Good News: We are taking violence against women more seriously

I was alerted about this good news via the Safer Blog – The Senate Appropriations Committee recently past its FY 2010 appropriations bill for various government agencies.  In total, the bill designates $64.9 billion in discretionary spending which is an increase of around $7.3 billion over last year and $200 million more than the President’s budget request.

The Committee appropriated $435 million for the Office of Violence Against Women INCLUDING $15 million for the Sexual Assault Services Program, which is $2 million more than what was provided in the house bill.

This is super exciting!  Highlights of this bill include $9.5 million for Campus Grants, $45 million for Civil Legal Assistance, $3.5 million for Advocates for Youth, and $3 million for Engaging Men and Boys.

This progress was made possible by the hard work of advocates and activists.  It’s up to us and them to make sure that when President Obama signs the final appropriations bill the numbers don’t decrease.

Adding on to this piece of uplifting news is an older tidbit of information – last Friday, Vice President Joe Biden appointed Lynn Rosenthal as the new White House Adviser on Violence Against Women.  This position is newly created and super important because violence against women is an issue that is often not taken seriously enough.

Rosenthal will essentially act as a liaison to the domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy community, work with the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women to implement VAWA (Violence Against Women) programs and services, work with the Department of Health and Human Services on implementing Family Violence Prevention Act programs and services, work with the State Department and US AID on global domestic violence efforts, and spearhead the development of new programs and policies that address domestic violence and sexual assault.

Rosenthal has worked hard throughout her life on the community level, the state level, and the federal level to make sure that violence against women is sufficiently addressed and acted upon, and that perpetrators are held accountable instead of just getting off scot-free.  Most recently she served as the Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence.  She also served as the Executive Director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence from 2000 to 2006.

Senior Adviser and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Engagement Valerie Jarrett said, “Lynn Rosenthal has been a life-long advocate for women and she has been a real leader in developing effective policies to combat domestic violence.”

Monday Blogaround

There’s a lot we’ve missed lately… so here are some good reads to catch up with:

As Pride Month comes to an end, and as we reflect on Stonewall: Obama Commemorates Stonewall, Inequality in the Marriage Equality Movement and The Real Stonewall Legacy.

Eve Ensler’s op-ed in The Washington Post: A Broken UN Promise in Congo.

Gender is a social construction, so two feminist parents in Sweden are raising their child gender non-specific.

Triggering and heartbreaking – Violence against the trans community is still very persistent and pervasive: Transgender Woman Brutally Beaten in Queens Bias Attack – TLDEF Demands Full Investigation Into Hate Crime.

Recession Depression: Having a good work/life balance is ideal, but how realistically achievable is it especially in economic hard times?

This caught my eye because even though I am not a big Chipotle fan, many of my friends rave about it: Chipotle Injustice – Chipotle is the nation’s most rapidly growing fast food chain, but how socially responsible is it?

Prison rape is a widespread phenomenon and the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission just released a new report with suggestions and guidelines on how to end prison rape.

Reflections on Privilege, Guilt and Identity.

Some body to love – you are more than just your body.

Racist Thinking at the Supreme Court – Again.

The connection between reproductive rights and sexual violence – “He Thought a Baby Would Keep Me Forever”: When Partner Abuse Isn’t a Bruise but a Pregnant Belly.

Society is obsessed with parenting and children – Vanessa Richmond at Alternet explores this further.

Resistance to Misogynist Images and Advertising

Misogynist images that objectify women are pervasive throughout our society. Sometimes it can be overwhelming because these visuals are everywhere, so many people have become desensitized to them. Means of resistance include noticing and pointing out the offensive nature of these images and advertisements.

Via Sociological Images, here is a series of pictures that illustrates how people are not letting misogynist advertising go unnoticed. These photos were taken in Seattle, Washington by Jonathan McIntosh.

Simple stickers as such call attention to the misogynist nature of the images, reminding people that such images (though they are pervasive and persistent) are counter to a society of basic human respect and freedom.