Human Trafficking Awareness Day 2012

January 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.  Are you aware of this?

What is human trafficking anyway?

Well, in short human trafficking is slavery.  Yes, modern day slavery.  More specifically human trafficking is the buying and selling of human beings across national and international borders for the use of labor and sexual servitude.  You may be thinking, "how can this be?"  Well, it is estimated that there are over 30 million slaves in this world - more than in any other point in human history.

There are numerous organizations, campaigns, films and advocates such as The Polaris Project, Soroptimist, Not for Sale II, NightLight, GEMS, and The Project to End Human Trafficking.  As well as resources such as 10 human trafficking videos in 2008 and 2009 and 10 essential human trafficking reads and action to take right now!


 

Speaking Their Voices - Women and Girls of Beit Shemesh

Beit Shemesh is a neighborhood of approximately 80,000 in Jerusalem, Israel. It is home to an ultra-Orthodox sect of Jewish people, along with many other residents. With an increase of immigrants, especially of American expatriates, there are rising tensions between the ultra Orthodox and other Orthodox residents. Most recently, an uproar began over the establishment of a new national religious school for girls, Orot Banot. Upon the opening of Orot Banot, there were violent protests from the most ultra-Orthodox men who feel the students don't abide by the special extra stringent rules of dress and lifestyle espoused by the ultra-Orthodox community.  Many of these girls, as young as 7 years old, have been harassed, cursed at, spat on, and have had rocks thrown at them all in the name of what? God, real estate, "self-preservation"? This is mind boggling! Check out the video below.



Despite (and perhaps because of) these horrific offenses, women and girls in Beit Shemesh are speaking out! Their voices will not be extinguished. Anti-extremist rallies have also been held and hopefully will continue - if nothing else then to protect the right of our girls to live in a safe, violence-free world.

Robin Lim Wins CNN Hero of the Year -A Win for Human Rights

Motherhood, should never be a death sentence and birthing in a clean, safe and healthy environment is a human right.  That is why Robin Lim, a mother of eight who was born and raised in the Philippines, then moved to the United States became a midwife when she experienced the tragic death of both her sister and her newborn baby due to birth complications.  Robin Lim or "Mother Robin" as she is so fondly called by communities of women, mothers and their families in Bali who she champions for on a daily basis.

Mother Robin, is the founder of Bumi Sehat Foundation International, a non-profit organization that provides maternal/fetal health care to pregnant women and their children throughout impoverished and underserved communities in Indonesia.  Women's access to health care, including sex education, accessibility to contraception, menstrual products, and education is an ever increasing human rights violation.  This is why individuals, groups, communities and organizations globally are celebrating the efforts of Mother Robin.

La Puerta Abierta - The Open Door: Support Their Campaign!

Dear friends,

Please check out the link below to learn about our most recent effort to raise much-needed funds for ICFamWell's local initiative- La Puerta Abierta/The Open Door.   Time is running out-- please consider your support!

We have been training local, bilingual practitioners to provide pro-bono individual and family counseling services for the Latino immigrant community of the Delaware Valley, particularly those facing language, legal and economic barriers to service. Most recently, we launched a Youth Mentorship Initiative that provides therapeutic support to younger, undocumented youth who do not have access to services elsewhere, because of their status. All training and services are free, as we are an entirely volunteer-driven organization.

For more information visit our Indiegogo campaign page HERE!

                                            

Please consider your support- in any amount. All donations are appreciated  and bring us closer to our goal!. Even if you can't make a financial contribution, please spread the word to your friends and family. If you have a facebook account, please post and "like" us on facebook,and/or post a comment on our Indiegogo site.  It all counts!! 

Thank you so much for your consideration.
                             

La Puerta Abierta

World AIDS Day 2011 - Getting To Zero

Today, December 1st is World AIDS Day.  Every year since 1995 when the President of the United States declared 12/1 World AIDS Day, each year has had a different theme focusing on fighting this pandemic.

This year is "getting to zero."  Currently, there are 2.7 million individuals living with HIV/AIDS and over half of them are women.  In our local and global communities education, prevention and action is key!

If you don't know your status, you should!  There is no excuse.  It is fast, easy and free. HIV testing information HERE.



If you need further information about HIV/AIDS please contact us at the WCC!  We have years of experience in the field of HIV/AIDS and no question is a stupid, embarrassing or shameful one.
Contact us at hello@womenscollaborativecircle.org. 

Great New Website and Resource - Bedsider!

A new health campaign started by the Ad Council is aimed at preventing unwanted pregnancies and helping and empowering women find a method of birth control that is right for them.  Bedsider.org is a new website aimed to educate and empower women about their choices in birth control.  The U.S. has one of the highest rates of unplanned pregnancy in the entire developed world. Nearly one in ten unmarried young women (ages 20-29) has an unplanned pregnancy each year. This means fewer opportunities to complete their education or achieve other life goals, and increased health and social risks for mother and child.  Know your choices, ask questions and keep yourself safe while having fun! 

Research Participants Needed - African American Girls and Physical Agression Study

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

As many of you know, I am a doctoral candidate in the School of Social Work Program at the University of Pennsylvania. My dissertation topic is “African American Girls and Physical Aggression: A resilience study on how adult African American women overcame physically aggressive behavior post adolescence”. My study hopes to identify and interview approximately 12 college educated women who used physical aggression (fighting) to resolve conflict as an adolescent. For this study, I would like to interview African American women ages 22-32.

I choose this topic because African American girls who use physically aggressive behaviors to resolve conflict are perceived to be a menace to society with a bleak future. However, in my experience, the physically aggressive behaviors are a phase, much like other adolescent behaviors in which the African American girl eventually outgrows.  Some girls go on to graduate from college and often become positive contributors to society. My goal is to conduct a study that will demonstrate the resilience of these girls despite the negative messages that many of them receive as an adolescent.     

I am in need of your help. I am soliciting your assistance in identifying participants willing to participate in the study. The study is voluntary and there are no negative consequences for declining participation in the study.  For those who agree to participate they will receive a $25 gift card.

Again, it is important to state that participation is voluntary and participants can withdraw at any point without consequences. To participate in the study, participants must be willing to complete a short informational questionnaire and sit down for an audio taped one on one interview. Both components combined should not exceed 2 hours. 

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email or call me.

Sincerely,

Kietra Winn

Cell: (302) 494-9019

Email: kietrawinn@verizon.net

Anita Hill - 20 Years Later

The following video is an excerpt from the 1991 United States Senate confirmation hearing of Clarence Thomas from the documentary Sex and Justice.  20 years later, Anita Hill is still speaking out about women's rights locally and globally through her legal, academic and professional pursuits.


                

Join Anita Hill, Kimberle Crenshaw, Gloria Steinem, Patricia Williams, Catherine Mackinnon and many others for a conference not to be missed! For more information, check out Sex, Power and Speaking Truth: Anita Hill 20 Years Later.

Occupy Wall Street With Your Voice!

Mic check? Mic check! On the Women's Collaborative Circle Facebook page I recently posted resources for people to learn about the uprisings on Wall Street in New York City and spreading to other cities nationwide.

To learn more check out Occupy Wall Street and We are the 99% and make your voice heard!

Michelle Bachmann on Our Girls' Healthcare - Take a Stand!

Art Caplan and DSW students at the School of Social Policy and Practice

I am privileged have been in class yesterday with famed bioethicist Arthur Caplan.  His jovial nature by no means masks or underplays his steadfast commitment to medical ethics.  Case in point, Caplan this week took on a candidate for the GOP nomination for president, Michelle Bachmann.  She very irresponsibly and ignorantly misspoke about the side effects of the HPV vaccine Gardasil.  Bachmann stated as reported on the Iowa Caucuses website that "she met a woman whose daughter suffered mental retardation as a result of the vaccine... [t]here are very dangerous consequences."

Beyond the absolute absurdity of her statements which hold no medical or scientific accuracy, she is doing great harm to girls and young women nationally! Bachmann, through fear, is potentially taking away a powerful tool that could be of great benefit to girls. Take a look at this video!

How can we help in this situation?  We need more individuals, groups and community organizations to not let politicians, people of power and women to use reckless political tactics! Here are the facts:

1. There have been no reported major side effects such as "mental retardation" or death from the HPV vaccine.
2. You can not acquire mental retardation as a side effect!
3. 40 years ago cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer related death among women.  
4.  Today protective measures such as the Pap test (or Pap smear) which screens for cervical cancer greatly reduces the risk of death.
5. Get tested annually!
6. HPV - the human papilloma virus - is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) where certain strands of the virus cause cancer.
7. Though abstinence is one way to protect yourself from a STD like HPV, it may (unfortunately) not always be in your control or ways in which you chose to engage in sexual relations change. Protect yourself.
8. Education is key to prevention! Know the facts and share them!
9. Speak out against misinformation and abuse of power such as Bachmann's or any other so called "figure of authority."
10. Share this post and others like it widely on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites!

The Right Way? Musings from a Summer Internship

For most people, the first word that comes to mind upon hearing the words Planned Parenthood (PP) is abortion.  Because of the sensitivity associated with abortion, people seem to solely focus on that issue and disregard all of the work Planned Parenthood does.  Before this summer, I knew it performed abortions, but I honestly did not know what else it did.  During my summer volunteer position at PP, I learned of the vital medical services it offers to women.  I did not understand why people wanted to get rid of such an organization.  It all seemed to be because of one word: abortion.

On one of my scheduled work days, a day when abortions are performed,  there are anti-choice protesters that gather outside of the building holding signs.  I also stumbled upon this one website iamemilyx.blogspot.com which is a collection of stories written by activists and staff of Planned Parenthood from all over the country and focus on the anti-choice protesters and their encounters with them.  Some PP locations have to have escorts walk with women who want an abortion to protect them from heckling and harassment of the anti-choice protesters.  I read about how one group of anti-choice protesters rented the building next to a PP location and advertised “Free Pregnancy Tests.”  In reality, this was to lure women in and pressure them into not getting an abortion.  I just did not realize how far these protesters would go to prevent women from having an abortion.  I understand that people have their morals.  They have every right to do so, but what a woman wants to do with her body is her choice. 

The negative opinions surrounding PP just kept appearing to me and overwhelmed me.  One thing I had to do for PP is phone bank.  Because I assumed that these people were not against PP, I did not expect any negative responses, but I was so wrong.  I gave my usual response of “OK. Thank you. Have a nice day,” but some people’s hostile reactions got to me.  Here I was making a harmless and polite phone call and in response I got to hear how you “abhor” what “my people” do.  As if I am some kind of alien or different kind of human being just because I think a woman has the right to choose what to do with her body.  Just because we had differing opinions concerning what PP does and represents does not give them a reason to be rude.  Even though I had only listened to two nasty responses, I was still really affected by them.  That along with everything else made me think, “If there are so many negative and hostile reactions, there must be something wrong with what I’m doing.”  I know that is immature and childish thinking, but for some reason, that thought just filled my mind.  Then, of course, my line of thinking went to, “Am I doing something wrong then?”  At that point, I just broke. 

With the help of talking to my mom, I realized that I was absolutely not doing anything wrong.  My work with Planned Parenthood reflected a personal opinion of mine, and not everyone agreed with that opinion, which is absolutely fine.  I mean, not everyone is going to agree with me that mixing hot chocolate and coffee is absolutely amazing.  Or that Sia is an amazing songwriter/singer.  It’s a fact that there is always going to be someone who disagrees with you on something.  I realized this and I learned to accept that even though I don’t agree with anti-choice protesters and the methods in which they express that, they have the right to do so.  But the work that I did with PP this summer is helping millions of women everywhere, and I absolutely proud of that. 

Ariana is a guest post contributor to the WCC blog with her ongoing column, The Right Way? Ariana is currently a senior at Bryn Mawr College where she is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Gender and Sexuality Studies.  Her intention for the column is to share her experiences during the last two years in her college bubble before she enters the big and scary real world.  She hopes you enjoy her posts because she certainly enjoys writing them. 

"I'm Too Pretty To Do Homework" JC Penney T-Shirt

JC Penney Ad

For those of you who may have missed this ad (to the right), this is how one major outfitter, JC Penney is styling our girls for back to school!

As you can see this discounted shirt reads, "I'm too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me."  What?!?

The shirt is then marketed with the following copy, "who has time for homework when there's a new Justin Bieber album out?  She'll love this tee that's just as cute and sassy as she is." 

Are you kidding me?! Of course, when I first saw the link to this ad by a friend of mine on Facebook I thought this was a joke. Alas, it was not!

First thing this morning I called JC Penney to do some investigative social activism (that means call to question them until their heads explode) but Diane, the woman I spoke with (who was only a supervisor at the call center in Pittsburg), really didn't have much to say in the way of my specific questions.  What she did share with me was that her daughter recently graduated as valedictorian from her high school (sans brother to help her) and she found this shirt offensive too.

What I did learn was that Diane was unaware of who the buyer for such products are and wasn't sure how I could find out.  However, what she did note was that much of the clothing comes from overseas (read: sweatshops in China) or the screen print itself (such as the words and images on this shirt) and are then sent to the U.S. for printing.  So, two things then came to mind - 1) is this how the global market perceives our American girls? And 2) is there anyway for big corporate giants to be socially responsible? Well, I can't answer the first one without a long and speculative dissertation, but I am glad to report that JC Penney did in fact remove this item from their website.  As TODAYMoms reported this morning:
UPDATE: Well, that was quick. JC Penney is apologizing and pulling the shirt from shelves. The retailer issued this statement:
"jcpenney is committed to being America's destination for great style and great value for the whole family.  We agree that the “Too pretty” t-shirt does not deliver an appropriate message, and we have immediately discontinued its sale.  Our merchandise is intended to appeal to a broad customer base, not to offend them. We would like to apologize to our customers and are taking action to ensure that we continue to uphold the integrity of our merchandise that they have come to expect." 
Here are some other links to women's organizations, social media outlets and bloggers who too were outraged: The Consumerist, Care2, Jezebel, and The Village Voice. Good work everyone! 

Lesbians of Long Island - A Short Documentary

Hey there WCC community!  I wanted to share with you a shout out we received from Beryl Fine.  Beryl is a New York City based photographer and filmaker who contacted the WCC in the hopes of us sharing her newest endeavor - a short documentary film called Lesbians of Long Island.  Here is what she told us:

Lesbians of Long Island is a short documentary by yours truly Beryl Fine. The film centers around my aunt Lisa, her partner Lois, as well as their sidekick pooches Paddy and Abby (do you see how we love poetry?).

My exploration of my aunts began in August of 2010 when I moved from San Francisco to New York in hopes of expanding proverbial horizons (artistically and metaphorically). My aunt Lisa opened her home to me as I transitioned to a New York state of mind, (I grew up on the left coast in Santa Cruz, California). My family is not a traditional one bound by deep seeded ties. Growing up we rarely visited, moving in with Lisa was an introduction, but also developed into my first real experience getting to know her as a relative and friend. Soon I began to realize that Lisa and her partner Lois where quite the dynamic duo of smart ass antics and abrasive crass humor. They are two peas in a pod that complimented one another in perfect symmetry. I was living under my aunt’s roof for two short months before realizing I should begin to record my time spent in Long Island. What began to manifest was that these lovely ladies where not only totally normal (I use that phrase loosely) but also companions who are in love.

There is a prescribed notion in the media that love is bound by some kind of struggle and a battle which must be fought. What I want to communicate with Lesbians of Long Island is that love is not an intangible beast that must be conquered. Instead I pose the idea that it is normal and so essential that it fits seamlessly and effortlessly into the lives of Lisa and Lois. 

These lovely ladies don’t fit cultural personification of “gay”, actually that’s the furthest adjective anyone could use to describe their lives. My aunts are typical Jews living in Long Island. They posses no flamboyant qualities. They shop at Sam’s club and they watch CSI and King of Queens EVERY NIGHT and on the weekends they go to Carvel for chocolate soft serve ice cream. Paddy (a pit-bull mix) and Abby (a king Charles Cavalier Spaniel) act as their partners in crime following them at their heels and completing the equation of their amore.

I’m a believer that talk is cheap and that seeing is in fact believing. I have launched a fundraiser for my project on Kickstarter. I’m asking the world at large for help with the financing of this short. The money will be used to spread the love and joy that is Lesbians of Long Island. It will help pay for international and domestic film festival admission fees, it will also help with production costs, distribution and other miscellaneous fees that generally get racked up when producing a film. I’m asking the world to help me raise $3,500, a small feat which I know I can accomplish with your help. 

Check out her project and support the film!

Telling The WHOLE Story About Our Uterus and Other Girlie Parts

Ok, so this one is not nearly as bad (or bad at all for that matter) as the Psychology Today blog post I wrote about earlier in the week, which you can read more about here.  But, I had to comment on this one.  Dr. Lissa Rankin founder of owningpink.com wrote for her Psychology Today blog, Owning Pink about  "How to Have the Talk With Your Daughter."  I was happy to see that this was a post and an important one at that, however two things stood out for me: 1) there was only mention of meses or a period in the context of having babies and 2) no discussion of how getting your period and having a regular cycle is  about keeping your body healthy and in balance.

So, in true blog post reader reaction form, here is my comment to Dr. Rankin's blog post:

Dr. Rankin,

First, let me say that I love your site and book (which I look forward to getting).  Second, I am glad to read such a positive post encouraging open communication with girls about their bodies and especially around their periods.  However, the one thing that I would personally and professionally like to add to the conversation of menses with girls, is the message that getting your period is not only about having babies, but also keeping your body healthy and in balance.

Often, I hear the conversation with girls around getting their periods connected to the process of "having babies," as you too suggested.  The problem is, while this is true - socially, culturally, and at times biologically not every girl can or will want to have a baby.  Sending a message to girls at a very young age that their bodies are absolutely and inextricably connected to making babies, only seems to perpetuate the pitfalls of socially constructed gender roles.  This message that we often unknowingly and without ill-intent send to our girls through conversations around periods, does not leave much room for choice around what they will and will not do with their bodies when they are older.

I agree with you that you can not start too early having age appropriate conversations with girls and boys about their bodies, especially giving them language with which they can speak of and make sense of their bodies.  I do however, think that it is also our duty as parents and professionals (doctors, social workers, teachers, etc.) to give them the full picture and be conscious of how seemingly simple messages we send have more profound meanings.   This is a topic that I write frequently about on my organization’s website and blog – www.womenscollaborativecircle.org and would love for you and your readers to check out! Thanks! 

Just when you think you can let your guard down and breathe easy for a moment... alas, you can not! ;) 

Despite this snafu in a grander conversation we often have with our girls around their bodies and was reinforced by Dr. Rankin, this post here "15 Crazy Things About Vaginas" may totally have made up for it! Thanks, Dr. Rankin! 

So I Had a Baby, Can I Get a Job Too?

Image from www.tanyabrown.org

Domestic Goddess

Domestic Diva

Mommy on Duty

Or the boring title Stay-At-Home-Mom

Whatever you choose to describe the incredible work we do, either of those titles listed on a resume or cover letter is a sure fire way to get your application tossed into the wastebasket (or recycle bin).  So what do you do when you are a Domestic Diva seeking to re-enter the work place? 

Like many first-time parents, it was important for my partner and I to have one of us remain at home and provide full time care for our daughter during her first year of life.  The reason I was solicited to serve as the Domestic Goddess was due to my stunning post-natal figure and the fact I made a series of poor employment choices and at that time had a totally crap job.  

Things were going splendid for us and I began to re-think that whole Women’s Liberation thing, and then one day I glanced at our bank account and determined it was time to go back to work – STAT!  After all, we reside in the heart of one the of the Nation’s most expensive cities and Domestic Diva’s are only for the brilliantly rich (not moderately poor).   

Time to find a job!  No sweat, I have an MBA and years of work experience, this should be a piece of cake.  I’ll just go back to work… during the worst economy or country has known in over a generation. 

Great!

Now what to do about that year gap on my resume?  Should I just state that I have been home with my beautiful baby? NO! NO! and NO!

Here is why I learned never tell a potential employer you were home with a baby:

1) It literally translates to: You care more about your personal choices than you would our company.  

2) You will take time off from work to tend to a sick child, losing site of your bottom line.

3) If you are able to land an interview, employers may inquire about your child care and how it may affect your availability

So what should you do?

1) Volunteer:  If you are able to volunteer one evening or weekend, this could aid in explaining your work hiatus, while retaining your skills

2) Virtual Assistant:  This is the best fit for a domestic goddess, allows you to retain work experience at your own pace and keeps your resume current with employment

3) Add Mom on duty to your resume:  If you have been an at home parent for several years, consider adding those skills to your resume, i.e.: managing home budget, planning events, etc.

I hope this help all those Mommies on Duties facing the daunting task of finding employment during this economic crisis, when many employers are not considering reviewing the skills of the unemployed.

Guest blogger, Chanda is a 30-something former community organizer, turned free-lancer and part-time blogger (causereaction.blogspot.com). I am a true east-coaster, meaning; I have lived in six states between North Carolina and Maine. Currently, I reside in the Washington, DC metropolitan area with my partner and amazing daughter.

Emergency WCC Blog Post!

Image from Luscious Lactivist

Hello WCC community!  I am not sure I ever wrote an "emergency" blog post, but I thought this was warranted.  The lovely Karen Kleinman over at The Post Partum Stress Center brought this blog post from the Psychology Today website to the Facebook community (thank you Karen, oh and here is her response to this post on the PT website). The post, "Did you get last week's message? Pushing Formula is Evil" written by Dr. Darcia Narvaez, has been one of the most outrageous and ethically irresponsible pieces of writing I have read in some time (ironic, since her professional work is centered in ethics - see her bio here).

Here was my response:

As the subject heading suggests, I am not even sure where to begin.  I thought this post was possibly intended for The Onion or an equally satiric online news magazine but alas, it is not.  To make matters worse, PT blogs are typically not a platform for propaganda, so this leaves me wondering, are you interested as a psychologist and one who seemingly specializes in ethics, to actually help women realize their full potential as mothers or perpetuate the multiple manifestations and experiences of shame and oppression already experienced by women and mothers on a daily basis?  In fact, as I am writing this comment, I think this post is antithetical to your so called professional efforts and engagement in ethics and quite unprofessional to boot.  In your numerous publications, is there anywhere that states as a therapist the ethical thing to do when you think your client may be headed down a path that you subjectively perceive as being “wrong” or disagree with is to tell them what they are doing is “evil”?  Is that what you were teach your university students? 

As a mother to a beautiful, healthy, happy and immensely smart formula-fed 5 year-old, therapist, feminist activist and researcher my work on a daily basis centers around advocating for the health and well-being of both women and children nationally and globally.  Among many of my professional and personal efforts is to offer education and advocacy around the benefits of breastfeeding, as well as the benefits of knowing your own personal physical and psychological boundaries and what works for you as a mother and woman in the environment that you live.  While I have no problem with bluntness, as you suggest you feel you need to be, I too believe in bluntness.  So, not to consider women in their social, political, physical and psychological environment and to flat out say with such seemingly lack of consciousness and naiveté “Moms, if you hate to touch and be touched, you can change. If you, like me, developed an avoidant attachment style, you learned to shun intimacy. With a loving partner, you can change.  You can learn to cuddle and enjoy it.”  Really?!  Do you have a magic silver bullet treatment to work quickly with adults who have an avoidant attachment style in time for women to feed their kids before they starve to death, because since formula is risky, evil, junk, they shouldn’t eat until their mom’s attachment and relational style is repaired, right?

If this is sounding like a personal response, that’s because it is.  I take very personally the messages that are sent specifically by women on behalf of other women that functions to take away any opportunities for choice and agency, let alone women who are in positions of power.  While there is definitely a time and a place to offer women, new moms and moms-to-be objective information, as well as supportive and encouraging words and resources to implement this important and life-giving information so that they can make the best decision for themselves and their families, this is not what you did.  You used terror tactics.  I didn’t know we as therapists were in the business of needing to cure individual’s misgivings with terror and hurt? What you did was more like providing an environment of shame, fear, hurt and indignation.  Was this really the only option of communicating the importance of breastfeeding? I really hope that you are able to reflect on your post and see if you can not reconsider your approach in working with women around breastfeeding and maternal mental health, we really need each other to support, nurture and care for one another’s overall well being without fear of attack, shame and guilt.

I really personally and professionally needed to share this with you loyal WCC community members and blog readers... hope you will feel free to comment, share your voice here an on the PT website!