education is the way people can gain tolerance and understanding of people different then themselves.
This may sound like I am harping or advocating for gay rights. I am not. I am stating that I think it is a school's responsibility to educate and accept all of their students. Why bother with having schools that do not educate?
Now no matter how schools are run, they will never be able to please everyone. That being said they should accept everyone. No one should tell someone who deserves what should be a safe place for people and who does not.
Education is about rights. The right to be educated. The right to safety while being educated. The right to be ask questions. The right to receive answers. Most importantly education holds the right to help people become who they want to be.
Education is the foundation of rights, with out it we would all be screwed.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Confidence
This is my third post I promised. This one is going to be all about confidence.
I think that rights movements happen when they happen becasue of timing, but I also think that it takes the confidence of many to create that movenment.
Confidence in believing what they are doing is the right thing, confidence in their own abilities to help their cause (s), confidence in others abilities, confidence in small and large victories, and confidence in making sure that when they are gone the change will continue to thrive.
Confidence isn't easy. I believe people are born with confidence, but that there are people who try to tear it out of others to make themsleves happier.
It doesn't work, the people aren't happier and there is less confidence in the world making change happen at an even slower rate.
This needs to stop. We need to teach children to have confidence in what they do no matter what. Yes, movements falter, yes it takes forever to grant people rights, but that doesn't mean confidence should falter.
People need to figure out ways to keep their confidence alive. Whether it's cooking, sports, academia, humor, counseling, or speech giving, all people have something they are confident they are amazing at.
They just need to learn that they don't just have one, they have many. It isn't that no one can make you feel inferior with out your permission, it is that no one can make you feel inferior when you know exactly who you are and accept it.
I'm not saying this is an easy thing to want or do, but it is a necessary step people need to take.
It is something that can no longer be ignored or put off for another day.
Rights movements need confidence, people listen to confidence. Small or big all rights movements can use a little more confidence.
I think that rights movements happen when they happen becasue of timing, but I also think that it takes the confidence of many to create that movenment.
Confidence in believing what they are doing is the right thing, confidence in their own abilities to help their cause (s), confidence in others abilities, confidence in small and large victories, and confidence in making sure that when they are gone the change will continue to thrive.
Confidence isn't easy. I believe people are born with confidence, but that there are people who try to tear it out of others to make themsleves happier.
It doesn't work, the people aren't happier and there is less confidence in the world making change happen at an even slower rate.
This needs to stop. We need to teach children to have confidence in what they do no matter what. Yes, movements falter, yes it takes forever to grant people rights, but that doesn't mean confidence should falter.
People need to figure out ways to keep their confidence alive. Whether it's cooking, sports, academia, humor, counseling, or speech giving, all people have something they are confident they are amazing at.
They just need to learn that they don't just have one, they have many. It isn't that no one can make you feel inferior with out your permission, it is that no one can make you feel inferior when you know exactly who you are and accept it.
I'm not saying this is an easy thing to want or do, but it is a necessary step people need to take.
It is something that can no longer be ignored or put off for another day.
Rights movements need confidence, people listen to confidence. Small or big all rights movements can use a little more confidence.
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