[act-ma] 4/10 & 4/11- Prof. Tithi Battacharya on "Fighting Rape Culture"

[Shaun Joseph]

The International Socialist Organization presents
a speaking tour on fighting sexual violence
featuring Tithi Bhattacharya, Associate professor of history
at Purdue University

Stop the Culture of Violence Against Women
Wednesday, April 10, 7pm
Codman Square Health Center, Dorchester
RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/631933536832446/

>From Delhi to Steubenville:
Fighting Rape Culture and Sexual Violence
Thursday, April 11, 3:30pm
UMass Boston, McCormack Hall 2nd Floor, Room 0116
RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/451694051577935

>From Steubenville to Harvard:
Understanding Rape Culture and Fighting Against It
Thursday, April 11, 7pm
Harvard University, Dudley House, Graduate Common Room
RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/229523973858947/

While most sexual violence committed against women is hidden in
silence, two recent cases have become very public and have forced a
national discussion about rape culture and sexual violence against
women. A movement against sexual violence exploded in cities across
India following the violent gang rape of a 23 year old women in Delhi
that resulted in her death. Another attack that was brought to light
because people spoke out was the rape of the 16 year old woman in
Steubenville, Ohio. Two men raped the young woman after a night of
drinking and she didn't even know what happened until seeing pictures
on the internet the next day.

Both cases are all too familiar for women around the world but the
fact that people decided to stand up and say enough is enough is
something new and refreshing. The public outrage has pushed many
people to ask the tough questions. Questions like, why is there so
much violence against women? How has rape become so normalized in our
society? And most importantly, what can we do to change this? In
response to violence against women we all too often hear things like,
“she was too drunk” or “she was dressed slutty” or “was it really
rape?” It is clear that there is an urgent need for movement that can
unapologetically fight for a society that doesn't encourage sexism but
one that actively fights sexism.

With the decline of the women's liberation movement that fought to
combat sexist ideas in society and fought for better conditions for
women, we continue to see the rollback of it's gains. Sexual education
that promotes consent and sexual health is absent from our schools,
the advertising industry heavily relies on photographs of highly
sexualized women to sell products and most women have very little
access, if at all, to health services such as birth control, abortion
and other services that allow women to control their own lives. The
attack on women is only getting worse and will continue to as long as
there isn't a mass movement of women and men that demand for something
better.

Join the discussion where we can talk about where sexual violence
against women comes from, what sexism looks like today, and what we
can do in the here and now to fight it.