One thing I've been thinking and reading more about this year is gender equity. The ongoing oppression of women around the world is an often-overlooked fact in North America, where many cajole themselves into thinking "we're all equal" (all you have to do is look at the income gap between men and women in the same jobs to dispel that myth!)
In my research on said topic, I came across a website created and maintained by a fascinating woman in India who calls herself, simply "Indian Homemaker". IHM blogs on a number of issues relevant to women around the world. In this piece, reblogged from another source, she shares an interesting perspective on rape:
Why do we have entire dossiers on How to Not Get Raped and no
guidelines for How to Not Rape People? We need a cultural revolution.
I agree.
Here’s a list of Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work:
1. Don’t put drugs in people’s drinks in order to control their behavior.
2. When you see someone walking by themselves, leave them alone!
3. If you pull over to help someone with car problems, remember not to assault
them!
4. NEVER open an unlocked door or window uninvited.
5. If you are in an elevator and someone else gets in, DON’T ASSAULT THEM!
6. Remember, people go to laundry to do their laundry, do not attempt to molest
someone who is alone in a laundry room.
7. USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! If you are not able to stop yourself from assaulting
people, ask a friend to stay with you while you are in public.
8. Always be honest with people! Don’t pretend to be a caring friend in order to
gain the trust of someone you want to assault. Consider telling them you plan to
assault them. If you don’t communicate your intentions, the other person may
take that as a sign that you do not plan to rape them.
9. Don’t forget: you can’t have sex with someone unless they are awake!
10. Carry a whistle! If you are worried you might assault someone "on accident", you
can hand it to the person you are with, so they can blow it if you do.
Thankfully, as far as I know, rape does not seem to be a major concern here in Buenos Aires. Nevertheless I figured I'd share these helpful tips in case someone out there can benefit from them.
In my research on said topic, I came across a website created and maintained by a fascinating woman in India who calls herself, simply "Indian Homemaker". IHM blogs on a number of issues relevant to women around the world. In this piece, reblogged from another source, she shares an interesting perspective on rape:
Why do we have entire dossiers on How to Not Get Raped and no
guidelines for How to Not Rape People? We need a cultural revolution.
I agree.
Here’s a list of Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work:
1. Don’t put drugs in people’s drinks in order to control their behavior.
2. When you see someone walking by themselves, leave them alone!
3. If you pull over to help someone with car problems, remember not to assault
them!
4. NEVER open an unlocked door or window uninvited.
5. If you are in an elevator and someone else gets in, DON’T ASSAULT THEM!
6. Remember, people go to laundry to do their laundry, do not attempt to molest
someone who is alone in a laundry room.
7. USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! If you are not able to stop yourself from assaulting
people, ask a friend to stay with you while you are in public.
8. Always be honest with people! Don’t pretend to be a caring friend in order to
gain the trust of someone you want to assault. Consider telling them you plan to
assault them. If you don’t communicate your intentions, the other person may
take that as a sign that you do not plan to rape them.
9. Don’t forget: you can’t have sex with someone unless they are awake!
10. Carry a whistle! If you are worried you might assault someone "on accident", you
can hand it to the person you are with, so they can blow it if you do.
Thankfully, as far as I know, rape does not seem to be a major concern here in Buenos Aires. Nevertheless I figured I'd share these helpful tips in case someone out there can benefit from them.