How Can You Broaden Your Horizons?

So first let me start off by saying that the whole post by Tuesday agreement I had was a little presumptuous of me. Turns out my life is a little bit more hectic than I thought so it looks like I’ll be having you guys tune in when you can. You’ll see me post the updated blog on my Facebook, on the SHARPP Facebook page and on the SHARPP Website so keep tuning in.

This week I felt we could talk around the idea behind this blog again for those tuning in. I know last week’s post was very opinionated but I want people to really understand where I am coming from and the importance of these issues affecting women. With the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) gaining more attention through Facebook and the media as it is going through the legal system I feel it is a good time to reflect on how any of us can get more involved and gain more knowledge on women and the issues they face.

One way we can all do that is by attending THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES this upcoming weekend March 1^st and 2^nd. What is some of you who haven’t seen the flyers or postings might ask? The Vagina Monologues is made up of a varying number of monologues read by a varying number of women written by Eve Ensler. Each of the monologues deals with an aspect of the feminine experience, touching on matters such as sex, love, rape, menstruation, female genital mutilation, masturbation, birth, orgasm, the various common names for the vagina, or simply as a physical aspect of the body. A recurring theme throughout the piece is the vagina as a tool of female empowerment, and the ultimate embodiment of individuality.

For those of you who have seen the performance before or not, it is a great way to broaden your horizons on the problems and hardships women experience through monologues that intermingle real interview answers, comedy and global women’s issues. It is truly a wonderful experience and I hope to see you all there!

Another way you could learn more about women’s issues is by looking into the VAWA that is trying to be passed federally at the moment. I know there are posts all over Facebook and articles on many news sites regarding the act. A brief explanation that I found through the library of congress is as follows:

The VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2013 amends Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) to add or expand definitions of several terms used in such Act.

Modifies or expands grant conditions under such Act, including requirements relating to: (1) nondisclosure of personally identifying information or other client information, (2) information sharing between grantees and subgrantees, (3) civil rights and nondiscrimination, (4) audits, and (5) nonprofit organizations. The act requires the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish a biennial conferral process with state and tribal coalitions, technical assistance providers, and other key stakeholders on the administration of grants and related matters. And it requires the Attorney General to authorize in writing expenditures for DOJ conferences that exceed $20,000.

 

Essentially the VAWA will provide so many more individuals with provisions and protections as well as helping improve awareness efforts. So if you want to help out and learn about violence against women and see how it is an issue for our whole world these are two ways but I know if you’re dedicated you can find more.

Have a good Saturday everyone!

 

 

References from today’s post

http://thomas.loc.gov – VAWA definition

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vagina_Monologues – explanation of The Vagina Monologues

Plan for Safety not for a Maybe

Hello Everyone,
Sorry about the delay in posts but referring back to what I said about the importance of self-care I had a lot on my plate last week and the blog slipped onto the back burner. But now I am here so I can give you all a little information on safety planning.

 

While it is the holidays and Thanksgiving is so close we can all tastes the turkey I want us all to remember that for some people family get-togethers and holidays are not the happiest time. Not all people have a healthy relationship with their significant other or their family members. For those of you who may feel that you or your friend has a family member or partner that is a danger to your/their safety it is important to learn about safety planning. The biggest point surrounding them being that safety plans are to be used when the individual feels they are ready to or need to.

 

When in a bad situation, specifically an abusive one, it is hard for an individual to feel like they are in control. Abusive situations are power exchanges, but ones that are not consensual as it is one person asserting power and inflicting harm against another. One of the hardest parts of this situation is for someone to reach out for help or even feel they can be helped. Safety planning allows individuals in this situation to either by themselves or with a friend go through a check list of sorts to create their own plan for what they could do if a situation became a true threat.
I know most of you would not accept waiting but again an individual in this situation if they are unable to be reached by the law without pressing charges themselves needs another way to gain empowerment and control of their lives. A sad fact is most individuals in abusive relationships are kept from leaving whether through emotional or financial distress which would affect them. Safety planning helps them think about their situation and provide a way for someone to see how they can plan a safe place to stay and the use of other resources. Safety planning also gets the individual to realize their abuse and fully come to terms with how harmful as it is by semi-evaluating it throughout the safety plan.
Below I will post some of the safety plan guides you may use as well as the link to the SHARPP Safety planning web page that has more pertinent information.

Safety Planning Guidelines:

• If I feel unsafe I can…
• If I need a safe place I can go I can…
• Once my abuser has left I can do the following to help keep myself safe…
• If I am injured as a result of my abuser I can…
• For more long term help I can…

http://unh.edu/sharpp/safety-planning

 

The University also provides many resources to help those in abusive situations on campus including: Health Services, Housing, The Counseling Center, SHARPP, UNH Police, Durham Police, OMSA, Residential Life, Office of Conduct and Mediation, Office of Affirmative Action and Equity, Office of Multicultural Affairs and Wentworth Douglass Hospital.
The resource numbers are located on the safety planning page and for those of you worried about looking at the page SHARPP has an emergency internet exit that will change the page to Google immediately.

 

So the reason for this post this week is that I wanted to remind us all what we are going home to and to have us realize that while we are thankful to be going back some individuals may be walking into or are still in a bad situation with a loved one. This Thanksgiving before the craze of Black Friday shopping and the Christmas decorating I’d like for everyone to really cherish what they have whether it be family, a significant other, a group of friends etc. I also ask for you to keep your hearts and eyes open for those who look like they are struggling and to give them kindness. This world is full of all types of people and more often than not they need someone to ask them how they are and offer to help. If you have someone that would benefit from this information then try and work through the web page with them or simply give it to them as an option. Remember the key to safety planning is allowing the individual to take control of one aspect of their life, their safety, which is the most important for them. So be patient, be calm, be helpful, and give thanks whether you are being helped or you are helping someone else.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!