In the heyday of the women's movement, the common refrain was that the personal is political. It's as true today as it was back then. That's why I think the personal stories unfolding on
Susan G's diary and
others on the topic of sexual assault, rape, and false accusations matter.
Not everyone is convinced that this is an appropriate topic for this site or that the volume of diaries is warranted. In a recent diary, a Kossack complained about the number of "rape diaries" appearing on the recommended list. In the comment thread, you'll find the following:
"...they're taking up valuable space on the Rec list, and confirming our image as a bunch of whining weaklings....And it IS whining, especially on a political blog."
It's appalling, really, that a substantive discussion on the very real problem of sexual assaults - from groping to violent rape - is dismissed here with those sharing their stories described as "whining weaklings" and their disucssion as "whining, especially on a political blog".
Here's a news flash. It's not whining. It's not weak. It is political.
The personal stories told in the comment threads, the confusion expressed regarding what constitutes rape, the pain of being falsely accused, the "murky grey area" where the transition between offensive and criminal occurs - it's all politically relevant and should inform our political positions and activities.
Politics is Local
Much of the political activity on this issue is local. Will a neighborhood allow a women's shelter down the street? Does the local police force take domestic violence seriously? Does the state allocate appropriate funding for education and prevention? Does the school disregard gender-based bullying or address it?
The answers to these questions affect us, our families, and our communities. And it's our politicians - school board members, state legislators, police chiefs and county commissioners - that decide what the answers will be. It's our job to let them know what we expect.
And Federal, Too
On the federal level, women who are victims of violent assault are most directly affected by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Other programs, specifically anti-poverty programs, make a difference. But VAWA is the heart. And it's up for reauthorization. The stories shared in the "rape diaries" are a necessary ingredient in inspiring members of the progressive community to actively support the reauthorization of VAWA. They're necessary to counter the flippant disregard expressed in these comments.
"Rape is an important topic but the self-righteousness and self-pity of what Kos calls the "women's studies crowd" is pretty tiresome sometimes. 4 recommended diaries?"
AND
"Rape is not a laughing matter, unless of course, you're raping a clown."
"Why does this not stop being funny? I laugh every time I read it!"
You don't have to be a women's studies graduate or even a woman to care about violence done to women. You don't have to be either to be disturbed at the description of those sharing their stories of rape and assault as voices of "self-righteous and self-pity". And you don't have to be a woman to recognize that rape jokes simply aren't funny. (It doesn't suprise me that the joke is told from the perspective of the rapist.)
Violence Against Women Act
Violence against women and how we address it affects us all, individually and societally. The DOJ reports that more than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends. More than 2.5 million women a year are victims of violence. And up to ten million children every year get first hand experience in domestic violence at home. That reality has a huge impact on our society and our kids. Talking about it instead of reading the stats makes it real and brings attention to it as a personal and political issue. It moves the related politics from the ghetto of "women's issues" to the mainstream where it belongs. The politics today are the reauthorization of VAWA.
This is a progressive issue. (If you don't believe me, ask yourself why Phyllis Schlafly opposes it so vehemently.) If VAWA isn't reauthorized, we'll lose federal funding for domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, programs to help children that witness domestic violence, law enforcement programs targeting domestic violence, and programs to help with housing, health, and jobs for victims of domestic violence. We'll lose the opportunity to increase penalties for repeat offenders and to make cyber stalking a crime.
Poison Pill Amendment?
Both the Senate and the House have passed their own versions of VAWA and they'll now be reconciled in conference. One change already made in committee is an amendment that allows the government to collect and maintain DNA samples of anyone being detained by a federal agency - even if they aren't convicted or even charged with a crime (watch out for the DNA database for whoever is on the no-fly list). The only way the DNA is removed from the database is if there's an acquittal or charges are dismissed and the person who goes free remembers to opt out of the DNA database. Plenty of people detained or arrested by the federal government don't fall into either category - they're neither acquitted nor do they have charges dropped. Like, say, protesters. They wouldn't qualify to have their DNA removed if it were taken.
Some people think this is a poison pill, designed to put VAWA at risk. Others think it's a great way to get legislation passed that couldn't get support as a stand-alone bill. Either way, it's bad news for VAWA. Just as bad is that the House specifically cut VAWA programs that served minority and immigrant communities. (I guess they figure that will go unnoticed in the black and latino voting populations).
Call to Action
We need the conference committee to cut the DNA amendment and restore the programs targeting minority and immigrant women, children, and families. So get out your phone and contact Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and John Cornyn (R-TX), who sponsored the amendment. Contact Biden, Hatch, and Specter, who sponsored the bill in the Senate. And contact your legislator to get them to apply pressure on whomever ends up in the conference committee. You can use the YWCA's handy dandy web form to make contact with your Reps.
Do it. Add to the personal impact of the "rape diaries" with a bit of political action. It's better than feeling helpless in the face of so many awful stories.