Women's rights on walking

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.

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.  

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.   

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.
 

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. 

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.  

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.   

Campus Safety

Hi, as I stated in my last post, the freshman lock-in gave me a lot of inspiration of things to talk about in my blog.

This blog post is going to be a short one. I think a huge part of women's rights is women learning and taking their right to protect themselves.

I wrote an article on campus safety. I think that it is a good refresher of the things women need to be aware of. Some of the information applies only to SC, but I think that most of the information in the article can be applied everywhere.

Crimes often happen at night, when people are unable to see well and consequently unable to protect themselves from the dangers that lurk in the dark.

Lighting is a key factor in that fear. When campuses have adequate lighting, students, faculty, staff and administration feel safer on campus at night.

Sara Weinert, vice-president of communications, said “Each light on campus does have a number labeling it.” This makes it easy for students to call maintenance or to e-mail maintenance at jeff.gile@sckans.edu to inform them of the broken light, helping to keep the campus safer.

The sidewalk and stairs between Wallingford and the cafeteria, the sidewalk between Darbeth and the 77 steps, the sidewalk between Wroten Hall and Darbeth, Wallingford’s parking lot, and Kings drive are a few places on campus that have inadequate lighting. Calling security for an escort is always an option for students who need to travel around campus at night.

“Lighting has really improved on campus. It really is a safe campus, but in the dark it doesn’t feel like it,” said Weinert.

Combining safety tips with understanding who to call when a crime happens help keep college campuses safe.

Every Southwestern College student should know these numbers and have them programmed into their cell phones. These numbers are:

·         Campus security: (620) 229-0012

·         Winfield Police: (620) 221-5555 or 911

·         Maintenance: (620) 229-6321

Knowing numbers is not enough. Students should also keep these safety tips in mind.

 “Students should always, always trust their instinct,” said Dan Falk, dean of students.

·         Look like you have a purpose.

·         Carry your keys in hand.

·         Constantly be aware of the area around you.

·         Always lock your car door and dorm room door.

Carrie Lane, associate professor of psychology has a PhD in experimental psychology with an emphasis on social psychology. She taught through graduate school at the University of Texas at Arlington and for the past six years at Florida State University as an assistant professor.

Lane said “Never be on your cell phone. A lot of people think that this makes them appear busy and that will deter any perpetrator from targeting them. That is not the case. It makes them appear more susceptible because they seem distracted.”

“Don’t wear hair in a ponytail. If you do it makes it easier for people to grab and use against you,” said Lane.

“Only 20 percent of rapes are stranger rapes,” said Lane. The other 80 percent of rapes are committed by someone the victim knows.     

Falk said, “A good friend doesn’t let a friend go home with the creepy guy or up the stairs with the creepy guy. Your friend may be mad at you for it, but in the end, as a friend you are doing the right thing.”

Safety procedures are only the first step students need to take to keep themselves empowered and safe on campus. The next step is to report crimes or safety hazards to the appropriate officials.

“Always call 911 if it is a life threatening emergency,” said Weinert.

For any type of situation it is recommended that students call the police or 911 first and take the necessary steps for reporting the crime from there.

Falk said, “It is always encouraged for student to fill out a police report.”

If the crime involves another student’s conduct, Southwestern College investigates the crime differently than the police do. “If student conduct is an issue, there is an investigative process done by Student Life. The student may not go to jail, but they may get kicked out of college,” said Falk.

The college will keep students informed about the progress of any criminal investigation taking place by Student Life in one of two ways.

“If it is not a sexual assault, we keep students updated. If it is, we constantly keep them informed. If a student is raped by another student, on or off campus, we keep them informed to give back a sense of power to the victim. It becomes school versus the perpetrator not victim versus the perpetrator,” said Falk.  

Every person has the right to empower themselves through accurate information. This information is freely given if people know what it is and where to look for it.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal law requiring all college and universities across the United States to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses.

This act is in place to protect students by giving them easy access to crime reports that have been filed so that students can better prepare themselves for living on their own during college.

Southwestern College has a link on their website to review the crime reports that were filed in 2011. These reports are updated Oct. 1 of every year. The link to view this information is http://www.sckans.edu/file/513.     

To view the entire Jeanne Clery Act people may visit the website http://www.securityoncampus.org/summary-jeanne-clery-act.

Locked in

Last night I had the pleasure of being part of Southwestern's freshamn girls lock-in. There were many guest speakers and activities to help young women broach touchy and often messy subjects.

The speakers talked about finances, relationships, confidence, sex and ways to build yourself up.

My experience was very positive. I felt my spirit being lifted and was inspired by everyone there.
I was so inspired that my next two blog posts will be based on thoughts that came to my mind during the lock-in.

I thought that the lock in was a great way to bring women's issues to the mind of the younger generation of women going into college life.

The different stations used personal stories of the speakers to connect to the freshman women. I thought that was a brillant thing ot do. Facts and data are great for many things but they don't often connect with people and get them to open up and see themsleves in a positive light.

Getting girls, young women, and women to celebrate everything that makes them beautiful and unique is an up hill battle. I think that this lock-in was a great step toward winning that battle.

I certainly hope that Southwestern decides to impliment this idea as a regular activity for both freshman women and all female students.

Mental

Hi, everyone!

I have decided to make this post about the need for understanding those who have mental illnesses.

I think that this is a serious rights issue. People in America have the right to recieve the care they need. Whether that care is physical, mental, or spirtual shouldn't matter, but it does.

According to healthypeople.gov. Approximately 1 in 4 adults have a mental illness in the United States. In children it is 1 in 5.

That is a serious amount of people being diagnosed. However, how many are left undiagnosed? How many after being diagosed aren't given the proper treatment they need?

Fewer than one-third of adults and one-half of children get diagnosed according to nami.org.

Unfortunetly according to nami.org, racial and ethnic groups are less likely to get the care they need.

It comes down to money. Do you have enough money to pay to get better? It is a sad truth that most people who couldn't afford treatment are undiagnosed anyway.

Teenagers and children in schools with counsleors and psychologists go undiagnosed. Most people say to themsleves 'Oh well, they are just going through a phase. It will pass.' 

That mind set is what has over 50% of studnets with mental illnesses dropping out of high school.

People wonder what's wrong with America. It is a long list, but there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

People are getting treated. Sites all over the web allow people to view symptoms and clues that they can use to speak to their doctors about their mental health.

It is becoming less taboo for people to seak help. It might not be out in the open yet, but the discussion of mental illness is slowly coming out of the dark and inot the light of day.

Requests

It has come to my attention that this week I have been uninspired to write about any issues. Although I have found that I love writing opinion columns. I find it very therapeutic. In fact writing them has made think about radio talk shows.

I think I would rather enjoy working at a radio station and having a talk show on it. 

I am getting off track. 

I have decided that this post is going to be a request post. If anyone has anything they would like me to give my opinion on or would like my input or aSouthwestern's professor input on let me know. 

    

Bonus Blog

My professor gave us an assignment this week. In it there was a writing prompt. The wiriting prompt was "Journalismis can't be journalism until its published"

I hadn't thought about it that way before. I had considered journalism to be more like writing short stories or essays. The stories didn't need to be published to be journalism.

I changed my mind. Journalism is all about getting relevant news out to people in a timely manner. Stories have to be published to make them news to anybody. Which means that journalism is only that when something has been published.

My question to this logic is, if jouranlism is being published can anything be journalistic? Can we accept poor wiritng or made up non sense as journalism just beasue it has been published?

Feminism answer

This post is an update to the question I posted in my last post. I asked the question when and why feminism became such a bad word.

I found my answer speaking with Michelle Boucher this week. In our conversation we were speaking about feminism and I ask her why she thought feminism has such a bad rap now.

First she said that she started hearing feminism as being a bad thing about 15 to 10 years ago.

Then we began talking about a few of her theories as to why it has happened. There were two theories that I thought were the best and most logical.

 The first theory is that women my age no longer feel that there is a need for feminism. I agree with this I have always had my independence and rights; I have always been told that I am equal to men.

I have my independence and I have my rights, but even now women are not treated as equal to men.

We may see and believe that we are because we are told we are but we aren’t. Women still make less than men for doing the exact same job, women still don’t have equal legislation, there are hardly any women in powerful positions, and until recently women weren’t allowed to hold active combat titles.

None of this is talked about often within the general public. It is ignored. Instead women and men focus on the independence and rights women have now.

I am not saying that the rights and freedom we have gained is something to stub my nose at, but we are still not equal.

People may feel that feminism is no longer needed, but it is and the 4^th wave of feminism proves that.

The second theory about why feminism has gotten such a bad rap was because people have an image of radical feminism stuck in their minds as the normal type of feminist and feminism.

This radical feminist and feminism to the minds in many looks like a man hating, non-shaving, single minded, and one issue voting woman.

I admit that a few feminists took it to that level and because society likes to judge the words and actions of a few and label many by that. People became turned off by feminism.

However, most feminists are not man hating and they do shave. In fact they are just concerned and active people who want women to be equal to men and treated better or the same as men.

They are calm, level-headed, nice, intelligent, people.

A strong leader for the 4^th wave of feminism needs to emerge and create a new image to put into people’s minds. A positive, truer image of what feminism stands for and how most feminists are.

That is how I am going to end this post. Have a great rest of the week!

Feminism over dinner

I was having dinner with female friends last week when one of them said, ‘ugh I hate feminists.’ I was shocked! I had never heard such a thing leave another woman’s mouth before.  I had no idea how to respond. The conversation quickly went away from the comment and into a new topic but it left me wondering, what is it about the word feminist that turns so many people off?

Why does one single word have so much confusion and ignorance surrounding it?

The word feminism according to Webster’s dictionary means the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes, or organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests. So a feminist is someone who advocates and rallies for the before mentioned rights for women.

Is it not 2013? Why is it still taboo to be considered a feminist? Why are women still fighting for their basic human rights?

I think I found an answer to that question in a conversation I had with Lindsay Wilke the other day.

We were discussing why revolutions and rights movements happened when they did and why there were so effective when they happened.

Th conversation made me realize that people have to reach their breaking point for any sort of change to happen.

However, I believe that people also need a strong leader to push forward and guide people. I think that a strong leader can happen at any time during a call for change, but that it takes just the right leader at a certain time to get the change to happen.

I have not seen a leader able to gather and focus all the people who are calling for change everywhere in the world.

I see many individuals with causes and great ideas. I see many people at their breaking point. What I don’t see is the realization that leaders need followers and followers need leaders to get anything done.

A leader for women’s rights hasn’t stepped forward yet and the followers have not yet converged to create a never stopping wave, but I think enough people have hit the breaking point that soon feminism and women’s rights will not considered the equivalent to Pandora’s box being opened.

Instead the movement and education on them will be seen as long overdue

The Beginning

As the first post of my first blog I will let you in on exactly what this blog will be about. Rights. This blog is about rights be they civil, women's, lgbt, personal, etc. This blog is about my passion and it is also about what I have learned and read about my passions that I think people should take look at as well. Enjoy!