In recent events concerning rape culture in our own country, there is a way to get involved and fight back the big name media companies like CNN, ABC news, NBC News, and USA Today. As many may have seen in the news recently in Steubenville, Ohio, two 16 year-old teen boys, who were promising football athletes were accused and convicted of the rape of a fellow 16 year old female classmate. What was so controversial about this particular case is how the media covered the issues at hand. When the nation heard about the bus gang rape in India, the general consensus was that it was a horrible act against women and people started to band together all over the world to stop violence against women. However, in this particular case, as with many that go under the media’s eyes, major news networks like CNN were sympathizing with the accusers, instead of the victim, which ended up causing a public outcry to rethink how we portray rape culture in our own country.

In the Steubenville case, the teens were at a party where alcohol was involved.  According to reports, the heavily inebriated high school girl was publicly and repeatedly sexually violated by her peers, particularly the two boys where were eventually charged, several other students documented the acts in social media. The victim was transported to various parties, undressed, photographed, sexually assaulted, and orally penetrated. She was also penetrated vaginally by other students' fingers, an act defined as rape under Ohio law. The victim testified in court that she had no memory of the six-hour period in which the rapes occurred, except for a brief time in which she was vomiting on the street. She said she woke up the next morning naked in a basement living room with Mays, Richmond and another teenage boy, missing her underwear, shoes, phone and earrings. The evidence presented in court mainly consisted of hundreds of text messages and cellphone pictures that had been taken by more than a dozen people at the parties and afterwards traded with other students and posted to social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, and which were described by the judge as "profane and ugly."

This particular case was so controversial, not because what happened, but how the media covered the proceeding case. News networks like CNN, ABC, NBC and USA Today have been reported to report “the boys were promising students”, making excuses for the rapists, emphasizing the boys “promising football careers,” and stressing that the victim was drunk. As stated before, this brings in the question as to what is the rape culture in our own country. How can we have such contradicting views concerning rape in other countries and our own? The India case caused such a stir-up that people thought that was incredibly tragic for the victim, however in our own country because alcohol was involved, the media put the blame on the victim.

To take action, I went to Change.org - https://www.change.org/petitions/cnn-apologize-on-air-for-sympathizing-with-the-steubenville-rapists and signed the petition to have CNN apologize on air for sympathizing with the Steubenville rapists. The petition states:

“To:
CNN 

Your coverage of the Steubenville rape trial's verdict Sunday morning was a complete disgrace and a breach of journalistic ethics. To have three of your personalities blatantly portray the rapists as the victims in this situation while not so much as acknowledging the actual rape victim and what she has had to put up with since — death threats and the hostility of that entire football-crazed town — is nothing short of disgusting.

I request that you apologize on-air, several times over the course of the next week, at the start of every hour, for your shameful coverage that only served to perpetuate a culture in which young people will grow up not understanding the concept of consent and in which rape victims are blamed, ostracized and threatened. Start with Candy Crowley, Poppy Harlow and Paul Callan themselves issuing their apologies several times, then extend that to the rest of CNN's staff and Jeff Zucker himself. Admit that your coverage was extremely off base and tell us why it was off base. Use the content of this letter as a starting point if you need to.

A culture that sympathizes with rapists and encourages them while shaming rape victims can no longer be considered socially acceptable, and that change must start with you. As journalists for a major network that reaches millions of households in the United States and worldwide, it is your responsibility. Accept it.

Sincerely,
[Your name]”

In the petition you fill find many different reasons why people have signed it.

            This type of action connects with different type of democratic values because we all have a voice and generally, the media shows the popular voice of all the people, however when we disagree with what is being said across the nation via different media forces, we have the right of freedom of speech to fight back. In regards to teaching about social justice, it’s definitely important because if we are unaware of what is going on in our world, how can we grow up to make it better? Knowing what is out there, and knowing that you have a chance to change someone’s view on something can be all the difference for your community and your nation, as you can control the media, morality, ethics and federal law.

            In this whole current events process, I really learned more about how much influence the media has in controversial topics, especially rape and women’s rights. From what I see, there is progress in equality of men and women, but we still have a long way to go. There seems to be so many double standards and hypocrisy in the media and how violence against women is viewed, not only in our own country, but throughout the world. Teaching using current events is definitely important to social studies as a whole. Usually when we think social studies, we think history, and when we think history, it’s usually followed by something in the past that we no longer have control over, or something that is “dead.” By teaching using current events, we know that is not the case. When we teach using current events, these are topics that are hot in the media at the time, that can have an impact on everyone, and with keeping up with what is going on, you have a chance to become apart of the history, instead of just learning about it.

 -Kathy 

In the attempts to discover an avenue to take in regards to “taking action” and taking a stand against violence against women, I came across the organization Human Rights Watch. This website and foundation is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, the Human Rights Watch gives a voice to the oppressed and holds oppressors accountable for their crimes. “[Their] rigorous, objective investigations and strategic, targeted advocacy build intense pressure for action and raise the cost of human rights abuse. For more than 30 years, Human Rights Watch has worked tenaciously to lay the legal and moral groundwork for deep-rooted change and has fought to bring greater justice and security to people around the world.” The mission statement for this resource is as follows: 

“Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law. We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all.” 

After investigating this website and the premise behind this organization, I discovered a section dedicated to The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA), an act that, if enforced, will be a major step in the effort to end violence against women across the globe. This policy would “direct the US government to create a comprehensive, five-year strategy to reduce violence in up to 20 diverse countries identified as having severe levels of violence against women.” This bill was originally introduced in the last meeting of Congress and was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yet it needs to be reintroduced so that it can be passed by the full House and Senate. For my action, I submitted a letter to Senator William Cowan, Senator Elizabeth A. Warren, and Representative John F. Tierney, our federal representatives, that asks them to support the reintroduction of this bill so that we can end abuse globally. 

While it was a simple act, a single email correspondence, to imagine that my voice and stand on the matter of violence against women can now be heard is quite an empowering feeling. Although I know that my individual vote or stance may not cause this act to succeed in its designed purpose, to know that my letter is one of thousands, possibly millions, that have been sent in support of this act is rather exhilarating. In sending my proposal along, I am now part of a community, a national and possibly global body, that refuses to allow abuse to continue. I have now, in writing, declared how vile and evil these heinous acts are and that I support my government’s agenda to prevent these types of attacks from happening worldwide. As a citizen of a democratic society, this action demonstrated my freedom to participate in the political process, the freedom of thought, conscience, assembly, and expression. This action, as I see it, is my responsibility as a human, a duty to respect human life, the rights of others, to be compassionate, to participate in the democratic process, and to work for the common good. Our government has the responsibility to respect and protect the rights of not only me but these suffering individuals, to work for the common good and to guarantee civil liberties. As well, in sending this letter off, I am stating and standing up for the rights of all women, reminding everyone that we all have the right to life, liberty, dignity, security, justice, and privacy. To know that I am a single individual who has joined the voice of many to protect the rights, liberties, safeties, and lives of women throughout the world gives me hope that we can move forward as a society and as human beings, but I am also aware that this is only the start of a process that will require dedication and perseverance.  

In terms of where I stand in regards to teaching about social justice issues and using current events within instruction, I wholeheartedly believe that education is an instrument for the public good, that we have a duty to teach the basics and foundations for further learning but that we also have the responsibility to create and mold aware, informed, and active citizens of this global community. By stressing the importance of understanding and recognizing what is happening within our classroom, within our town, within our state, within our nation, and the events that are occurring worldwide, we are reminding our students that they are not voiceless, that they are not helpless. In teaching about past and current social justice issues, the students can form their own, educated decisions, opinions, and ideas regarding these topics, determining, for themselves, their stance on these controversial issues. In simply considering these issues in an in depth manner, the students will be more aware and cultured individuals with an interest and knowledge of what is happening outside their door. As teachers, we have the task and responsibility as both educators and as fellow human beings to provide our students with enough information and knowledge so that they can become independent thinkers and citizens, so that they can take part in the world around them. The following quotation defines our role and the premise behind this instruction: “Struggle for social justice is central to our nation’s history… concerns about the common good and the rights of the individual, no matter how humble in social standing, transcends politics and holds a definitive place in the realms of morality, ethics and federal law, and therefore in the world of teaching social studies.” In learning and referencing the social issues of yesterday and today and by utilizing current events, we are, in fact, incorporating social studies and social policies into the lives and education of our students, as well as delving into topics and ideas that are so important and vital to a passionate and responsible human existence.

When this project began, I had a basic understanding of how we, as a nation, react towards and prosecute those convicted of rape, knowledgeable of the fact that, currently, we are not doing enough to prevent these incidents from occurring in the first place. However, by delving into the recent attacks and subsequent deaths of innocent women and children in India, I was a bit disheartened to think that our somewhat failing, unstable, and shaky system is far superior to those of other governments. With that being said, from these horrific and violent incidents came a glimmer of hope; to see the people of India forging together to demand change and improved security and protection for their women shows that there is something that can be done, that we, as people, can instigate alterations in the pursuit of justice. As Indian laws and American laws both come under scrutiny and are on the cusp of change, I am relieved to know that this issue is receiving the attention and dedication that is deserves, though I shudder to think of the horrendous and unnecessary events that have led to this new compulsion. As a whole, this project allowed me to focus on this single topic as both a student and as an individual, prompting me to think individually about the subject and to form my own opinions and conceptions based upon the information discovered. Currently, my stance on this topic is that abuse of any form should not be tolerated or accepted in any country, that we should fight and convince our governments to not only enforce and create stricter laws to protect the people but that we should also erase the stigmas associated with these attacks. In addition to altering our current rules and regulations, we should also stress an environment in which all abuse and violence, towards both women and men, is unlawful and morally unjust. I can hardly imagine a single, sane person who would think to neglect or reject a law or an improved society in which these types of attacks are completely removed and nonexistent, but in order for this to happen we must all make our voices heard and demand attention to this prevalent issue.

“Every day, millions of women and girls across the world are beaten and abused. Many are harmed in their homes by members of their family or community. Others are raped or harassed by the very security forces that are meant to protect them. Some victims of gender-based violence are employed outside their homes, some are not. Some are rich, some are poor. Some are literate, some are not. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, friends. They have only one thing in common: they are female, and they are abused because of it.”  

In the attempts to prevent abuse towards and violence against women, I made my voice known and agreed to stand by this pledge. If you would like to send an informed letter to your representatives, visit Human Rights Watch and let your voice be heard.

Interview

Problem: Violence Against Women (Within the United States and India)

First name of the person you interviewed and/or their title in the community:

Shelby; University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Student

Tell the person about the problem you are studying. Then ask the following questions:
Is this a problem you think is important?  Why/ Why not?

I definitely think this is an incredibly important topic, not just in other countries like we’ve been seeing in the news lately, but in our own country as well. After reading what happened in India back in December, it’s sad that something like that had to happen for people to rethink laws and morals, but in a way you could say that what happened there is having people in our own country rethink their own values and what they think is important. It’s crazy to think that it’s already 2013, and although we have come so far technologically and socially from even fifty years ago, we’re still not quite there yet.

Do you think others in our community think it is an important problem? Why/ why not?

Honestly, this sounds terrible, but it really depends who you talk to. I don’t know about Salem, but in Dartmouth it seems like not many students even realize what is going on sadly. I think those who do know think it’s an important problem from what I can tell, but like I said, it all depends on who you talk to.

What policy, if any, does the government now have to deal with this problem?

I know there are many protests still going on in India about the bus incident that happened over there, but in our own country the Violence Against Women Act has been front and center in the news. Basically, what I gather is that the VAWA (now recently passed) will take sexual assault as a more serious crime. There also has been so much controversy over this, and over women’s health in general in congress, so this being passes is a pretty big deal.

What are advantages of this policy?

From what I understand, it will help protect rape and sexual assault victims and will also crack down on and spend more resources to prosecute those convicted of these crimes.

What are disadvantages of this policy?

The more I read about the VAWA the more I saw that it is really gearing more towards convicting those who commit the crimes.

How might the policy be improved?

Well, is we’re spending so much money in convicting these criminals, how are we ever going to have the time to really get it in the minds of the community that rape and assault in general of any kind is just unacceptable? As a college-aged woman myself, I feel like I am always being told how to prevent myself from being attacked, whereas guys aren’t really being told not to…I was actually on a website the other day that had a picture that said something along the lines of “If we go on the assumption that women have to prevent themselves from being raped, is it safe to assume that all men are potential rapists?” It just really struck me since you always hear how to prevent yourself from being raped or attacked, but at the same time what happened to teaching men not to attack us? It’s a curious double standard. So what I’m basically saying, with this bill, I wish it could also include more awareness for not just women, but men too, because they can also be victims of sexual assault.

Does the policy need to be replaced?  Why?

As I said earlier, it can definitely be improved, but I don’t think we have to go as far as replacing the whole thing. It definitely is a breakthrough of our own generation and eventually, like most things, it probably will be replaced, but for the time being it’s definitely progress.

What disagreements, if any, about the policy exist in this community?

Within our community, I haven’t heard any real disagreements with the policy itself. The most disagreement I’ve heard is just how to go about preventing situations like this from occurring, and of course watching the debates congress has on the matter.

Where can I get more information about this problem and the different positions people take on this problem?

Well, it’s still pretty active in the news on television and in newspapers, but with most college students the place to go for news and information is definitely the internet. It really depends where you go though, as some sites aren’t going to be as reliable as others.

Reflection: 

Although I knew the person I was interviewing is fairly aware of things that go on in the news world, it was really interesting to hear that even at other college campuses, the topic isn't widely discussed. Unless, of course, it is informing female students how to protect themselves. As I may have figured, while discussing this topic with my interviewee, it really is an uncomfortable topic to discuss, even female to female. 
-Kathy Farias

A. Interview

Problem: Violence Against Women (specifically within India and the United States)

First name of the person you interviewed and/or their title in the community

Robert; Salem State University graduate

Tell the person about the problem you are studying. Then ask the following questions:

Is this a problem you think is important?  Why/ Why not?

First of all, I can acknowledge that violence against women is definitely a problem, both within our country and worldwide. As far as if it is important? Absolutely. Here we are, in the 21^st century, and we’re still dealing with this problem that has been plaguing our society since the beginning of time. In the case of India, recent acts are making people begin to rethink not only who they are as people, as individuals, but it’s also forcing them to reconsider their laws, the morals that their country was founded upon and that have governed them for decades.

Do you think others in our community think it is an important problem? Why/ why not?

I think that others in our community do find this issue and problem important, especially as we have seen with the recent election of Elizabeth Warren as a United States Senator due to the fact that one of her primary platforms regarded equal rights for women.  

What policy, if any, does the government now have to deal with this problem?

In the United States, specifically, within the news currently we are hearing about the Violence Against Women Act. I would assume that, if you look at and consider the current laws in place within the United States, that, in comparison to other countries (say, India), that we have stricter policies against prosecuting those convicted of rape.

If there is a policy around your issue/problem/topic, ask these questions:

What are advantages of this policy?

The advantages of the Violence Against Women Act is that it will seek to protect the victims of rape and to dedicate more resources to punishing rapists.

What are disadvantages of this policy?

A disadvantage that I can see with this policy is that it focuses primarily on punishing those accused of rape yet they do not provide as many solutions or ideas on how to prevent rape from occurring in the first place.

How might the policy be improved?

This act could be improved by having the government dedicate more of their resources to education classes that, in addition to focusing on the protection of oneself, teach the concept that rape is a crime within and of itself and that it should never, under any circumstance, be allowed or considered acceptable.

Does the policy need to be replaced?  Why?

Overall, I do not think that this policy needs to be replaced, yet possible alternations and extensions (as mentioned previously) should be addressed so as to better prevent acts of violence and abuse from occurring.

What disagreements, if any, about the policy exist in this community?

While this topic is not something that actively comes up in conversation, I cannot imagine anyone not supporting this cause and its efforts to protect women.

Where can I get more information about this problem and the different positions people take on this problem?

The internet is a great resource for finding out more information about this and most current event topics. 

B. Interview Reflection

As our interview began, I was a bit surprised to learn that my interviewee had no prior knowledge of the recent events within India as they have, essentially, not only fueled and prompted this blog but our own, national discussion and emphasis on the topic. However, despite his lack of insight in reference to this specific instance of violence and abuse, he was able to assess, based upon what he did know, that this topic and problem is not only relevant and important but one that is worldwide. As well, while this issue may not be one that is discussed on a daily basis or is a somewhat conversational topic, this concept and concern is one that many people already have conceptions and personal opinions about yet, often times, they do not vocalize them to a great extent. Perhaps if we could somehow find a forum or way for all of these individuals to express their concerns and ideas in a constructive, vocal manner than perhaps this problem will become one that more and more people will become aware of and one that can all be dedicated to resolve.

The purpose and function of this blog has always and continues to be to educate both ourselves and our readers about the topic of violence against women, specifically within India and the United States. Our hope is to provide all of us with enough information on this topic so that we can all construct our own ideas and opinions about this overwhelming and troubled concept, with the hope to make us all more informed and involved citizens. James A. Duplass, the author of “Teaching Elementary Social Studies,” relates our primary beliefs and anticipations in terms of education, stating that the ultimate goal of/for “citizenship education is for students to mature into productive, wise citizens of their country and the world. Citizenship education draws on history, government, economics, geography, current events, and the social sciences” (31). As we ourselves are discovering through our own research, the issue of violence against and abuse towards women is hardly one that is confined to the United States, that, “regardless of which nation one happens to [be] born into or immigrates to, there are concepts about national identity and citizenship which are shared across the planet,” as well as dilemmas that extent far beyond our field of vision (Duplass, 34). As well, we hope to relate the critical attributes of this lesson and topic, a “teaching strategy that focuses on transmitting the procedural knowledge of identifying the essential elements of a concept so that students do not form inaccurate concepts and ultimately inadequate ideas and insufficient beliefs that are necessary to be effective citizens… Teaching children to distinguish the noncritical and critical attributes is a systematic strategy that leads to the most accurate conceptualization and sound decision making” (Duplass, 42). With those principles in mind, we hope that this humble source will be a means and place for you to develop and forge your own conceptions, understandings, and, in the end, your own ideas and opinions about this troubling dilemma. 

In light of the current evens within India (and the national discussion at hand regarding rights for women and how our government can improve its abilities to protect them and prosecute their abusers), we have seen and witnessed the power and value associated with social criticism, how the bonding together of a single country can urge reform and make an exponential difference and alter accepted terms and ideas. We understand that “social criticism is intimately tied to free speech,” that, as both the creators of this blog and as future teachers, we should “encourage social criticism but demand and ensure that students base that criticism on facts and logical arguments and create a civility in the classroom that communicates to students the importance of listening as well as talking” (Duplass, 34). On a global scale, the Indian people, in response to their government’s hesitation and leniency towards abusers and rapists, saw and intrinsically felt that the laws governing them were not stringent or demanding enough, a passion and decision that led them into the streets to demonstrate their unhappiness and desire for change. As Duplass states, “combined with passions… strongly held beliefs lead to social activism,” an aspect that is “essential to a democratic state, and student should be given opportunities to act on their beliefs and values in constructive ways” (34). The actions and protests of the Indian peoples, a nation coming together under the same ideas, principles, and cause, is an excellent and captivating example of the possibilities associated with social criticism and activism, a sign of hope and faith in humanity and our ability, as humans, to become active, engaged members of both our immediate society and that of the globe.

A great correlation between this blog and our (future) role as teachers is to recall that our goal is not to simply hand you, our readers (or students), our beliefs, to force our own conclusions and interpretations upon you. On the contrary, the opportunity afforded to us through these various mediums is to exemplify and model the thoughtful, deliberate, and open disposition needed to be a productive citizen, that, through demonstrating our own process of learning and constructing our own ideas and opinions, that you, as well, can engage in a similar, individualistic process that is unique to you alone. As stated previously, our goal with this blog, as well as as teachers, is to “create an environment and process where students are expected to be full participants in a dialogue that is in search of each student’s personal truth by expecting students to consider their own biases, share their ideas in a thoughtful way, justify their positions with logic and facts, and demonstrate a willingness to consider others’ ideas” (Duplass, 39). Our sincerest wish is to provide a resource for you so that you, too, can become more involved and knowledgeable, contributing members of this global community.

In terms of dividing this current event into informational knowledge and procedural knowledge, the informational knowledge originates with the issue and problem itself, specifically the accounts of the attack within India, the societal and communal desire and protest for reform to current laws and prosecution proceedings, and the changes currently underway in India. As well, as we turn this issue towards ourselves, our own nation, this knowledge consists of our current state and national regulations and current policies regarding violence and abuse towards women, including the recent proceedings and laws being discussed and enacted in order to improve our efforts and abilities to protect all citizens. For procedural knowledge of this current event, we agree that that would include the results and conclusions that you, the reader, form independently after reading and interpreting all of the presented informational knowledge, as well as your own conclusions as to whether or not our nation, the United States, is doing enough to prevent these violent acts, as well as if they are acting accordingly and justly in light of these events.   

In order to achieve our (rather lofty) goal for this blog, we will begin our research and work delving into the current events within India, finding valid and well-informed information to relate to you about what specifically happened, as well as the power behind the demonstrations in its wake, the (supposed and proposed) alterations that the government plans to take, what the implications for these changes are, and, of course, any and all new updates on the current situation. Additionally, we will then focus our attention on the United States’ own policies regarding this issue, examining the current legislations in place and those that are being created and validated at the present moment, looking at how the current events overseas are affecting us as a nation. Finally, we will be researching the laws and legal activities of our own state, Massachusetts, to see what we are doing to address and prevent these horrid acts. Specifically, the content that will be needed and required to understand the intent and knowledge provided within this blog are: violence – rough, injurious, and purposeful physical force, action, or treatment against another person; assault – a sudden, violent attack; rape – “Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim” (“UCR Program Changes Definition of Rape”) (the legal definition of the FBI; the legal definition changes depending upon the government and the nation – “Currently, section 375 of the Indian Penal Code is defined as vaginal-penile intercourse against a woman’s consent. Excluded from the law is the rape of a woman by her husband if the woman is above 15 years of age” [Thirani, “India’s Rape and Sexual Assault Laws Under Scrutiny”]).