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Women's vulnerability to sexual violence after Haiti's quake.

This is an article from the newest edition of "Our Bodies Ourselves" regarding self-defense. The article discusses what self-defense is and the controversy behind it. Self-defense is explained as a way to effectively protect ourselves against violence. This web page is useful because it provides links to other articles from "Our Bodies Ourselves" that discuss violence against women.

I really enjoyed this articles discussion on what self defense is, and the fact that it didn't seem to place the responsibility for prevention on the woman, but rather focused on empowerment. So many sites dealing with violence protection/prevention engage in victim blaming and make it seem as if it's the woman's fault that she was raped/hit/killed if she did not follow these tips and techniques, so it was really refreshing to read one that doesn't engage in these practices

New information from NWAC about the women missing in Canada.

This journal highlights colleges and universities roles in sexual assault cases on campus--it illustrates what they are doing to stay active and reduce sexual assault, but more importantly it tells us what they're not doing and why things haven't changed as much as they should have by now. As college students, I think it is important to be educated about the laws and policies of sexual assault on campus and why things happen the way they do.

I think sexual violence on college campuses is import for everyone to be aware and knowledgeable about. No matter if you go to a huge state university or a small liberal arts college like Wheaton, these acts of sexual assault do and can happen anywhere. One of the most important parts of this article is when it talks about what is not being done and what has not changed. Sometimes this is a good starting off point for people to see the reality of the situation and what is not being done in order to do something.

"V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual slavery." V-Day is a movement started by Eve Ensler. This organization promotes awareness and education through performance as well as carries out campaigns worldwide. Their purpose is to generate media coverage and instigate dialogues especially with the younger demographic. This way they have been making an impact and contributing to end violence against women and girls.

Sylverstein, L. 1999. "The Evolutionary Origins of Male Violence Against Women" in Haraway & O'Neil (eds) What Causes Men's Violence Against Women? Sage Publications. This chapter is important, however in a secondary way. I will use this article to further supplant the points I wish to convey from the films I am using, most specifically with The Accused, and in part with Showgirls. I will use Sylverstein's points of the female/matriarchic oriented Bonobos in relation to the women of both films. I will discuss the parallels found between these bonding primates and their counterparts found within The Accused as portrayed in the unified fight for justice between Kathryn Murphy (Kelly McGillis) and Sarah Tobias (Jodi Foster). From Showgirls I will discuss the similarities of the primates violent tendencies as they relate to a slur against one of their own, as Nomi Malone (Elizabeth Berkley) defends and seeks vengeance for her friend Molly Abrams (Gina Ravera) - although this ideal of one woman protecting another is more fantasy than realism, especially in relation to the consequences. Again, this chapter will be more valuable to me in supplementing, rather than instigating, my ideas in relation to rape and how it affects the relationships amongst women.