According to statistics, 1 in 3 women will be raped or beaten in her lifetime. According to statistics, domestic violence is the major cause of death and disability for European women aged 16 to 44 and accounts for more death and ill-health than cancer or traffic accidents. According to statistics, 1 in 5 college female students answered “yes” to the question “In your lifetime have you been forced to submit to sexual intercourse against your will?” According to me, I’ve had enough.
One Billion Rising is a global campaign by women, for women. A call for all women-to walk away from their homes and businesses to unify in strength, hold up a finger to show you are one of the one billion rising, and dance to have fun and enjoy being a woman. February 14th marks a different day for women all over the world-the day she will become engaged, the day she received her first promotion, the day she was sexually assaulted, the day she started a family, a day she aced her exam, the day she was talked down to, the day she will receive a candy heart, and the day she was abused. For One Billion Rising, February 14th means putting an end to women’s violence, rape, injustice, and inequality…no matter what kind of day you have on February 14th.
Over 5,000 organizations have joined this campaign and is backed by college students, actors, daughters, politicians, ministers, movement builders, mothers, and now hopefully you. So who is behind this movement? Eve Ensler is a playwright, feminist, and activist among other things. She is most commonly known for founding The Vagina Monologues. (The Vagina Monologues will be shown on campus this coming March so keep an eye out for that!)
So what is Bryant doing to support this campaign? After partnering up with Toby Simon, Director of The Women’s Center, Her Campus Bryant and Alliance for Women’s Awareness are teaming up to bring One Billion Rising to Bryant’s campus. We’re bringing an end to women’s violence and are going to reverse those statistics. Whether you are male or female, you should believe in standing up for the end to violence, rape, injustice, and inequality towards women. What better day than V-Day? One billion women violated is an atrocity. One billion women dancing is a revolution. Toby Simon said, “Violence against women is a global issue and one that should horrify us. Recently a 14 yr old girl from Pakistan was shot because she talked about girls being allowed to learn to read. We can’t be complacent any more. We have so much work to do and we can begin on our campus . We have students here who have been raped by a fellow student and many students in unhealthy relationships. Let’s stand up against this and say enough is enough!” This coming Thursday (February 14, 2013), the three of us are welcoming your organization, your colleagues, you, and all your friends to join us in the rotunda from 12:45pm-1pm.
Without giving too much away about the events happening, contact Jessica Kline (jkline@bryant.edu) or Hillary Coombs (hcoombs@bryant.edu) if you are interested in joining and want more information. (P.S. this year, there will not be any dancing. But we have something even more special planned!)