Amanda Gering

News you can relate to

Some news stories that caught our eye this week:

We worked with the NY Times on this important research on abusers’ access to guns and the impact on victim safety. Should gun rights trump Protection Orders?

I’ve gone through an intense range of emotions this week watching coverage of the guilty verdict in the Steubenville rape. I’ve landed on a feeling of hope after reading Magda Pecsenye’s “A Letter To My Sons About Stopping Rape.”

Do you need another reason to love Project Runway’s Tim Gunn? He’s helping to launch the international No More campaign, raising awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Karin White with the YWCA of Pierce County reflects on how domestic violence homicides have impacted her community, and shares her hopes for a better future.

News you can relate to

Some news stories that caught our eye this week:

A rape survivor goes on Fox’s Hannity to encourage a thoughtful conversation about how to prevent rape and sexual assault. She says,“Telling every woman to get a gun is not rape prevention … We need to teach (young men) about consent and to hold themselves accountable.” The response she’s gotten has been anything but thoughtful.

Now that you’re depressed about the hateful comments Zerlina Maxwell received following her Hannity appearance, have your hope restored by checking out the “Don’t Be That Guy” ad campaign she references. It’s having an impact!

Actor Patrick Stewart hosted the launch of the “Ring the Bell” campaign—a call for 1 million men to make 1 million “concrete, actionable promises” to end violence against women.

The University of Washington’s Sigma Psi Zeta sorority organized this step team showcase to raise awareness about domestic violence. “Stepping is about being strong and about unison. … We want to use it as a gateway to educate a greater audience about domestic violence.”

How do you get someone to be your ex-boyfriend?

“No one is too young to talk about relationships” is a favorite mantra of mine. But the truth is, I haven’t exactly been practicing what I preach. My kids are 7 and 4 already, and I haven’t made relationship-talk a regular part of dinner conversation. So when the opportunity presented itself the other day, I jumped on it.

My 7-year-old daughter was listening to the radio when (shockingly) a Taylor Swift song came on.

“All of her songs are about the same thing,” my daughter observed.

Yeah, what’s that?

You know, like boys and girls and stuff.

You’re right, her songs are all like that. Do know what having a boyfriend or girlfriend means?

Yeah.

What?

Like when you like one person a lot and kind of spend time with one person more. And say they’re your boyfriend.

Do people talk about that sort of thing at school?

Stop asking me so many questions!

Ok.

I know what an ex-boyfriend is too. When someone was your boyfriend and now they’re not.

Exactly. How do you know so much?

From Anna (summer camp counselor). She has a boyfriend and an ex- boyfriend. How do you get someone to be your ex-boyfriend?

That’s a great question! Usually you find a time to go and talk with them. Sometimes it helps if you think about what you want to say ahead of time. And then you tell them that you don’t want them as a boyfriend anymore.

Oh, ok. Can I have a snack?

Now, do I think this little chat is going to protect my daughter from ever being in an abusive relationship? Of course not. But I’m glad we took the first step towards making talking about relationships a habit.

News you can relate to

Some news stories that caught our eye this week:

Cheers filled our offices yesterday when the president signed the Violence Against Women Act. This article is a good summary of why we’re so excited about this.

The photo essay “Photographer As Witness: A Portrait of Domestic Violence” featured in Time Magazine is getting a lot of criticism from viewers. What do you think about this approach to shedding light on the reality of domestic violence? (Trigger Warning)

Returning an abducted child to their home country seems like a good thing, right? Often it is. But what happens when the abductor is a parent trying to keep a child safe from an abuser? Research shows that “many abductions are actually flights to safety.”

Singer Thao Nguyen shares how she’s been influenced by the women she’s met in California State Prisons “who have lifted and inspired and taught me things I wouldn’t learn with anyone else.”

News you can relate to

Some news stories that caught our eye this week:

Oscar Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day. As he is released on bail today, let’s take a moment to think of Reeva and her family, and get some important perspective from our friends at Shakesville.

A Seattle University law student shares her personal story and sheds light on the issue of human trafficking.

I’m not a fan of all the crime shows on TV, but maybe I should be. A new study shows that people who watch these shows may be more likely to help victims of sexual assault.

How can we get teens to think about dating violence? Apparently, there’s an app for that.

News you can relate to

Some news stories that caught our eye over the past week:

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and the day of 1 Billion Rising—the largest day of mass action ever to end violence against women and girls. You’ve got to check out some of these amazing videos of events from all over the world.

Ok, let’s talk Grammy’s … these articles don’t focus on slamming Rihanna (thank you!), but rather talk about why that’s not helpful and put the focus on how we—yes all of us—react when famous men are abusive. It does seem like we’re letting less slide these days. Am I overly optimistic? You tell me.

This week, the Senate said yes! to passing a VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) that protects all victims of abuse.

News you can relate to

Some news stories that caught our eye over the past week:

Need an update on what’s going on with VAWA at the moment?

Domestic violence is preventable. So how are we going to stop it? Zoë Myers from New Beginnings has a few ideas that she’s sharing with Real Change News.

Some handy tips for all you activists out there on how to volunteer for good causes without burning out.

Hurray! A hopeful article about women in the media! Teen girls list their favorite feminist celebrities.

News you can relate to

Some news stories that caught our eye over the past week:

With all the public debate over gun control, an important reminder of how abusers use guns in less talked about ways.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists just released new guidelines for doctors to address rape and sexual abuse, including how to help patients who have experienced birth control sabotage.

How can the way buildings are designed help us both heal from violence and prevent future incidents? This article post-Sandy Hook discusses the tragedy and features WSCADV’s Building Dignity project.

Usually, the media coverage of domestic violence and sexual assault looks at an individual incident, without putting it into a bigger social context. This article does the opposite, exploring the “pattern of violence against women that’s broad and deep and horrific and incessantly overlooked.”

News you can relate to

Some news stories that caught our eye over the past week:

Author Alisa Valdes talks of how the man who inspired her to write a “love letter of a book about him,” turned out to be abusive—and the hurtful way those involved in publishing and promoting her book are responding.

Three King County (WA) Sheriff’s detectives filed a lawsuit against the county, claiming years of sexual harassment by two sergeants in (of all places) the Special Assault Unit. Among the many disturbing accusations: “[Sergeant] Provenzo allegedly told one of the female detectives ‘not to fully investigate rape or sexual-assault cases that occurred on the Muckleshoot Indian reservation, because rape happens on the reservations “all the time,”’ the lawsuit alleges.”

Having information and access to finances is crucial for survivors of abuse and—let’s be real—for every single one of us. Here’s a great place to get started on financial and estate planning for whatever your future might hold.

Four indigenous women in Canada sparked a global movement for Native sovereignty, called Idle No More. Thousands of people have participated in flash mobs, protests, and prayer gatherings all across Canada and the U.S. Some are calling for Congress to pass the Violence Against Women Act with protections for Native women.

News you can relate to

Some news stories that caught our eye over the past couple of weeks:

Here’s a new strategy for increasing women’s wages—just make sure male CEO’s have daughters.

The Seattle Times is shedding some light on why it is so crucial that the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passes.

We often talk about healthy relationships. But what do they actually look like and feel like?

Brent Musburger’s comments about Katherine Webb have gotten more attention than the college football championship game itself. Short view: Really, Brent? Has nothing changed? Long view: Things have changed. People noticed and reacted.

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