Things aren’t looking good for women in the news these days, facing attacks, abduction and arrest. At the root of this violence, I believe, is a conception of women as unable to make choices, so choices are made for them—in the most brutal of ways. But how do you convince an entire society that women have a right to individuality? Sadly, women are equally capable of horrors when we remember the third story below.
UN Peacekeepers (could a title ever be more inappropriate) “abused and exploited” women in Liberia. Why is this only one paragraph in the NY Times? Too bad this isn’t the first time either.
In much more thorough coverage, The Times does explore the traumatic marriage rituals of Kyrgyzstan where women are abducted and forced (sometimes by their own family members) to marry against their will. As if brainwashed, many later comment that they’re glad it happened. All women should read this to understand that the fight for women’s rights isn’t over.
And yet, unfortunately, the so-called “fairer sex” failed to act nobly at Abu Ghraib, based on accusations against Pfc. Lynndie England, Brig. Gen. Janis L. Kapinski and Megan Ambuhl. Could they all have been under the power of Specialist Charles A. Graner Jr? One had his child and another married him. But more importantly, perhaps, are they getting lighter sentences (like England’s new plea deal) because they are women? Equality needs to work both ways.
Finally, my favorite empowered woman story from the weekend. A woman was paid four cents in tsunami aid because of damage to her coconut groves so she angrily returned the check to the local government. Her case and others are now being reviewed on her island. Let’s hope change (and more than 4 cents worth) comes of it!
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