V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls. It raises
funds and aware-ness through benefit produc-tions of Playwright and Founder Eve Ensler’s award winning play
The Vagina
Monologues and other artistic works.
V-Day generates broader atten-tion for the fight to stop vio-lence against women and girls,
including rape, battery, incest,
female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual
slavery.
How You Can Help
Eve Ensler
RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization,
and one of America's 100 best charities -
Worth Magazine
How You Can Help
Sexual Abuse Statistics
Provided by RAINN
Women - 1 out of every 6
American women have been the victims of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime (14.8%
completed rape; 2.8% attempted rape).
While about 80% of all victims are white, minorities are
somewhat more likely to be attacked.
Lifetime rate of rape or attempted rape for women by race -
All women: 17.6%
White women: 17.7%
Black women: 18.8%
Asian Pacific Islander women: 6.8%
American Indian/Alaskan women: 34.1%
Mixed race women: 24.4%
Men -
About 3% of American men
(1 in 33) — have experienced an
attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.
2.78 million men in the U.S. have been victims of sexual assault
or rape.
(These stats are likely to be low as men are very often
silent victims.)
Victims of sexual assault are:
3 times more likely to suffer from depression.
6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress
disorder.
13 times more likely to abuse alcohol.
26 times more likely to abuse drugs.
4 times more likely to contemplate suicide.
Women with passive personalities are most likely to be raped -
and they tend to wear concealing clothes.
Source: Psychology Today, Jan/Feb 2009
Check
it out!
Sexual Abuse, Rape
and Re-victimization
by Pam
Babbitt, Sex Coach
Free Nationwide Sex
Offender Report
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Dear Reader,
Recently, another
disturbing article on FGM,
female
genital mutilation, came across my desk. I
couldn't look at it. Reading about this horrific
practice always brings sadness, and some days I just
don't want to go there. But looking away doesn't work
for me either - there is no denying that the practice
exists, and avoidance doesn't soften the shocking truth.
It seems like time for me to
DO SOMETHING.
Things have changed. The stream of
consciousness that I tap
into is no longer a stream. It has transformed into a
surging river, cleansing and healing,
dedicated by its multitudes to moving toward the highest good for all.
We are remembering our personal power, and invigorated by our collective power.
Donations always help the cause, though many people just
don't have extra to give these days. Yet, we all have
an abundant supply of something much more precious and
powerful. And the
more we give it away, the more it multiplies and returns.
This commodity has a thousand names, or
no name at all, and we can tap into its source through any
personal practice. It all works, when it comes from
the heart -
lighting a
candle, wishing upon a star
focused
meditation, quiet contemplation
nighttime prayers, Sabbath
prayers
grace at mealtime, prayers in
your sacred pipe
tossing a pebble into the
pond
releasing balloons into the sky
using
sex magic -
the power of spiritual
sexuality
or any other
practice that resonates
Is it in your
heart to help bring peace, healing, and hope to the victims
of FGM? And to all victims of sexual abuse globally?
Please join me in a
Campaign of
Heart and Intention
for Sexual Health, Healing, Safety
and Honoring for
All
If
you would like to donate financially, I've provided a
few organizations here through
which you can do that. Just click on
How You Can
Help.
In peace and gratitude,
Pam Babbitt, Editor
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Aid Victims
of FGM
in Africa
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You may want to buy a beautiful, unique piece of jewelry to help make a
difference in the lives of women in two African nations.
These beautiful bracelets were designed specifically for O, The Oprah
Magazine. Each bracelet is hand-beaded by women in Rwanda and
Zambia. In addition to providing them with real, life-changing
income - the $5 to $19 a day they earn far surpasses the average daily
wage. Making these bracelets gives them hope. As Ruth Kavara, a beader
from Rwanda says, "Working on the bracelets allows me to think about
tomorrow."
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Or you may want to purchase an
exquisite, hand-woven basket made by the women of Rwanda.
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If
you will be purchasing gifts this holiday season, please
consider making purchases that will make a difference in the
lives of the sexually abused, mutilated, and destitute women
in Africa.
Rwandan billboard against sexual assault.
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These two Maasai girls are recent
victims of
FGM.
They will wear the
beads and capes until they heal.
Men Stopping Violence is a social
change organization dedicated to
ending men's violence against
women.
Men Stopping Violence works locally, nationally, and internationally
to dismantle belief systems, social structures, and institutional
practices that oppress women and children and dehumanize men
themselves.
They look to the violence against women's movement to keep
the reality of the problem and the vision of the solution before
them.
They believe that all forms of oppression are interconnected. Social
justice work in the areas of race, class, gender, age, and sexual orientation are all critical to ending violence against women.
How You Can Help
Sexual abuse is not limited to women. Statistics show that 1
in 33 American men have experienced an attempted or completed rape
in their lifetime. This data is likely to be low, however, as men
are more apt to be silent victims.
MaleSurvivor is committed to preventing, healing, and eliminating all forms
of sexual victimization of boys and men through support, treatment,
research, education, advocacy, and activism.
MaleSurvivor offers weekends for
recovery, in safety and community, honoring all
healing journeys.
For a greater understanding of male sexual abuse, MaleSurvivor
offers these educational
myths and truths.
How You Can Help
Zero Tolerance for
Sexual Shame and Degradation
As Printed in Nov/Dec 2004 issue of the
Healing Path magazine
Stories of sexual abuse, shame and degradation suffered by Iraqi
prisoners are beyond disturbing. My heart is very heavy.
While wishing I could offer healing on a personal level, I’ve been sending
prayers instead. Still feeling frustrated and wanting to do more, I realized I
can - we all can.
My commitment to allowing no place for sexual shaming or degradation is
stronger than ever. As a Sex and Intimacy Coach, I see that sexual shame is
often unrecognized, minimized or excused. Very often, it is just the norm.
My commitment is -
No matter the degree, the form, the excuse or the intent, wherever it appears,
sexual shaming or degradation will not be tolerated.
Today I will toss that pebble of commitment into my pond and know that it will
have far reaching effects.
And, I am remembering a Tantric meditation -
As you receive pleasure,
so the
Universe receives
pleasure
through you.
May you enjoy much pleasure and know
that your pleasure is also a pebble in the pond.
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