Violence Against Women

While fighting for our rights to proper pay and an equal work environment, feminists also fight for the safety and well-being of women. Violence against women is and has been a major public health problem in our society for hundreds of years. Sexual violence and intimate partner violence particularly are violations of women’s human rights.

According to the WHO, global estimates indicate that about 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.

It’s a constant fear of which all women are reminded. Growing up, women are taught not to walk home in the dark or wear “certain types” of clothing. We are told these things so that we don’t attract attention to ourselves, so that we don’t end up “asking” for it, as they would say. Sexual violence is such a problem in today’s society, and only recently have women started speaking up and telling their stories.

The recently emerged Me Too movement aims to stop sexual harassment and sexual assault, especially in the work field. Women from all over the world have used the hashtag #MeToo in order to share their personal experiences with sexual violence. With this movement, participants hope that as a society, we change our outlook on women and stop the brutality.