Creating Community: Quilts as Women’s Shelter
In July 2009 the San Jose Museum of Quilts launched a new program called Quilts as Women’s Shelter in partnership with Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence and the Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association (SCVQA). This popular program is designed to provide participants with new skills and the sense of accomplishment and confidence that comes from the creative process and successfully exercising new skills.
The quilts are currently on display at the San Jose Museum of Quilts. For more information, click here.
Magazine tells male audience how to “turn girls out”?
During a recent interview with the hip-hop magazine XXL, rapper Too $hort encouraged teenage boys to “turn girls out” by pushing “her up against the wall.”1 The 45-year-old rapper continued, graphically urging his audience to put their hands inside the underwear of middle school-aged girls in order to achieve what he called “mind manipulation.” The magazine packaged the disturbing monologue under the headline “Fatherly Advice From Too $hort.”
Rhetoric like this has real effects on girls in our communities. A new study reveals that a staggering three out of five Black girls experience sexual assault by the time they turn 18.2 So why did the XXL staff, led by Editor-in-Chief Vanessa Satten, allow this video to appear on its site?
Join us in calling on Harris Publications Inc., publisher of XXL, to fire Satten and explain what steps they’ll take to make sure that sexual violence directed at girls and women is not tolerated at their magazines and websites. When we do, we’ll send a message to the entertainment media industry that we won’t be silent while one of its companies demeans and endangers our children.
Please click below to sign the petition, and ask your family and friends to do the same. It only takes a moment:
http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/protectgirls
It’s hard to read the words above, let alone watch a 45-year-old man say them while “upbeat, child-themed music plays in the background.”3 But that’s exactly what the XXL staff allowed to go live on its site — which attracts about 25,000 unique visitors a day — late last week. Satten has tried to excuse herself by saying that she didn’t see the video before it posted.4 But she presides over a workplace culture that allowed such a grave misstep, and she has failed to respond appropriately as a chorus of voices calls her on it.5
There’s a longer story to tell about the objectification of women in magazines like XXL and King (both of which are owned by Harris Publications) and the misogynistic lyrics and images that bombard young people every day. Thankfully, a long line of thought leaders have been discussing that and larger issues facing hip hop and the music industry for years.6,7,8 We also know that the degradation of women of color extends beyond hip-hop culture, as we saw recently when a Dutch lifestyle magazine published racist and inflammatory remarks about the singer Rihanna. As a result, that magazine’s editor was forced to resign.9
But this latest incident — XXL publishing a video of an adult rapper talking an imagined audience of boys through an aggressive encounter with an underage girl — goes too far. Too $hort’s rhetoric implies that hypersexuality and manhood are one and the same and that consent isn’t required for sexual contact. When our boys believe this, they help create a culture that breeds staggering statistics: Nearly a third of sexual assault and rape victims are between the ages of 12-17, and 93% of juvenile sexual assault victims know their attacker.10
The apology the XXL staff issued is insufficient.11 In it, Satten throws one of her subordinates under the bus, refusing to acknowledge that as editor-in-chief, she is responsible for everything that appears under the XXL brand. If Harris Publications refuses to fire Satten, it shows that they’re willing to leave one of their titles in the hands of someone who is unable and unwilling to lead.
Hip hop is a rich and complex culture that was born in Black and Latino neighborhoods. Moments like these highlight problems that exist in some aspects of the culture, but for decades it’s also been a source of political education and empowerment for people worldwide. We can’t sit back while a media company uses hip hop as a cover to demean and endanger our children. Please join us in calling on Harris Publications President and CEO Stanley R. Harris to fire Vanessa Satten, XXL’s Editor-in-Chief. We also demand that he explain what he’ll do to make sure his company’s publications stop promoting sexual violence directed at girls and women. Please join us, and ask your friends and family to do the same:
http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/protectgirls
Thanks and Peace,
– Rashad, Gabriel, Dani, Matt, Natasha, Kim and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
February 17th, 2012
Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:
http://www.colorofchange.org/donate
References
1. “Rapper Too Short, in XXL column, gives boys advice to ‘turn girls out,’” The Grio, 2-13-12
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1181?akid=2364.1088784.tFhxMG&t=7
2. “STUDY: More Than Half Of Black Girls Are Sexually Assaulted,” NewsOne, 12-2-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1182?akid=2364.1088784.tFhxMG&t=9
3. See reference 1.
4. “Too Short, XXL apologies are too little, too late,” The Grio, 2-15-12
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1189?akid=2364.1088784.tFhxMG&t=11
5. “Petition Calling on XXL Mag. to Fire Editor Surpasses Signature Goal,” Colorlines, 2-15-12
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1190?akid=2364.1088784.tFhxMG&t=13
6. “Joan Morgan: Hip Hop and Feminism,” Rap Sessions, 6-2-09
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1183?akid=2364.1088784.tFhxMG&t=15
7. “Beyond Chris Brown and Rihanna,” Ill Doctrine, 2-14-09
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1184?akid=2364.1088784.tFhxMG&t=17
8. “Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes,” Independent Lens, 6-2-09
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1185?akid=2364.1088784.tFhxMG&t=19
9. “Dutch magazine editor resigns following race row with Rihanna,” The Guardian, 12-21-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1186?akid=2364.1088784.tFhxMG&t=21
10. “Who are the victims?,” The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1187?akid=2364.1088784.tFhxMG&t=23
11. “Too $hort and the Anatomy of a Weak Apology,” Ebony, 2-14-12
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1188?akid=2364.1088784.tFhxMG&t=25
From Gospel to Broadway — all benefiting Next Door
Six of the finest choruses are coming together on Saturday, February 25 to lift their voices so that battered women have options!!!
Join us~~
For Love
Saturday, February 25th at 7:30pm
Campbell United Methodist Church
Tickets: $20 (sold at the event only)
100% of the proceeds go to Next Door
Come feel inspired, uplifted and feel the love!
For more information, please visit http://www.nextdoor.org/
You’re Invited To A Benefit Concert!
You’re invited to an Orchard City Community Chorus sponsored event, and all proceeds will be donated to Next Door!
Enjoy the music of the Orchard City Community Chorus, Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus, Joyful Noise Gospel Singers, Rainbow Women’s Chorus, Mission Valley Chorus, and Ladyesong.
The event will be held Saturday, February 25th at 7:30pm @ Campbell United Methodist Church.
Female Boxers Wearing Miniskirts?
Women’s boxing will make its debut at this year’s Olympic Games in London — a huge victory for female boxers who have fought for years to be taken seriously. But now it seems their participation will come with an outrageous catch: female boxers might be required to wear miniskirts in the ring.
The Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) is reportedly considering the new dress code because it thinks skirts will make the female athletes look “elegant” and help “distinguish” them from their male counterparts.
Elizabeth says, “The idea that female boxers should be made to wear skirts reduces these skilled athletes to sex objects. It undermines the respect they have long fought for.” Worse, competing in unfamiliar clothing could even negatively impact the boxers’ performances.
And Elizabeth isn’t the only boxer speaking out against the proposed dress code. When asked about the policy, three-time world champion Katie Taylor says, “I don’t even wear miniskirts on a night out, so I definitely won’t be wearing miniskirts in the ring.”
Fortunately, the AIBA will be considering public opinion and feedback from the boxing world before making its final decision next week. That means if enough people sign Elizabeth’s petition, you can force the AIBA to abandon the proposed dress code for good.
Next Door Partners with the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEXT DOOR SOLUTIONS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PARTNERS WITH THE LOS GATOS/MONTE SERENO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE JOINT SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF LOS
SAN JOSE, January 16, 2012 – Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence has been awarded $125,000 by the California Emergency Management Agency to work with the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department to provide joint services to victims of domestic violence in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno. Next Door was one of four domestic violence agencies statewide chosen to lead this innovative partnership between a domestic violence agency and a police department.
The joint project plans to train 48 law enforcement and 911 dispatchers to implement safe protocols for victims that also increase accountability of batterers. The joint partnership includes home visits by a fully trained domestic violence advocate for every time police officers are called to a domestic violence incident in their jurisdiction so that victims have immediate options that are safe for her and her children. The partnership expects to reach more than 70 individuals impacted by domestic violence per year, having already started the partnership in December of 2011.
“We are grateful to the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department for working on the cutting edge of domestic violence services with us,” said Kathleen Krenek, Next Door’s Executive Director. “This collaboration ultimately helps survivors of domestic violence obtain the customized services they need in order to make safe decisions for themselves and adds to the continuum of services that we provide in Los Gatos, including Next Door’s Los Gatos Support Group.”
“The Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department is thrilled to partner with Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence on this very important initiative,” said Captain Alana Forrest. “We have a long standing and excellent relationship with Next Door and are looking forward to enhancing our response to victims of domestic violence in our community.”
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About Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence
Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence began in 1971 out of the garage of a local San Jose women’s rights activist. Since then, Next Door has become the premier agency addressing the needs of victims of domestic violence and their children. Next Door seeks to end domestic violence in the moment and for all time by addressing all sides of the issue by helping victims to rebuild their lives, building resilience in children who are exposed to DV, and advocating for responsible policy change. To achieve its goals, Next Door provides innovative prevention and intervention services to diverse ethnic and low-income families in Santa Clara County (SCC), California, the majority of which come from San Jose. To learn more about Next Door’s programs, please visit www.nextdoor.org or call its Community Office at (408) 501-7550.
About The Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department
The Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department is comprised of 64 sworn and civilian personnel and over 150 community volunteers, committed to providing the highest quality service with a small town feel to its residents, businesses and visitors. It works in three major areas to improve the department and its ability to serve the community by 1) building highly competent and professional police department providing traditional law enforcement services; 2) Building community relationships; and 3) Engaging in community problem solving. To learn more about the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department, visit us at 110 East Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95030 or go online to http://www.losgatosca.gov/index.aspx?NID=127. You can also call us at 408-354-8600.
Click here for a copy of this press release.
For more information contact: For more information contact:
Next Door Solutions Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department
Lisa Breen Strickland, Interim Development Dir. Sgt. Michael D’Antonio, Investigation Spvsr
(408) 655-3642 (408) 827-3209
Tell LEGO: Stop marketing sexist toys to girls
Iconic toy brand LEGO recently launched a new line of toys meant just for girls — but two young women, Bailey Shoemaker-Richards and Stephanie Cole, think the products are unfairly “dumbed down” for girls.
The new line is called LadyFigs, and it’s made up of busty, pastel-colored figurines that come with interests like shopping, hair-dressing, and lounging at the beach. The uninspired toys even come with pre-assembled environments — so there is no assembly (or imagination) required.
Bailey and Stephanie say they’re frustrated that LEGO is pushing outdated gender roles on girls and cheating them of the opportunity to build and discover. So they took to the internet, blogging about what they call the new “Barbielicious” LEGOs and petitioning the toy company to lose the sexist LadyFigs line and go back to empowering both boys and girls with its original products. Click here to sign Bailey and Stephanie’s petition today.
LEGO hasn’t always thought its toys were only for boys. In the 1980s, the company was actually celebrated for a major advertising campaign that spotlighted a young girl and her LEGO creation with the tagline “What it is is beautiful.” But since then, LEGO reversed course and decided to market its products only to boys.
The company claims its research shows girls just don’t appreciate the original LEGO line. But Bailey and Stephanie argue that with LEGO’s renewed emphasis on boys — featuring only boys in its ads and stocking products in the boys’ aisles of toy stores — it’s no wonder young girls wouldn’t think LEGOs were meant for them.
Bailey and Stephanie’s fight to get LEGO to return to its gender-neutral toys is already making waves, with the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Time weighing in on the issue. But LEGO is stubbornly holding its ground and told Business Week that the LadyFigs launch is a “strategic” move to “reach the other 50 percent of the world’s children,” as if girls have never been part of LEGO’s focus.
Public pressure can prove LEGO wrong. If enough people sign Bailey and Stephanie’s petition, it could convince LEGO that the new LadyFigs are bad business and the company should return its focus to empowering boys AND girls with toys that inspire creativity and innovation.
Tell LEGO to stop selling out girls — sign Bailey and Stephanie’s petition today.
We need your help to SAVE the California Commission on the Status of Women
For the past 46 years, the California Commission on the Status of Women has served as an independent voice for the women and girls of California through its work with the Legislature and other State agencies. It continues to be the only state agency that looks specifically at the impact of state actions on women.
In July 2011, the state Commission received a devastating budget cut, with nearly half the Commission’s budget being slashed. Since then, we have worked diligently to reduce our expenses in order to make sure the important work of the Commission continues. Unfortunately, without additional funds, the state Commission will be forced to close its doors before the end of the fiscal year.
The state Commission has served as an important link between many communities and state government. These include the working poor and their families, incarcerated women, those with limited English language ability, and those with less access to government services. Through its public hearings across the state, the Commission has sought input from women and girls to better develop sound public policy. Go to their website to view the important work they do on behalf of all the women and girls in California– www.women.ca.gov.
It seems ironic that at the very time budget cuts are being made that disparately impact women and their families, the Commission that speaks for them would be eliminated. That voice is needed now more than ever.
Please help us save the California Commission on the Status of Women. Your tax deductible donation (tax id#68-0285369) is greatly appreciated! Make checks payable to the California Commission on the Status of Women and mail them directly to:
California Commission on the Status of Women
901 P Street, Suite 142-A
Sacramento, CA 95814
Why not make a donation in someone’s name for the holiday season? Help the women and girls of California by supporting your California Commission on the Status of Women. Every dollar helps keep our doors open and continues our very important work on your behalf.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your support,
The staff of Next Door, and the members of the Association of California Commissions for Women.
Our Holiday Boutique was a success – thanks to you!
Thanks to hundreds and hundreds of community volunteers and members almost 1,300 battered women and their children are anticipating the gifts they will open on Christmas morning! We wish we could share with you directly the hugs, smiles and thank yous we received as each mom and her kids left the Holiday Boutique, their eyes brimming with tears and joy!! We literally could not have done this without so many of you. We hope these pictures demonstrate just a bit of the generosity that filled our rooms – and hearts.
Thank you Sal Pizarro!
Wonderful mention this past Saturday about Next Door’s Holiday Boutique in Sal Pizarro column. While we did receive an additional 200 books from Raising a Reader and more from Kaiser Permanente, there is still a need for many more!
Sal’s complete column can be found here.