Learning to Speak Up
Chapter 3 was very inspiring and looked at the brighter side of these situations and horrible happenings that we have been reading about in class. It gives these tragic stories a sense of hope and faith in humanity. The bravery that it takes for a woman to stand up against her abuser is unimaginable to me. All of chapter 3 was about a place in Nagpur, India that was called, Kasturba Nagar. It gave examples of Akku Yadav's gang's violent actions towards women and people in the "Dalit" community in general; I was wondering if other countries have similar gangs like this and similar violent actions towards innocent people? They say in the text that he does these violent things to gain empowerment, but I don't clearly see what empowerment he is getting from it. So that confuses me a little bit.
Another thing that I realized is that in both of these stories the story tellers (Usha Narayane and Sunitha Krishnan) they were trying to make a point that the more educated the women were, the less likely they were to be a target for these kinds of situations. Although that may be true, throughout the chapter Nick Kristof was also trying to get across the point that no matter how hard it is for women, they need to stand up for themselves and continue to put up a fight, which would undermine the brothels because they would receive less profits. -- This to me is scary because I don't think anyone can put themselves in that situation unless they have actually been through it. It may be easy to say "stick up for yourself, keep the fight going," but when you're Abbas Be, watching a 16 year old girl stripped naked, hogtied, and stabbed to death in front of hundreds of people, because the girl was trying to stand up for herself -- that's easier said than done, educated or not. Does anyone else feel the same way?
With all that aside, I do think that it is great that people are seeing this as a major issue in countries today and that people are taking it seriously. People like Zach Hunter (who is only 12 years old!!!), from Atlanta are taking leaps to reach out and change people's lives, which is truly inspiring to me, and it really makes me feel like I ought to be doing something to help. Maybe if everyone would do something to help - things could look brighter for these trafficked girls, sooner than later!
All references from Half The Sky, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, chapter 3: Learning to Speak Up (pg. 47-60).
I feel the exact same way you do about standing up for yourself. I understand where people are coming from when they try to tell you the solution is easy but the reality is a lot harsher. I know that people can have great empathy for someone but I truly believe that you can never know the truth until you “walk a mile in a person’s shoes”. It is easy to say that all the women have to do is stand up for themselves but how can you know that is the solution without living it yourself. Not to be sexist but the author of this book is a man. I know that he understands what is happening and is trying to fix it but if he were a women he may have a little more understand about the daily fight free women in this country go through let alone a place where women are sex trafficked.
ReplyDeleteI believe standing up for oneself is always a plausible solution but sometimes even that does not work. Personal experience has taught me that if you are pushed down enough and never allowed to get back up you begin to doubt everything that you are. When that seed of doubt is planted the abuser has won. You no longer believe in you self. You still fight but not in a way that can be seen. You internalize the struggle and talk to friends about fighting for what is right. Unfortunately what it comes time to fight you back away scared and defeated. Eventually you do the only thing possible. You stay for the positive reasons and look at the bright side instead of looking at the darkness. The easy road is not always the correct road but you make a decisions based on the cards you were dealt. With my story there is defiantly more I could have done but the risks were greater than the situation I was in. These women may feel the same. The risk of death is too great a price. If these women have no choice but to live in their situation then it is our job to give them another choice. They have already have the upper hand against the sex traffickers. They are willing to live and it’s our job to take that will and help them find another solution. Ultimately they have to help themselves but if we can give them another choice, another path, they may find the courage to break free of their chain.
I do agree with you that it is easier to tell these girls to stand up for yourself. But once you are put in that situation it is harder to stand up for what is right. If many girls see that someone stood up to the trafficker and then they got killed, than is not encouraging for those girls who are being trafficked to stand up for themselves. I thought it was interesting though how when these women stood up for each other that they got rid of the trafficker. This all started from a little bit of education. We can help them by having more classes that explain trafficking and also maybe have a study aboard trip to one of these places and help educate these women.
ReplyDeleteI feel the exact same way that you do. I feel intimidated to change in front of a group of girls just because I'm self conscious and get scared that they might laugh or make fun. If I feel that scared in front of a group of girls (who aren't really doing any harm to me) I can't even begin to imagine what I'd feel like to have to strip and stand in front of a group of hundreds of people and killed just for standing up for what I believe in. I think that it would make a huge difference if more girls stood up for themselves, but I also understand why it's not happening. I feel as though most of these woman can't find the courage to speak up not only because of the consequences they might face, but also because they feel as though they deserve what they are getting, which is really sad. This chapter really opened to my eyes to how courageous some women are, and it has also helped me realize that I should be doing more because I have the power to do so.
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ReplyDeleteI agree that it is easy for people from well developed countries such as America to make suggestions as to how the victims of these crimes should act, especially because many of the people offering suggestions have limited understanding of the cultural or political situations in places like Kastubra Nagar. For this same reason it is also irrational for people in well developed countries such as America to suggest that the victims stand-up to the criminals and fight for their rights. I’m sure many of the so called “foreign cheerleaders” offering their advice do it with the best intentions. However, people that have never been to a third world country or experiences what it feels like to have your life threatened cannot possibly understand why the victims react the way they do.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found most enlightening about Chapter three is that the author does not simply ridicule outsides for their ignorant suggestions but instead the author recommends a form of help that has proven to work, better education. If people want to help they can donate time and money to help educate the children of these third world countries which will improve their chances of evading trafficking by helping the “young women find their voices” and also it will help them be respected by their own society.
Victims need to stand up for themselves, and they also need someone else to support them, so they can be successful. It's just like a war. When a country is invaded by another country, some other countries want to help, but the invaded country must stand up for themselves. They have to have the belief to fight for themselves, so others can help. So, I believe that when victims want to stand up for themselves, other people would like to help them to be free. These are the main two elements to be succeed.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe that there could be a brighter side to such a terrible thing as sex trafficking, but a woman finding their voice is always refreshing. It's just difficult to know that in order for these women who have suffered such tragic situations to find a light at the end of the tunnel, they first had to go through a dark tunnel of travesty. To think of how many suffering women it took for just one to take a stand and find their voice, even though many have tried and have been punished and even killed for it, but yet women still found their strength to make their voice known. It is stated in this chapter and in previous chapters that other organizations like a New Light in India providing girls an education is the biggest prevention of sex trafficking along with other things. An education to women and girl in under developed countries in my mind is like handing their mind a weapon to protect themselves with the evils of the world. I was also touched to read about the 12 year old Zach who was so touched and inspired about something that was talked about in class, he had to do something about it. That is just unbelievable to me that a 12 year old can form an organization to raise money for something he believes in, why can't I. What could I do if I put my mind to it? And what could be accomplished if everybody put their minds together to help the world of other conflicts like sex trafficking. It was truly an inspiring chapter.
ReplyDeleteI must say education is needed and very helpful to become success, however you must also manifest a will to do it. People have special abilities to survive harsh or deathful situations, so these women can overcome sex slavery. I hope the best for all people to overcome suppression through education and working to strengthen humanity. We all have a responsibility to help the needs all people near and far.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly where you're coming from when you say that it would be so hard to stand up for yourself put in a position that those girls were put in. I could not imagine watching someone be tortured to death because of their attempts to show how they really felt about the situation they are in. Chapter 3 really stood out to me, when we learn about Usha and the way she fought back to Akku and the rest of the attackers it really puts into perspective of what awful, awful things are going on across the world. On the other hand, this also shows us that there are women that have enough willpower and education to stand up to those men and be the instigator for other women to gain their confidence and “voice.” Reading about the women taking action and killing Akku in court is a prime example of how it only takes one person to start something much bigger that has a bigger impact on a situation. This is also ties into what Zach Hunter did! His group started off small, raising $8,500 within the first year (which, to me, is still a major accomplishment), but leading him to Washington D.C. with a petition that had 100,000 signatures is remarkable! People like Usha, Zach, and Sunitha (whom I didn’t speak about in this comment but was in our chapter) are amazing inspirations that are helping the horrific circumstances that thousands and thousands of girls are involved in all over the world.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you feeling the same way when it's hard to stand up when you are watching someone get beaten to death right in front of your eyes. The Zack Hunter part was awesome! The fact he raised over $8,000 and he was only 12 years old! I know when I was 12 years old I was probably playing with my friends and not looking up sex trafficking and how to raise awareness for it.
ReplyDeleteResponding to your question: I must say there are gangs that take violent actions towards innocent people. Though many of us may not want to admit it, it happens in our own backyard. In Flint violent actions are taken everyday by gang bangers. The violent actions may not be as brutual as it is in India, but their still violent and it happens in our Country even our own city. I believe it is a thing of empowerment. The gangs do these things to prove theirselves not only to other gangs, but to people within the community to know not to mess with them so they do violent crimes to people that are innonecent and people who they may be getting revenge on.
ReplyDeleteI actually talked about the question you asked in my other post. Being in the situation...I said the exact same thing. Being on the outside I say that I would stick up for myself until death but to imagine actually being on the inside, I don't know if I could do it. It sad to think that though because a less educated person than myself is even less likely to stick up for them self, and that's who is in this situation. There has to be a bigger outreach we can do to help this! I know there are little programs started but it's not fair for us to know about the situation and not do anything!
ReplyDeleteWhen ever I see women or friends who are putting up with abuse I am always wondering why they put up with it for so long. I always just say I wish they would just stand up for themselves they deserve so much better and or no one should be treated like that..... But I always forget how hard it is to stand up for yourself. It is so easy for people to stay in that habit of their ordinary routines good or bad, and it is so hard to stand up to someone you love in fear of losing them or being less then what they are now, some women feel like they are not strong enough to leave or be on their own. Other women are forced and belittled constantly and really have no option out because they are being forcibly captured and truly have no out. It is sad and I am so proud of the women who took a stand and stood up for themselves to their abusers.
ReplyDeleteThe question that you brought up in your blog really made me think. I just finished commenting on another blog where I said that I agreed with them when they talked about if women were more educated, then they could have a better chance for standing up for themselves. After reading your blog, I feel differently. It is easier to say that all you have to do is speak up and stand up for yourself when you are not the one in the situation. These girls are terrified. They are petrified of what is going to happen to them next. I believe that standing up to their abuser is the last thing that they want to do. I know that it is hard to say how I would feel because I have never been in any situation like that but I would think that I would never want to make my abuser mad because he/she would hurt me even more. It breaks my heart to sit here and think that I have no idea what could be done to try and stop this issue. But it does help to know that there are people out in the world like Zach Hunter who is trying to help change people's lives.
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