gender roles
A look at the evolution of gender roles, from Leave It to Beaver, paternity leave, female breadwinners and more.
VOICES of Survivors
Over the past few months, I have been invited to join a wonderful group. This group is small in my area right now and we only meet once every two months but this is a National group that has been established since 2002 and it just keeps growing. This group's name as you've probably already gathered by the title of this is VOICES. We are a group comprised of men and women who are domestic violence survivors. Our group leader is Ms. Penny Hensley and she works very closely with our local law enforcement, our ADA's, our victim witness coordinators, WRAP(which is another wonderful service), and other agencies I'm sure I'm forgetting. The goal is to create a Family Safety Center so women, men, and children who are victims can go there for shelter and initiate any legal proceedings they may need/want to start during a domestic violence situation. Also, so they can have any questions they may have answered. Ultimately, we want you to feel safe, secure, and like you just received a hug at a time when your world is shaken. The first VOICES group started in San Diego, California in 2002 where the first members served as an advisory committee for the San Diego Family Justice Center. (https://familysafetycenter.org/voices/) You see, from the very beginning, we have been a group of people who want to make our VOICES heard. At one point or perhaps multiple points in each of our lives, our voices were silenced and this group, VOICES is about taking that back. This is about making people aware of not only abuse and its presence but also breaking down the barriers. There are so many stigmas around what a woman should take from a man because she needs to "obey her husband" as stated in the Bible, stigmas concerning whether or not a man can be a victim of domestic violence, stigmas even concerning how a victim should act after the fact(should she/he be quiet and not say anything or is telling people okay?), stigmas on therapy and how this can impact a person's mental health, etc. I could seriously go on and on. It is deeply troubling how we as a society victim shame and blame and then we wonder why these women keep going back to the violence or making excuses for their abusers or why a man is statistically far less likely to report D.V. than a woman. "Half of male victims (49%) fail to tell anyone they are a victim of domestic abuse and are two and a half times less likely to tell anyone than female victims (19%)." This quote from (https://mankind.org.uk/statistics/statistics-on-male-victims-of-domestic-abuse/). It is sad that we as a society(and yes I'm throwing myself under the bus here too) have taught women to be subservient to the point they could die or be raped multiple times and men that they have to be so macho that they need to suppress their feelings to the point it doesn't matter if they get beaten on? I'm sorry society and mankind as a whole but this is not ok! And honestly, this is why I'm still mad. I'm mad at myself, mad at society as a whole, mad at every abuser that ever was or will be and I'm mad at who hurt that abuser to make that woman/man into an abuser because typically every abuser starts as a victim first. So, let's turn things around gradually and step by step because we have to do better and be better and this is what VOICES is all about.
Lindsey AltomPublished 10 days ago in VivaDear Men And Women
Dear Men and Women. If I am nervous when we first meet, I want you to know it isn't your fault. Yes, I am married to a man, though even my husband had to be gentle with me when we first met.
Carol TownendPublished 11 days ago in VivaWe call her Grandma...
This woman is amazing in every way. I was born when my mother was still just a child herself so this woman along with many others helped raise me. I feel I became in many ways, like a third daughter to her. At least, that's how I've always thought of myself especially as I've gotten older. When I was young, she would change my diapers, and watch me for my mama as she finished school, as I grew she would be sure I had my favorite breakfast so my mama could go ahead and go to work and then she would get me on the bus to school, she wiped my tears as those hard days came and went, she has been there to celebrate the good and the bad. She didn't do it to take me from anyone, she did all these things out of the goodness of her heart and to help. Sometimes in life, we get a person, a person with whom our heart intertwines and they become our person so to speak. My grandma has always been that for me. I can't explain it except to say that we just get each other on such a deep level. I can look into her eyes and know what she's thinking, know what she's feeling and she can do the same for me. She has always been able to see me for me, she has always heard me and accepted me for me even if she didn't agree or understand it. She has always fought for me even sticking herself in the fire to do so. This woman is a survivor and I will always look up to and admire her for her perseverance, honesty, bravery, and tenacity. She was a single mom for years with my aunt and mother to look after and care for and all that time she never settled back down with anyone else. Why? She didn't want anything else bad to happen to her girls. I know this because she's told me. She became a nurse to support herself and her girls and persevered. She has given so much of herself throughout the years even though it has never been easy. I thank God daily for my beautiful grandma because I know what a blessing I have in having her in my life. She is my dragon, my protector, my rock, and my shelter against the storms.
Lindsey AltomPublished 13 days ago in VivaBitch
Got your attention, didn't I? Feeling like I might be pushing my luck with that title? Good. She won't mind. Hey, I am just a regular guy with the odd habit of occasionally sitting in front of this screen and spitting out stories from my life. Some of you know that I have lived overseas, that I am Canadian, black, male, teaching in Montréal with a weak grasp of French that does not really matter, come from an immigrant family, and have seen and done a lot of strange and unique things. You may even like my work and have commented on my successes and failures. But you do not know the whole story.
Kendall DefoePublished 14 days ago in VivaChanges in the game
From an early age I was surrounded by many women, whether it was my family or idols. I would always look up to them, wanting to be as successful as them in the future. I couldn’t wait to grow up, their life seemed carefree and joyful. My best friends and I would often imagine our future together, living our best life, travelling the world, not giving a damn.
ella dagmarPublished 22 days ago in VivaEnhancing Female Sexual Satisfaction Through Exercise
Exploring the positive impact of exercise on female sexual satisfaction, this article delves into research-based evidence supporting the connection between physical activity and improved sexual well-being for women.
Timothy A RowlandPublished about a month ago in VivaEmpowering Female Sexual Satisfaction
Understanding Female Sexual Satisfaction and Pleasure: Exploring factors influencing female sexual satisfaction, communication and exploration for enhancing satisfaction, challenging misconceptions about female pleasure, tips for enhancing satisfaction, understanding the female orgasm, the complexity of women's sexual response, the role of neurotransmitters and hormones in arousal, addressing low desire and faking orgasms, and empowering women's sexual response and satisfaction.
Timothy A RowlandPublished about a month ago in VivaKenyan Women Beg Men to Stop Killing Us; William Ruto & the United States Your Silence is Deafening!
Saturday, 27 January 2024 By: TB Obwoge NAIROBI Kenya, where one year ago the capital city was hit with super gonorrhoea A strand of antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhoea outbreak hit Kenya, according to researchers at the Kenya Medical Research Institute. The outbreak was said to be traced back to sex workers. (see how women are blamed, but not the men who are the ones using their services without protection)
IwriteMywrongsPublished 2 months ago in VivaEmpowering Female Sexual Wellness
Exploring Female Sexual Health: Understanding the various aspects of female sexual health, common issues and concerns, tips for maintaining sexual wellness, the empowering benefits of masturbation, communication and education, and the importance of an inclusive approach.
Timothy A RowlandPublished 2 months ago in VivaBlack Man Stalked My TikTok For 8-Hours, 30 Abusive Comments Viewed My Account 9 Times; Why Are Black Men So Abusive to Black Women?
Monday, 1 January 2023 By: TB Obwoge I am not surprised about Black men stalking Black women, with insults, abusive words and even more that he spent most of his evening insulting me for something I posted.
IwriteMywrongsPublished 3 months ago in VivaWhen Are Black Africans Who Complain About Colonialism Going to Stop Shaving Their Daughters Bald, Then Buying Fake Hair?
Monday, 1 January 2024 By: TB Obwoge Some people actually believe that Black African women, can't grow their hair, they honestly believe that it's in their DNA to not grow hair our their heads. I know so many Africans that would be angry about this, however people outside of a African countries wonder why Black African women and girls often have very short hair cuts.
IwriteMywrongsPublished 3 months ago in VivaThe Confidence Gap
Could you land a plane if the pilot became incapacitated? Could you correctly use the Heimlich maneuver if someone at your table was choking? Could you give CPR if one of your friends, coworkers, or family members suddenly went into cardiac arrest? A recent study found that men were far more confident than women in their abilities - even if they lacked them - to do such critical tasks. We explore this “confidence gap” and how it translates into challenges - and opportunities - to build self-reliance in women, from school to career.
David WyldPublished 3 months ago in Viva