V-Day is Every Day
Violence against women is not restricted by age, race, nationality, or politics.
Violence against women is occurring now. It is occurring in South America, in Asia, in North America. It occurs in a refugee camp in the Middle East, it occurs in a rent-controlled Manhattan apartment. It occurs to white women, black women, hispanic women, asian women—and it occurs to women who are Muslim, Christian, Jewish….
Violence against women is not a “women’s issue.” It is a human issue. Across the globe, you will find slavery, mutilation, rape, and battery supported by local governments or ignored by society.
With television news loudly proclaiming the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the likelihood that the Republican-controlled government will take advantage of this time to destroy a woman’s right to choose, it is important to consider what exactly is violence against women.
From the V-Day Initiative: When violence stops, women and girls will be:
Swimming in Iran,
Safe in their beds at home in the United States, Europe and Asia,
Eating ice cream in Afghanistan,
Keeping their clitorises in Africa and Asia,
Wearing blue jeans in Italy,
Voting in Kuwait,
Walking in the park at night in the United States,
Openly flirting in Jordan,
Safe at parties on college campuses,
Playing with toys and not being sold as them in Asia, the United States, Europe and Eastern Europe,
Driving cars in Saudi Arabia,
Wearing trousers in Swaziland,
Safely walking home from work in Juarez, Mexico,
Enjoying sex,
Celebrating their desires,
Loving their bodies,
Running the world.
Such a vision is not impossible. It is not un-American and it is not unpatriotic. It is certainly not terrorist.
Violence against women is not a non-issue. Not in the world, and certainly not in the all-powerful United States of America.
Violence can be physical, emotional, and psychological.
Violence can be rape, abuse, battery, neglect.
Violence can be an insult, it can be exploitation, it can be discrimination, and it can be disenfranchisement.
Violence can be telling someone that they have no choice.
VDay Initiative, Until the violence stops.
Planned Parenthood