I was reading this piece in the Guardian today. I have extracted these two paragraphs.
We must continue to integrate women as equal partners in international efforts to counter violent extremism, prevent conflict and build peace. Women are uniquely affected by war and their perspectives are indispensable in resolving disputes, ensuring accountability for crimes, minimising the suffering of civilians and designing long-term recovery programmes. Today, women are represented in formal, UN-led peace negotiating processes more than ever before; womenâs civil society groups are deeply involved in legal advocacy, advocating for survivors of sexual violence and caring for refugees. But we continue to fall short in enforcing a policy of zero tolerance towards sexual abuse and in addressing the shortage of women in military and security forces across the globe.
We must end the double damage survivors of sexual violence have faced â the horror of the abuse and the shaming that too often follows. There is no complete remedy for the psychological scars sexual abuse can inflict, but policymakers can help by investing in assistance and counselling. We should rally and expand efforts that support survivors of Isis brutality, including women and girls who have returned from captivity. Perpetrators should pay a price for their crimes, not survivors.
The thing that struck me within the article was the lack of introspection. It is all very well looking around at the worst cases of sexual violence and repression around the world, the horror is all too easy to find. From rape to enslavement, from denial of education to domestic imprisonment, they are all there and far too easy to identify. It is far easier to point fingers at blatant abuse, it is far harder to spot the reflection in the mirror at home.
On double damage
Our legal system seems to be designed to do just that. The first line of defense is always the question of consent, the second line is slut . Our attitude to sexual violence is more clearly shown by the number of sexual assaults not reported rather than in the additional torture of our legal systems. The pain and violence of rape/assault are just the beginning of our tribulations, not the end.
On equality
I have seen mocking of some, even here, for wanting a female president, it is a primordial desire for many. Underrepresentation at every level of society except the lowest, seems to be acceptable. Is this desire so hard to understand and respect?
When the work you do is undervalued just because of gender.
When others talk about you body as if it was their property.
When you are judged merely by clothes you wear as some form of justification for the violence you have been subjected to.
When you are derided for merely pointing out the inequalities and their systematic imposition [war on women].
Then the equal partners scenario becomes mystifying, if you cannot at least get to equality at home how the hell are you going to "impose" it internationally. It begs the question, who will do the imposing? The usual crowd?
Since it is Sunday, Matthew 7 comes to mind.
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
If you want others to follow, show them the way.
To be blunt
The only time equality seems to become an issue where all leap on board is when the violence becomes too barbaric to ignore, or there is some ulterior motive, or a combination of both. Otherwise, pretty much meh.
How about fighting inequality every day, at all levels of society, is it really that hard to do, or is it just when the reality becomes too brutal to ignore?
How about joining with us to fight the right's war on women, that seeks to turn the clock back to darker more repressive times? How about some of our "own" taking their heads out of the sand?
A side note:
To those who say they will not vote for Hillary if she wins the primary all I will say is, listen to what is being said by her possible opponents. Look at their actions at State levels.
Trump on women 1992: You have to treat them like shit
He means it, and so do the others in the GOP primary, it is a key part of their political ideology. Once women are subjugated, America will be great again.
The same can be said about racism, I could mirror this diary.