While we have focused much of our attention on problems women are facing around the world, we do not want to undermine the issues women face right here in State College. Just because we live in a developed country does that mean that the gender gap no longer exists. There are women who walk among us every day who may be suffering behind closed doors.
Spread the world that resources are available. The Centre County Women's Resource Center offers a safe place for women who may not know where else to turn. It offers a 24-hour hot line, counseling services, temporary and transitional housing, and children's programming in addition to other services. The center is open 365 days a year and all information is kept confidential.
No one deserves to suffer. Keep that in mind.
Sunday
A Woman's Journey through Pregnancy
Ectopic Pregnancy: One Woman's Story
"As a woman you always dream of one day having a child. However, sometimes, things don't work out the way you expected. As a young woman myself, I am grateful that my first pregnancy went great. I have a healthy, now 9 year old. But after I had him, I became pregnant 6 more times, and to date, I still only have my precious son. My first ectopic (tubal) pregnancy was hard for me to understand, because I had absolutely no problems with my first pregnancy. I had gone to the doctor, very excited that I was going to be expanding my family, however, when the received the blood test back, my hormone levels were not at a normal rate for how far along I was, so the next couple of weeks, I had to go in and get blood tests done every other day. My levels just didn't seem to be going up the way the should. So the doctor finally did an ultrasound and didn't find anything in my uterus. He informed me that this was an ectopic pregnancy and can be very harmful to my health if I didn't have a shot called "Methotrexate". From what they had told me, the methotrexate shot would dissolve the pregnancy that was in my tube. However, with this shot, you are unable to eat or drink anything with folic acid. Folic acid helps in the development of the fetus. I received the shot and then I was no longer pregnant. The doctors can tell you how you are going to physically feel (there is no change physically with an ectopic pregnancy), but they cannot explain the emotional roller coaster a woman will go through when something like this happens.
A few months had passed by and I became pregnant for the third time. A little leary this time, but still excited. Everything was going great, then one day I started spotting, I immediately called the doctor and they got me in as soon as they could. I had miscarried. Some miscarriages can be painful and some can just feel like bad cramps from your mentrual cycle. Then I had to get a D and C. Again, another emotional roller coaster ride.
I became pregnant once again a year or so later for the fourth time. Again, this one was another ectopic pregnancy. Another methotrexate shot was in my very near future. As my husband and I were discussing if we should even try anymore to expand our family. I was young, 25 years old at the time; what are the chances of this happening again? So we kept trying. I became pregnant for the fifth time. This time another miscarriage. I was referred to a fertility specialist. She was wonderful, she explained everything to me so I can understand. She did an exploratory laporscopic surgery to see what exactly was going on in there. There was scar tissue built up around my right fallopian tube and it was pressing it closed. I became pregnant for the sixth time. Yet another ectopic pregnancy. My fertility specialist went in again and removed my right fallopian tube so this would stop happening. My husband and I could not have been more happy. I still had my left tube that was extremely healthy. When I was 29, I became pregnant for the seventh and final time. You guessed it, another ectopic pregnancy. This time, I couldn't handle the emotional part of losing my sixth pregnancy. I told my fertility specialist, "remove my left tube", she was very reluctant because I was so young, but she did what I asked.
I am very fortunate to have my son. I know some woman out there have been through what I have been through without having a child. I know the pain and heartache that you have been through or are going through. Be thankful for what you have. There is always adoption, surrogacy or IVF. To this day my husband and I still toss the idea around of IVF or adoption. The feeling of never being able to have another child is gut wrenching, but I believe there is a reason for everything. I believe my son is going to go far in life and will need his parents to be behind him 150%, and that is why we were not meant to have anymore children.
There is always a silver lining. I think. Live your life with love, laughter and happiness.
I hope by reading this article you will find that you are not alone in the world, there are many of us that have been there."
-As written by Anonymous
"As a woman you always dream of one day having a child. However, sometimes, things don't work out the way you expected. As a young woman myself, I am grateful that my first pregnancy went great. I have a healthy, now 9 year old. But after I had him, I became pregnant 6 more times, and to date, I still only have my precious son. My first ectopic (tubal) pregnancy was hard for me to understand, because I had absolutely no problems with my first pregnancy. I had gone to the doctor, very excited that I was going to be expanding my family, however, when the received the blood test back, my hormone levels were not at a normal rate for how far along I was, so the next couple of weeks, I had to go in and get blood tests done every other day. My levels just didn't seem to be going up the way the should. So the doctor finally did an ultrasound and didn't find anything in my uterus. He informed me that this was an ectopic pregnancy and can be very harmful to my health if I didn't have a shot called "Methotrexate". From what they had told me, the methotrexate shot would dissolve the pregnancy that was in my tube. However, with this shot, you are unable to eat or drink anything with folic acid. Folic acid helps in the development of the fetus. I received the shot and then I was no longer pregnant. The doctors can tell you how you are going to physically feel (there is no change physically with an ectopic pregnancy), but they cannot explain the emotional roller coaster a woman will go through when something like this happens.
A few months had passed by and I became pregnant for the third time. A little leary this time, but still excited. Everything was going great, then one day I started spotting, I immediately called the doctor and they got me in as soon as they could. I had miscarried. Some miscarriages can be painful and some can just feel like bad cramps from your mentrual cycle. Then I had to get a D and C. Again, another emotional roller coaster ride.
I became pregnant once again a year or so later for the fourth time. Again, this one was another ectopic pregnancy. Another methotrexate shot was in my very near future. As my husband and I were discussing if we should even try anymore to expand our family. I was young, 25 years old at the time; what are the chances of this happening again? So we kept trying. I became pregnant for the fifth time. This time another miscarriage. I was referred to a fertility specialist. She was wonderful, she explained everything to me so I can understand. She did an exploratory laporscopic surgery to see what exactly was going on in there. There was scar tissue built up around my right fallopian tube and it was pressing it closed. I became pregnant for the sixth time. Yet another ectopic pregnancy. My fertility specialist went in again and removed my right fallopian tube so this would stop happening. My husband and I could not have been more happy. I still had my left tube that was extremely healthy. When I was 29, I became pregnant for the seventh and final time. You guessed it, another ectopic pregnancy. This time, I couldn't handle the emotional part of losing my sixth pregnancy. I told my fertility specialist, "remove my left tube", she was very reluctant because I was so young, but she did what I asked.
I am very fortunate to have my son. I know some woman out there have been through what I have been through without having a child. I know the pain and heartache that you have been through or are going through. Be thankful for what you have. There is always adoption, surrogacy or IVF. To this day my husband and I still toss the idea around of IVF or adoption. The feeling of never being able to have another child is gut wrenching, but I believe there is a reason for everything. I believe my son is going to go far in life and will need his parents to be behind him 150%, and that is why we were not meant to have anymore children.
There is always a silver lining. I think. Live your life with love, laughter and happiness.
I hope by reading this article you will find that you are not alone in the world, there are many of us that have been there."
-As written by Anonymous
Wednesday
A Woman's Journey to Freedom and Safety: Masi's Story
We had a unique opportunity to sit down with Masi, a survivor of domestic abuse, who now works to help other women remove themselves from these dangerous situations. She inspired us to go a step further in raising awareness of this issue by making sure that victims know what resources and opportunities are available to them so that they know they are not alone in this struggle.
The Polaris Project
Founded in 2002, the Polaris Project is one of the largest anti-trafficking organizations in the United States. Its name comes from the North Star, which in the past has helped to lead slaves to freedom. The organization aims for just -- all around the globe.
Human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world and one that exploits more than 12 million people globally, according to its website. The Polaris Project works at local, nation and international levels to spread awarness and conquer modern day slavery in the following ways:
Do yourself and favor: explore the Polaris Project website. There are so many people in our own country and around the world being exploited in ways that we cannot even imagine. LEARN about this problem and SHARE it with others. Awareness is the key to making a difference in the lives of so many people.
Human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world and one that exploits more than 12 million people globally, according to its website. The Polaris Project works at local, nation and international levels to spread awarness and conquer modern day slavery in the following ways:
"Polaris Project's comprehensive approach to combating human trafficking includes conducting direct outreach and victim identification, providing social services and transitional housing to victims, operating the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) serving as the central national hotline on human trafficking, advocating for stronger state and Federal anti-trafficking legislation, and engaging community members in local and national grassroots efforts."While the Polaris Project looks at several areas around the globe, it also draws attention to the human trafficking problem that exists within our own borders. Currently, women and children in the United States are forced to become a part of the sex industry, and labor workers are abused in our agricultural and restaurant industries. It's startling that many don't know that this type of injustice exists in our country. Slavery did not end with the Civil War, as many people believe.
-- from Polarisproject.org
Do yourself and favor: explore the Polaris Project website. There are so many people in our own country and around the world being exploited in ways that we cannot even imagine. LEARN about this problem and SHARE it with others. Awareness is the key to making a difference in the lives of so many people.
Tuesday
Monday
Hollywood's Self-Defense
In the movie "Enough", Jennifer Lopez is terrorized physically and emotionally by her husband and is forced to travel the world with her daughter in an effort to hide from him. In the end, she decides the only way to truly escape from him is to kill him with the self-defense skills that she recently learned. In the movie, there is a distinct quote that reads, "You have a divine animal right to protect your own life and the life of your offspring."
A Woman's Journey through Self-Defense
Throughout our blog, we have talked a lot about the suffering of women through sex trafficking, rape, etc. We have named for you all of the statistics we can find and we have told you a ton of heart-breaking stories of women who were tortured sexually and emotionally. Now we are telling you a way to help yourself. Self-Defense. It may not work everytime, but if it helps just one time by protecting a woman from any sort of abuse, then it's worth it.
At the Women's Self-Defense Institute , their mission is simple - empowering women to fight back against crime.
How do they do this?
By providing women training and education in:
•Awareness
•Prevention
•Risk reduction
•Risk avoidance; and
•Self-realization of your own physical power
These tools greatly increase a woman's personal protection options to combat crime.
It's simple, the more prepared you are, the less likely you are to need self-defense. It is something that will give you the peace of mind that if for some reason you are attacked or forced into a situation, you will have the abilities to fight back.
At the Women's Self-Defense Institute , their mission is simple - empowering women to fight back against crime.
How do they do this?
By providing women training and education in:
•Awareness
•Prevention
•Risk reduction
•Risk avoidance; and
•Self-realization of your own physical power
These tools greatly increase a woman's personal protection options to combat crime.
It's simple, the more prepared you are, the less likely you are to need self-defense. It is something that will give you the peace of mind that if for some reason you are attacked or forced into a situation, you will have the abilities to fight back.
Sunday
A woman's journey to support another.
A few days ago, we introduced you to Sister4Sister, a community organization dedicated to empowering women by providing resources and opportunities for females of all ages. Now I want to share information on an organization on a larger scale.
Women for Women International is a program dedicated to “helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives.” The program works with the countries of Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and Sudan. They stress the values of equality, empowerment, respect, diversity and investment in order to make a difference in the lives of these women.
This video explains the mission of Women for Women International and the Sponsorship Program in which sponsors pledge $27 per month to support one woman for a year while the woman takes part in vocational and technical skills training, rights awareness and leadership education.
Women for Women International says to have empowered more than 250,000 women and contributed more than $79 million in direct aid, microcredit loans and other services. For individuals who do not wish to participate in the Sponsorship Program, the website provides various other opportunities to contribute through direct donations or volunteer efforts.
The website has tons of resources, videos and podcasts available. Take a look for yourself and consider making a difference in the life of a woman.
Helping Women Survivors of War Rebuild Their Lives Women for Women International
Women for Women International is a program dedicated to “helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives.” The program works with the countries of Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and Sudan. They stress the values of equality, empowerment, respect, diversity and investment in order to make a difference in the lives of these women.
This video explains the mission of Women for Women International and the Sponsorship Program in which sponsors pledge $27 per month to support one woman for a year while the woman takes part in vocational and technical skills training, rights awareness and leadership education.
Women for Women International says to have empowered more than 250,000 women and contributed more than $79 million in direct aid, microcredit loans and other services. For individuals who do not wish to participate in the Sponsorship Program, the website provides various other opportunities to contribute through direct donations or volunteer efforts.
The website has tons of resources, videos and podcasts available. Take a look for yourself and consider making a difference in the life of a woman.
Helping Women Survivors of War Rebuild Their Lives Women for Women International
Wednesday
A woman's journey with herself.
Last night was the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on CBS. The hour-long show featured all of the brand's most well-known models as they "set the tone for what is sexy this winter." Beautiful, thin women strutted their stuff in expensive lingerie and some variation of wings to bumping music and rounds of applause.
I personally love the brand and the quality of clothing that it makes. Of course, for any woman who does not resemble these models, the show can be a bittersweet experience as I realized that my body may not be in the shape I'd prefer it to be, especially following the carb-loading Thanksgiving break.
There has been talk for years about this sort of advertising and the effects on females' body images. As Cultivation Theory suggests, the exposure to these images over time start to shape the viewer's view of reality -- in other words, women have been exposed to these type of "perfect" women through media and begin to believe that this is what they should look like. It also does not help when men reinforce this kind of thinking. Consider this Facebook status I saw last night when I logged on:
While this may have been intended to be a joke, or a desperate plea for attention, I think it's important for both women and men to not overemphasize the importance of having a body type that less than 1% of women have. If you watch the fashion show with an entertainment mindset and understand that these models have made this a career for a reason, I don't feel there is anything wrong with this sort of TV special.
Take a look for yourself.
I personally love the brand and the quality of clothing that it makes. Of course, for any woman who does not resemble these models, the show can be a bittersweet experience as I realized that my body may not be in the shape I'd prefer it to be, especially following the carb-loading Thanksgiving break.
There has been talk for years about this sort of advertising and the effects on females' body images. As Cultivation Theory suggests, the exposure to these images over time start to shape the viewer's view of reality -- in other words, women have been exposed to these type of "perfect" women through media and begin to believe that this is what they should look like. It also does not help when men reinforce this kind of thinking. Consider this Facebook status I saw last night when I logged on:
"to all the women i know out there. can you please lose some weight, go to the gym, get some plastic surgery or say a prayer so that you can look like these models. just saying.."As expected, guys liked the status and agreed, girls commented with sad faces and less-than-friendly words. His dad also wrote "...........Wow........I don't remember dropping him on his head!"
While this may have been intended to be a joke, or a desperate plea for attention, I think it's important for both women and men to not overemphasize the importance of having a body type that less than 1% of women have. If you watch the fashion show with an entertainment mindset and understand that these models have made this a career for a reason, I don't feel there is anything wrong with this sort of TV special.
Take a look for yourself.
A Woman's Informational Journey through Rape
Rape. One of the major concerns of parents when sending their young teenage daughter off to college. But it’s not only young women who are at risk for being raped. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. 1 in 6 women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime, and college age women are 4 times more likely to be sexually assaulted. 17.7 million American women have been victims of attempted or completed rape and 9 out of every 10 rapes are female. After being raped what will happen to you? You’re more likely to become depressed, suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, abuse drugs and alcohol, and commit suicide. Not to mention what will you do if you become pregnant? All of these questions are something that women who have been sexually assaulted have to think about and live with everyday. Approximately 73% of victims know their rapists. Think about it.
There is nothing you can do to completely prevent being raped, but there are preventative measures that every woman can take to hopefully keep herself just a bit safer.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Knowing where you are and who is around you may help you to find a way to get out of a bad situation.
- Try to avoid isolated areas. It is more difficult to get help if no one is around.
- Walk with purpose. Even if you don’t know where you are going, act like you do.
- Trust your instincts. If a situation or location feels unsafe or uncomfortable, it probably isn’t the best place to be.
- Try not to load yourself down with packages or bags as this can make you appear more vulnerable.
- Make sure your cell phone is with you and charged and that you have cab money.
- Don't allow yourself to be isolated with someone you don’t trust or someone you don’t know.
- Avoid putting music headphones in both ears so that you can be more aware of your surroundings, especially if you are walking alone. (Rainn 2010)
For more information, visit Rainn's Website
Tuesday
A Woman's Journey...With Others
As I began researching organizations that aim to empower women, I stumbled across a non-profit known as Sisters4Sisters, Inc. The Maryland-based organization, just over 10 years old, has the following mission:
As I clicked around the website, I was surprised by the number of resources and opportunities available for women. The organization offers:
"The empowerment of women and girls is achieved through enlightening workshops on personal and professional development along with engaging community outreach in the areas which greatly impact women including HIV-AIDS awareness, domestic violence, homelessness, young girl mentoring, health and wellness."
As I clicked around the website, I was surprised by the number of resources and opportunities available for women. The organization offers:
- monthly domestic violence workshops
- Saving Our Sisters campaign: dedicated to providing "essential information, resources and testing along with education on the rise of HIV-AIDS among women and girls
- Daughters of Destiny: a young girls and teens mentorship program "dedicated to creating healthy self-esteem and wellness for youth...while promoting girl power!"
- Adopt a Sister in Iraq which provides letters and care packages to women fighting overseas
- The Harriet Tubman Project which assists women in homeless shelters by providing necessities as well as career development services
Thailand Sex Trafficking
Here is Kevin Bales, author of "Disposable People" discussing his first encounter with Siri, the subject of the post below.
A (young) woman's journey to freedom
I hate to be the person to steer us away from the triumphs of women throughout the last century. Women, especially in America, have come so far in obtaining rights and fighting for equality in all areas of life that it is sometimes easy for us to forget that there are women in different areas of the world that struggle everyday just to be treated as human beings.
While enrolled in a sociology class, (SOC 119 with Professor Sam Richards) I was required to read the book "Disposable People" by Kevin Bales which discussed the prevalence of modern day slavery across the world. The second chapter, entitled "Thailand: Because She Looks Like a Child," captured me in an awful way as Bales discussed the country's sex industry through stories from its victims.
As you read Siri's story, consider how fortunate you are to have control over your own whereabouts and body. This story breaks my heart every time.
While enrolled in a sociology class, (SOC 119 with Professor Sam Richards) I was required to read the book "Disposable People" by Kevin Bales which discussed the prevalence of modern day slavery across the world. The second chapter, entitled "Thailand: Because She Looks Like a Child," captured me in an awful way as Bales discussed the country's sex industry through stories from its victims.
As you read Siri's story, consider how fortunate you are to have control over your own whereabouts and body. This story breaks my heart every time.
"When Siri wakes it is about noon. In the instant of waking she knows exactly who and what she has become. As she explained to me, the soreness in her genitals reminds her of the fifteen men she had sex with the night before. Siri is fifteen years old. Sold by her parents a year ago her resistance and her desire to escape the brothel are breaking down and acceptance and resignation are taking their place.…At about five, Siri and the other girls are told to dress, put on their makeup, and prepare for the night’s work. By seven the men are coming in, purchasing drinks and choosing girls, and Siri will have been chosen by one or two of the ten to eighteen men who will buy her that night. Many men choose Siri because she looks much younger than her fifteen years. Slight and round faced, dressed to accentuate her youth, she might be eleven or twelve. Because she looks like a child she can be sold as a “new” girl at a higher price, about $15, which is more than twice that charged for the other girls.Siri is very frightened that she will get AIDS. Long before she understood prostitution she knew about HIV, as many girls from her village returned home to die from AIDS after being sold into the brothels. Every day she prays to Buddha, trying to earn the merit that will preserve her from the disease. She also tries to insist that her clients use condoms, and in most cases she is successful as the pimp backs her up. But when policemen use her, or the pimp himself, they will do as they please; if she tries to insist, she will be beaten and raped. She also fears pregnancy, and like the other girls she receives injections of the contraceptive drug Depo-Provera. Once a month she has an HIV test, and so far it has been negative. She knows that if she tests positive she will be thrown out of the brothel to starve."
Thursday
Truly a Woman's Journey
Over the past week, Penn State held their 2010 International Education Week. Throughout the week, students were able to attend numerous diverse forums to become more informed of what the international world has to offer. Forums ranged from charity walks, workshops, keynote speakers, discussion forums and so much more.
After carefully reading through the descriptions for each forum, I came across a keynote speaker, Rita Golden Gelman. Expressed in her book, Rita proclaims, “I am a modern-day nomad. I have no permanent address, no possessions except the ones I carry, and I rarely know where I’ll be six months from now. I move through the world without a plan, guided by instinct, connecting through trust, and constantly watching for serendipitous opportunities.”
Through an ironic connection with Rita, I was greatly interested in hearing her speech. During my adventures living in Washington, D.C. this past summer, my roommate, Jennifer, was informed that her favorite writer and inspiration, Rita Gelman, was looking for an intern. Jennifer applied and graciously accepted the internship. Every night Jennifer would return home from Rita’s current residence and tell amazing stories that were passed down to her and of her time with Rita. After not meeting her over the summer and hearing of her presence on campus, I knew I had to attend.
Now I will pass along the stories Rita told during her speech. Be aware, you will develop a travel bug post reading.
Rita has been living through her nomadic experience since 1986. Prior her revelation for a new lifestyle, Rita was somewhat the average individual. Being the wife of a journalist in Los Angeles, Rita regularly lived a glamorous life. She attended multiple private parties, award shows and met celebrities often. However, this lifestyle was not satisfying for Rita.
After a shuttle flight to San Francisco, Rita met a woman who spoke of her amazing travels. These stories inspired Rita to start traveling herself. Knowing that her marriage at the time was not going as planned; Rita thought it was the perfect time to take a trip down the Tigris River. When she returned, she was extremely inspired and re-routed her attention towards further education in hopes to obtain her PhD in Anthropology at UCLA.
Close to her completion at UCLA, Rita and her husband decided to call it quits. After her divorce, Rita thought to herself, “What am I going to with the rest of my life?” She responded to her own questions with, “You are going to live your dream!” Even though she was extremely scared to set off all alone, she was extremely excited to explore without any plans. After planning out her life for the past decades she was excited to not know where she was going or what might happen when she got there.
From that day on in 1986, Rita has continued to travel all over the world and meet so many outstanding individuals. Throughout her speech, Rita commented numerous times how influential these people were to her life at the time and even more today. Surprisingly, she admitted that she was only truly scared one time during her travels which later she realized was not a scary moment at all. Rita writes about these amazing experiences and exotic places in her book, The Tales of a Female Nomad.
When asked for tips on traveling and knowing when to move from place to place, Rita recited four specific tips and a personal reflection of her experiences. Her four tips were: Smile a lot, talk to strangers, accept all invitations and eat all foods. Her reflection stated, “It is time to leave when I begin wanting to tell these people how to live. That is not why I am there. They are to teach me.” Another reflection she shared was the idea of depositing favors. She encouraged the group to not only give favors but also take favors as well. We all know how good it feels to give favors. Receiving the favors is just as wonderful!
Rita Golden Gelman has written numerous children’s books and has recently released a series based on her nomadic experiences titled “Tales of a Female Nomad”.
I wanted to leave my readers with an inspiring thought that Rita left her listeners with as well. Just think, in life you must always have three things. These are the three golden rules of life. You must always have trust, serendipity and risk. Without any one of these three ideas your hopes and dreams cannot happen.
Monday
Fear - Vulnerable Women
In the movie "Fear" starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Wahlberg, Mark's character David falls in love with Nicole, played by Witherspoon. It is a tragic tale of how a man can manipulate a young woman and even turn her against her values. Throughout the movie, Nicole slowly starts to fall for David and it spirals out of control. David becomes so controlling and even hits Nicole. She claims it was an accident when he really meant to do physical harm to her. He also kills one of her friends because he gets insanely jealous. While the movie is fiction, instances happen like this to teen women everyday. It is a very emotional time for a woman and they can easily be manipulated. The movie ends when David and his friends try to kill Nicole's family and David tries to re-unite himself with Nicole. It is scary how physically violent men can become after they get emotionally attached to something. It is very important for women to listen to their friends and family. Nicole had insight from her father but went against his wishes. Most people, myself included, turn a deaf ear when parents lecture us. It's important that we recognize when people point out something is wrong. The movie is a perfect example of how young women can be manipulated by men and twisted. Obviously extreme cases like this are more rare, but they do happen.
Tuesday
Save Second Base
With Breast Cancer Awareness Month just coming to a close, we thought it was an appropriate time to discuss one of the most life threatening issues that women may have to deal with in their lifetime. “Breast cancer is a type of cancer where cells in the breast divide and grow without normal control. About 85 percent of breast cancers begin in the mammary ducts, while about 15 percent arise in the lobules. Tumors in the breast tend to grow slowly. By the time a lump is large enough to feel, it may have been growing for as long as 10 years. However, some tumors can be aggressive, and grow much more rapidly,” (Susan G. Komen 2010). Breast cancer, similar to any cancer, is something that can take over your life and turn your world upside down. That’s why it is so important for women to take the precautionary measures to make sure anything suspicious is checked out immediately.
In 1983, the first Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was done in Dallas , Texas
CHECK IT OUT!
Sunday
I'm too sexy for...Halloween
Roaming the streets of State College this weekend, I saw a lot of female Halloween costumes that would have probably made many fathers uncomfortable: high heels, low necklines, short hemlines, and in some cases, close to nothing at all. Despite the low temperatures, it seemed like very few girls chose comfort over fashion. I've come to accept this Halloween tradition at college, and while I chose to dress as Elmo instead of a sexy Disney Princess, I support fully the idea of women having enough freedrom and confidence to embrace their femininity through dress. The disturbing part of this weekend was seeing pictures of girls in middle school and high school wearing corset tops and "booty shorts" as costumes. Many of my friends younger sisters opted for "sexy" costumes -- many of which took innocent icons and cartoons and raised the hemline. It's scary to see how quickly young girls seem to be growing up. It's even scarier to consider what this trend could lead to.
Check out this blog by a woman who works to spread awareness of modern slavery, including human trafficking. She addresses the idea of an over-sexified Halloween and the potential consequences.
Also, consider this Newsweek article from 2007 which addresses this issue as well.
Check out this blog by a woman who works to spread awareness of modern slavery, including human trafficking. She addresses the idea of an over-sexified Halloween and the potential consequences.
Also, consider this Newsweek article from 2007 which addresses this issue as well.
Tuesday
Sex Trafficking of Women
Sex trafficking, also known as sex slavery, is a horrific problem that is growing worldwide. Trafficking is defined as a type of slavery that involves the transport or trade of people for the purpose of work. According to the U.N., about 2.5 million people around the world are being held in the trap that is human trafficking at any point in time (Soroptimist 2010). Human trafficking is a 42 billion dollar annual industry, and it is flourishing every day.
Sex trafficking specifically is the exploitation of women and children for the purposes of forced sex work. This can include pornography and prostitution of those that are trafficked. About 800,000 women and children are trafficked across international borders each year, and additional numbers are trafficked within their native countries (Soroptimist 2010).
Many people know that this type of forced sex is occurring throughout the country, but as with most issues, people think that it could never happen to them. It is a common misconception that no one should believe. In the movie “Taken”, two young American girls travel to France alone and are captured by a group of Albanian men whose specialty is sex slave trading. The father of one of the girls is a former CIA operative who takes it upon himself to travel to France France
Taken TrailerAs you can see from the clip, sex trafficking among women is a major problem and one that is extremely serious. It is a growing epidemic that reaches just about every country on the globe and it is something that can happen to ANYONE. To read more stories about human trafficking, and specifically sex trafficking among women, check out Soroptimist's website.
Monday
Kiva: Aid the Journey in Alleviating Poverty
Meet Pendo Luisi. Pendo borrowed $175 from Kiva on November 22, 2007 in hopes to open a café in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Less than one year later, she paid her loan back in full and her café continues to thrive to this day.
Over the years, there have been millions of intense debates, common round table discussions and serious research being done in hopes to find resolutions for individuals around the globe who are financially lacking and unable to enhance their lives. Two passionate and extremely creative individuals, Matt Flannery and Jessica Jackley, frequently discussed the topic of entrepreneurship along with serious talk of trying to alleviate poverty. In 2004, the determined couple created and began working on a valuable project called Kiva.
“Kiva’s mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty.”
Kiva thrives to empower individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the world. By combining microfinance with the internet, Kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending. Kiva’s founders believe: “people are by nature generous, and will help others if given the opportunity to do so in a transparent, accountable way; the poor are highly motivated and can be very successful when given the opportunity; by connecting people we can create relationships beyond financial transactions, and build a global community expressing support and encouragement of one another.”
Microfinance is a general term to describe financial services to low-income individuals of to those who do not have access to typical banking services. The idea to microfinance is to help encourage individuals by giving them the change to overcome poverty through their own personal efforts.
To date, Kiva has loaned approximately $168,203,825 to enthusiastic individuals who hope to begin their own businesses. Another remarkable percentage is the refunded amount of money back to the lenders from the loaners of over 98%. John S. Johnson, writer for The Huffington Post, commented, “Kiva.org allows people the very American satisfaction of both helping someone and getting their money back.”
Former President Bill Clinton informed and motivated other Americans to look into the powerful effects of Kiva by stating, “If you look at Kiva.org, people with a very modest amount of money can make a huge positive impact all around the world. There are so many people who want to give but don't really know how to do it. Through Kiva.org, people around the world can become micro-bankers to developing world entrepreneurs, who have their own ideas, so we can give them a chance to raise their kids with dignity, send their kids to school, and in troubled places like Afghanistan we can marginally increase the chance that peace can prevail, because people will see there is a positive alternative to conflict.”
By visiting Kiva.org, you can find more information on the installation of Kiva and how they have not only helped alleviate poor individuals but also aided in alleviating poverty across the world. On their website, you are able to search through a list of people requesting money for certain entrepreneur projects and are able to select whoever catches your eye. Also on the website is more information on becoming a Kiva supporter or partner. Help support the journey to minimize poverty. It is simple! LEND!
Women helping women
Women are playing a large role in U.S. politics these days, and there has been much talk of their efforts in recent media coverage of the upcoming elections. According to an article published today by CQ (Congressional Quarterly) Politics, several Democratic women are struggling to maintain their positions in the House and Senate. In the article, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) said she and her female colleagues feel compelled to help each other out as much as possible in order to keep their seats. Those who are ahead and secure in their individual races are rallying support for fellow female candidates by campaigning alongside them.
The article also stated that the White House has been making moves to assist women candidates and voters. First Lady Michelle Obama and VP First Lady Jill Biden recently helped out with the Women’s Leadership Forum, which works to spread awareness of women in politics and motivate female voters. President Obama also has been traveling the country with Democratic female candidates and making appearances on their behalf.
I think it’s great that women are working together to better their group as a whole and embracing the “girl power” idea. Although our country has come such a long way in obtaining equal rights for women, equal respect is still something that wavers here. There are still those people who are stuck in their old-fashioned ways and prefer women to be in the kitchen, but maybe this is because they’re afraid of what women are capable of when they leave the kitchen. I like that these intelligent, driven women are taking matters into their own hands. Women helping women is a powerful theme that could be very beneficial for females around the world.
To read more of the CQ article, click here.
The article also stated that the White House has been making moves to assist women candidates and voters. First Lady Michelle Obama and VP First Lady Jill Biden recently helped out with the Women’s Leadership Forum, which works to spread awareness of women in politics and motivate female voters. President Obama also has been traveling the country with Democratic female candidates and making appearances on their behalf.
I think it’s great that women are working together to better their group as a whole and embracing the “girl power” idea. Although our country has come such a long way in obtaining equal rights for women, equal respect is still something that wavers here. There are still those people who are stuck in their old-fashioned ways and prefer women to be in the kitchen, but maybe this is because they’re afraid of what women are capable of when they leave the kitchen. I like that these intelligent, driven women are taking matters into their own hands. Women helping women is a powerful theme that could be very beneficial for females around the world.
To read more of the CQ article, click here.
Sunday
Stereotyping Women in the Workplace
It has been common since the 1950's to see women portrayed in a negative light when it comes to employment. During this time, numerous companies have expressed sexist views of women. There has been a stereotype that women cannot handle jobs that men have and that they should stick to the traditional "housewife" or secretary role. In this Family Guy clip from youtube, we see how the show portrays women from the 1950's and how these stereotypes still exist:
Family Guy - Women Stereotype
As you can see from the clip, the commercial focuses on how women are interpreted as being objects rather than people. Even the comments from viewers show how these stereotypes still exist. One other Family Guy clip shows the main character Peter Griffin saying to his wife Lois "Hey I'm starvin, how bout a sandwich?" Then he proceeds to give her a smack on the rear end. It's pretty embarrassing to see this continue even today. However, things are improving tremendously. Women hold positions of power in different types of companies all over the world. One area that must see improvement however is women in the middle east. They have little rights in some countries and it's very important that it is changed. With the significant progress that has been made, it's vital that it continues.
Shows like Family Guy continue these stereotypes and we must use media literacy when viewing these shows. That means not reading into these shows and viewing them solely as entertainment and not actual facts or knowledge. I actually did a project on some of the stereotypes Family Guy promotes and discriminating against women was one of the main ones the show promotes. Part of a Woman's Journey is overcoming obstacles like these shows. As we continue, we will provide even more instances of this and how women are overcoming the odds.
Family Guy - Women Stereotype
As you can see from the clip, the commercial focuses on how women are interpreted as being objects rather than people. Even the comments from viewers show how these stereotypes still exist. One other Family Guy clip shows the main character Peter Griffin saying to his wife Lois "Hey I'm starvin, how bout a sandwich?" Then he proceeds to give her a smack on the rear end. It's pretty embarrassing to see this continue even today. However, things are improving tremendously. Women hold positions of power in different types of companies all over the world. One area that must see improvement however is women in the middle east. They have little rights in some countries and it's very important that it is changed. With the significant progress that has been made, it's vital that it continues.
Shows like Family Guy continue these stereotypes and we must use media literacy when viewing these shows. That means not reading into these shows and viewing them solely as entertainment and not actual facts or knowledge. I actually did a project on some of the stereotypes Family Guy promotes and discriminating against women was one of the main ones the show promotes. Part of a Woman's Journey is overcoming obstacles like these shows. As we continue, we will provide even more instances of this and how women are overcoming the odds.
Thursday
Welcome! Join the journey!
Hello Everyone! Welcome to our brand new blog! We are a group of four students from Penn State University discussing a wide range of issues, both positive and negative, that are affecting females of all ages all across the world. Our group consists of three females and one male all majoring in communications. We were asked by our professor to create a blog providing awareness on a certain issue that is pulls at the heart strings of our group. After learning of the current movement, The Girl Effect, that tries to encourage young females around the world, our group decided to venture in the avenue of women’s rights. What the outcome of this blog may be is completely up in the air. However, our overall goal for this blog is to provide as much information regarding women as possible, whether it may be through inspirational stories or horrific videos and images to truly show the world the impact of violence and suppression against women. We hope you follow the journey with us!
Because The Girl Effect was the first idea brought to the table, I figured we would present the movement as the first blog post topic. Also, I felt that The Girl Effect’s campaign questions was extremely appropriate for not only their concerns but for all women across the world of all ages. “The world could use a good kick in the pants!” I believe that many, both male and female, would agree to this statement. As defined on their website, The Girl Effect is “the unique potential of six hundred million adolescent girls to end poverty for themselves and the world.” There has been a small amount of research regarding the correlation between girls economic growth and the well-being of communities. However, the research that has been done shows that these young girls can definitely have a large impact on the community in many ways. One major finding from this research is, “when a girl in the developing world receives seven or more years of education, she marries four years later and has 2.2 fewer children.”
Historically, there has been large debate regarding the equality of women and men and how that severe issue has created other numerous conflicts: gender gaps, educational gaps, economic wages, etc. Educational gaps are even more apparent in developing countries. “Approximately one-quarter of girls in developing countries are not in school and of the world’s 130 million out-of-school youth, seventy percent are girls.” Because these girls are being shut out of schools, they are being forced into marriages at extremely young ages. In these marriages, up to half of these young girls are becoming pregnant and some are resulting in death due to complications during childbirth or even during general pregnancy. These young girls are suffering at an extremely young age through forced marriages, physical abuse and can even contract HIV/AIDS.
Things can go one or two ways for these girls and everyone around them. They can get a chance. She can become educated, stay healthy and HIV negative, marry when she chooses and raise a healthy family. Or, one of these things could happen... She could be illiterate, be married off, isolated, pregnant and vulnerable to HIV. You can help six million adolescent girls in developing countries fulfill the first option through your support, your voice and your action.
Check out The Girl Effect website and learn more of their fight. On their website, you can find personal stories, more eye opening statistics and multiple ways to help donate and support the cause. Check it out!!
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