College Feminists Connect!

"PTSD & Sexual Violence" by: Maddy Hoffmeister

After a traumatic event, such as rape or sexual assault, often victims suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. I wanted to research how common the disorder is in events like this. This disorder affects nine to fifteen percent of the general population, and close to fifty percent of women who have reported being raped. In the 1989 U.S. Bureau of the Census, the estimated population of U.S. adult women was 96,056,000. Of those women, thirteen percent (12,151,084) women reported experiencing complete rape and fourteen percent reported experiencing other sexual assault (13,755,219). Of those women, sixty percent reported PTSD symptoms after the rape or assault, and twenty-six percent reported long-term symptoms. These alarmingly high numbers show that therapy for PTSD is extremely important.

            One of the complications with PTSD is that it can be hard to diagnose because of the similarity in symptoms with other types of anxiety disorders. Although PTSD can be hard to diagnose, it is not a rare disorder among people who has suffered a traumatic event like rape, as many as one half of rape victims may suffer from chronic PTSD (Rothbaum, Astin, and Marsteller, 607). In one study by Edna Foa and Barbara Rothbaum, they found that seventy-six percent of rape victims reported PTSD symptoms at some point within a year after the assault (Foa and Rothbaum, 13). Foa and Rothbaum found that nearly one hundred percent of all rape victims in their study presented with PTSD symptoms soon after the incident, but by six months post-incident it went down to fourty-one percent. Luckily, there are multiple types of treatment for PTSD. Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, medication, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are all types of treatment used for PTSD (Smith and Segal). After researching both cognitive-behavioral therapy and EMDR, I have found that cognitive-behavioral therapy elicits a greater response than EMDR therapy, however, both are effective.

            After all of my research, it has come clear to me how important it is for people with PTSD to become diagnosed and get treated. It is also important for those suffering from it to know that it is not an uncommon disorder, and that they are not alone. So often after traumatic events like sexual assault or rape, the victims blames themselves and does not confront the psychological effects it has on someone. But the more people learn about the disorder and how treatable it is, the more awareness the public has about the disorder, the more people can confront rape, sexual assault, and the psychological effects of it. 

 

Foa, Edna B., and Barbara Olasov Rothbaum. "Diagnosis and Prevalance of PTSD Following Assault." Treating the trauma of rape: cognitive-behavioral therapy for PTSD. New York: Guilford, 1998. 8-26. Web. 25 April 2013

 

Rothbaum, Barbara Olasov, Millie C. Astin, and Fred Marsteller. "Prolonged  Exposure Versus Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing (EMDR)  For PTSD Rape Victims." Journal Of Traumatic Stress 18.6 (2005): 607-616. EBSCO MegaFILE. Web. 1 May 2013.

 

Smith, Melinda, and Jeanne Segal. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Symptoms, Treatment and Self-Help." Helpguide. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2013.<http://www.helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm>

 

 

Maddy Hoffmeister

Toward Feminist Accountability

    As I shared in a previous post, I have been reading Colonize This! with fervor and enthusiasm for a couple of weeks now.  In my WGSS Senior Seminar, we have discussed extensively the complications of reading this text as a white-identified person; I am not the intended audience as outlined in the essays, nor as defined in most women of color feminisms.  However, I struggle with my alienation from these texts, because on emotionally real and visceral levels, they resonate with day-to-day experiences I have had as a feminist, as a student, and as a woman.  It is too simple to merely highlight difference or draw a line where my experiences end as a white woman and where theirs begin as women of color; it is also too simple to take advantage of our similarities and shared knowledges as women dealing with similar gender-based oppressions.  My professor, Sonita Sarker, assured us that this messy space between camaraderie and respectful distance is okay – and she urged us to consider that while the text may be provoking our acknowledgment of white privilege, it also might be provoking us to engage in a dialogue about whiteness as it is racialized (not as a neutral default or non-race). 

            So this is my attempt to speak from my position as a white, middle-class, woman, who has to negotiate the everyday experience of these identities while also practicing a feminist perspective.  I want to hold myself accountable by acknowledging my privilege, but I don’t want to assume that my experiences of oppression are therefore invalid.  I want to live in the mess of what it means to be a feminist, who cannot always combat sexist or racist encounters with a cool wit or charisma; who cannot always muster the courage or energy to confront people who have hurt me; who is not an expert, but a careful listener and deeply sensitive being; who makes mistakes, that I can only promise to try and learn from.

     Every week for the past eight months, I have taken the hour-long commute on the 21 westbound bus from Saint Paul to my boyfriend’s house in South Minneapolis.  Most of the time (maybe sixty-percent of the time, when it’s not negative blank degrees outside), I genuinely enjoy the unique solitude I find on the bus, surrounded by strangers and a self-consciousness that feels safe to explore in this setting.  I find myself thinking more about my class and race privilege on the bus than I do in school sometimes, and more about how I can articulate my feminism in a way that can materialize in real-life benefits for people other than myself.  Which sometimes makes getting off the bus, at a stop that is a ten-minute walk from my boyfriend’s home, a rough transition into the depressing realities of my position as a woman.  And this is where I hesitate to say, “as a white woman,” but where I NEED to in order to understand how the racialization and sexualization of my body socially construct my identity – via both privilege and discrimination.

    I have been catcalled or sexually harassed walking down the street more times than are worth counting; this is not something specific to me, but to all women (street/online harassment are not the focus of my musings here, but there is an abundance of scholarship and personal writings about this issue out there that I encourage everyone to explore).  Usually, my tactic for surviving these situations with as much dignity as possible is pure denial; I look ahead, keep a straight face and a quick stride.  But some of the most layered, twisted, and confusing harassment I have experienced is from Black men in South Minneapolis, who call me out on my whiteness while degrading and mocking my sex.

PBS Documentary "Makers: Women Who Make America" Thoughts and Criticism

I finally got to watch PBS' new documentary charting the women's rights movement in America (thanks PBS for posting the entire 3 hour film online for us to enjoy here).  As much as I (someone majoring in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies) or anyone else may know about the eruption of second wave feminism in the 1960s and 70s, it is still powerful to reflect on these histories.  The film does a great job of featuring countless interviews with men and women, including people involved in organizations that countered feminist movements (pro-life activists, anti-ERA activists, etc).  It is impossible to feature every aspect of a social movement, especially one as far-reaching and revolutionary as the women's liberation movement - which affected men, women, children, the economy, popular culture, law, education policies, labor rights, etc.  However, I was a bit disappointed with the gentle highlight of women of color and their response to the second wave, which I think could have been better handled; especially considering that these fierce conversations between women of color feminisms and tradtionally white, middle-class feminism are what brought on the third wave.  As many others have recognized, I also wish that the film had ventured into the late 1990s up until now, with young feminist movements and their utilization of the Internet (hello!).  Perhaps they will continue making segments of "Makers," and continue this story, but for now, here are some articles and reviews that I find critical to the film:

Fake Website Campaign Calls Out Victoria's Secret for Condoning Rape Culture

At first glance, the website PINK Loves Consent appears to be genuine. Could it be that Victoria's Secret is actually starting a campaign raising awareness about sexual violence and rape? It sounds too good to be true, and unfortunately it is. 

After further inspection of the website, one finds statistics, a page called 'Then and Now' that calls out misogynist underwear slogans that Victoria's Secret puts on panties and displays an alternative slogan, and some suspiciously photo-shopped looking underwear, but the real giveaway that this site is a commentary on Victoria's Secret is the range of women used to model the 'new campaign. On the home page is a curvy African-American woman, and other pages feature plus-sized white women. All of the women on the website are beautiful, of course, but would Victoria's Secret really go so far as to change their slogans, provide education on healthy sex, AND portray an array of body types? Not likely.

It is obvious this website is attempting to bring awareness to some of the issues with Victoria's Secret, such as the unattainable sizes of the models and promotion of rape culture. Perhaps  you're wondering, what is this 'rape culture' I keep mentioning. Well, let me explain:

"Rape culture is a concept used to describe a culture in which rape and sexual violence are common and in which prevalent attitudes, norms, practices, and media normalize, excuse, tolerate, or even condone rape."

Some indicators that you may live in a rape culture include: victim blaming, sexual objectification, and trivializing rape. An example of trivializing rape is rape jokes; rape jokes are not only disrespectful and potentially harmful to victims' feelings, but also communicate a social acceptance of rape as a behavior and may communicate to rapists that their actions are acceptable or even normal. In a rape culture, sexual violence towards women is commonplace and women's bodies are regarded as sexually available by default. 

While there is some debate over whether or not America constitutes a rape culture, personally I believe that it doesn't take a whole lot of thought and observation to recognize that it does. Rape culture is a problem because the behaviors that characterize it are correlated with not only increased sexual violence, but also increased racism, homophobia, ageism, classism, and other forms of discrimination.

Happy Veteran's Day for Women?: The Epidemic of Military Rape & Sexual Assault

• In 2011, the Pentagon ruled in civilian court that rape and sexual assault are occupational hazards for women in the military.
• One in three of active-duty women serving in the U.S. military have reported being the victim of sexual assault while serving, which is double the rate for civilians. 
• An estimated only 13.5% of rapes and sexual assaults in the military are reported, and only 8% of these are brought to trial.

Why does such a small percentage of these crimes receive justice? Why does such a small percentage get reported? Why do so many sexual assaults occur in the first place? Why is the military so dangerous for women, not because of outside hostiles, but because of their fellow servicemen?

Take Back the Night a Success!

This past Tuesday, October 23rd the Minnesota Women's Consortium and the ACTC Women's Studies Programs co-hosted Take Back the Night-Twin Cities. Take Back the Night is an internationally held march and rally to protest and take direct action against rape and other forms of sexual violence. This year Take Back the Night Twin Cities was held on Hamline University's campus.

An estimated 150 people attended the event, including students from Hamline, St Catherine University, St Thomas University, Augsburg College, and Century College, faculty and staff from these schools, and many community members. 

The event consisted of two open mic portions where students performed music, spoken word, and shared their personal stories about sexual violence. There were organizations tabling with resources for students as well as activites including t-shirt and sign making. The Hamline University Gospel Choir also performed during the event.

The rally featured a number of fabulous and inspiration speakers, including Sarah Jane Johnston, President of Minnesota NOW, Erin Parrish, MN Women's Consortium Executive Director, US House Representative Betty McCollum, Bobbi Holtberg, Program Director at the MN Coalition for Battered Women, Katie Kramer, a representative from the office of Senator Al Franken who read a letter of support from the Senator, Donna Dunn, Director of the MN Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Susan Hadley McCormick, Founder of WomanKind, and Adrik Curtis, a representative of Outfront Minnesota.

The event was concluded with a moving candlelight vigil led by Hamline Women's Studies Professor Kristin Mapel-Bloomberg.

For those of you who were unable to attend this year, be sure to watch for the event next fall. The plan is for the event to rotate between ACTC college campuses.

This event was co-sponsored by Minnesota Women's Consortium, ACTC Women's Studies Program, Hamline University Women's Studies, Hamline University Women's Resource Center, Hamline University Sexual Violence Prevention Task Force, Hamline University Students Preventing Sexual Violence, Hamline University Poetry Slam, Hamline University Hip Hop Collective, Hamline MPIRG, Hamline Democrats, University of St. Thomas Luann Drummer Center for Women, the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, HU Hedgeman Center for Student Diversity, Minnesota NOW Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Augsburg College Anne Pederson Women's Resource Center, St. Catherine University Abigail Quigley McCarthy Center for Women, Twin Cities Save the Kids, and Gender Justice.

 

Twin Cities Take Back the Night 2012

Twin Cities Take Back the Night 2012 is coming up next week! Hope to see you there!

Check out our event on Facebook!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month!

Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the first Day of Unity observed in October, 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect battered women’s advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children.

Domestic Violence can involve physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse. Physical abuse means any form of violence such as hitting, punching, pulling hair, and kicking. Emotional abuse (stuff like threatening, intimidation, and humiliation) can be difficult to recognize because it doesn't leave visible marks, but can have just as dangerous immediate or lasting consequences. Sexual abuse is being forced into any type of sexual experience that you don't want. 

Keep reading for tips on how to recognize domestic abuse, and what to do if you or a friend needs help:

Let’s Talk About Rape Culture on Campus

It’s Fall Semester! Welcome back to school!

And welcome back to yet another example of the rape culture on our college campuses.

On my way to my faculty office, which is in the lower level of a residence hall, I spied a bulletin board titled “Hook Pick Up Line And Sinker” on prominent display in one of the main hallways.

“Um, what?!” I said to myself, as I began to examine the many items on the board, which were carefully printed on colored paper, cut out and double-mounted on a different color, and then artfully placed on the board. They were examples of pick up lines one might use to “hook up” and eventually “sink her.”  Here are a few gems: 

• Oh, I’m sorry . . . I thought that was a Braille name tag
• Your daddy must be a hunter because he sure caught a fox
• Ya know, if we cut your arms off, you’d look just like Venus de Milo
• Want to become a STUD. You know, you can’t spell stud without STD and U.

As Seth and Amy would say: Really!?! 

First, we have the line that is to be delivered as a phony apology after violating a woman’s body – one can only assume the line is to be said while a woman’s breast is being touched in the fashion of a person with blindness reading a Braille text. This one gets double points for demeaning both people with visual disabilities and women.