Chapter 3
Stoic docility is the word the author used to describe why women and girls get trafficked, raped and abused. Although the reasons for this docility may be practical or cultural reasons, like being killed, the abuse will go on. The United States can truly only be cheerleaders and be there for back up but cannot force change on people. Femininity doesn’t mean just taking it—but having enough within themselves to want change. Usha Narayane is one of those people.
Usha lives in Kasturba Nager outside the Indian city of Nagpur. She is considered a Dalit which means “untouchables.” She is lucky because both parents are educated and want the same for their daughter—keep her out of the slum. Usha graduated with a degree in hotel management and wanted to manage one some where in India.
Akku Yadav was a slum lord who used rape to terrorize anyone who stood up to him, also murder and tormenting someone until he got what he wanted. He was the man of the slum and no one would mess with him or turn him in. Police wouldn’t do much anyhow because they are very class aware—Dalits didn’t matter.
Usha went back home and found her friend’s home ruined and smashed to bits. Ratna her friend would file a complaint with the police, so Usha did. This enraged Akku, who went to Usha’s house to threaten her with rape, acid and many other things. Usha held her ground and turned on gas in her home and threatened to blow them all up.
Meanwhile, people of her town are debating on what to do. About one hundred people surrounded Akku and he fled. The angry mob went to his house and smashed it. Akku went to the police and arrested him for his own protection. When it came time for him to go to court, women surrounded Akku and stabbed him—hundreds of women wanting to protect their families.
Ashu got arrested and the women of the town said they had to be arrested too. Police frustrated let Ashu go. She now uses her degree to help sell products in the market. She is the heroine of the community. She instilled something that no one can give and that is empowerment.
The New Abolisionist
Zac Hunter heard about slavery still going on in the world and he was appalled. He took matters in his own hands and formed Loose Change to Loosen Chains (LC2LC). Zac raised an amazing $8,500.
Zac older and wiser has written a book “Be the change: Your Guide to Ending Slavery and Changing the World.” He has toured the country speaking to teens and how they can help end slavery.
Bill Drayton is the founder of Ashoka—helps to train entrepreneurs. He made a wonderful woman Sunthia and her group Pajwala and Ashka fellow. This woman fought her way to help girls get out of brothels. Sunthia was raped, threatened and she kept plugging along because she believes in what she does. American donors help Pajwala to keep going—a team that needs to keep going—the US and third world countries.
Chapter 4
Rape is used to humiliate, control, demean and destroy a woman. Sonette Ehlers, a med tech, came up with an idea to help protect women. It is called Rapex—a tube with barbs on the inside and inserted into the vagina. When a man tries to rape a women, he comes in with an impaled member and has to go to the ER. Sonette is trying to help the women because of the gender based violence. 30% to 60% of women are hurt physical or sexually by males in their lives.
Rape is reported because it damages the women’s reputation or even the families. Women in Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa have experienced rape at a very young age. It is a norm that women/girls buy into it and men keep getting away with it—people turn heads.
Wionsht is a girl and her father fought back. Men, in Ethiopia, have to come up with the dowries to present to the family and if they cannot, they steal the girls, rape them. Now the girl’s virtue is taken and she is worth less. Most families allow the girl to marry her rapist/kidnapper. There are laws that say a man cannot get prosecuted for the crime of rape if he later marries the girl.
Wionset wanted to stay in school and was kidnapped, raped, beaten and she escaped back to her family. Aberew Jemma (her kidnapper and rapist) asked to marry Wionset. Her father said no. Zebene (father) sent her to press charges and when Wionset got back to town he kidnapped her again and took her to court, so the judge would make her marry him. Finally the judge, giving up on convincing Wionset to marry Aberew, he sentenced Aberew to jail for ten years—he got out after a couple months.
Wionset lives with her dad in another town, so no one knows their name. The old village was angry with Wionset and her father saying they broke tradition. She should have married Aberew, and all she wants is to stay in school and have nothing to do with a man.
The US may spend too much time in trying to change laws instead trying to change cultures—which can be just as difficult. The culture is what makes them who they are. Empowering women begins with education.
Women are just as brutal to other women. The ladies who ran the brothels, mothers feeding their male child first, taking only the male child to the doctors for vaccinations, aborting a female child because they want a male child, letting a female child die just because she is female and the mother-in-law beats the bride because she is trying to make her obey. The last one is what Zoya had to endure.
Mukhatar’s School
Mukhatar’s brother Shakur was kidnapped and raped by the Mastoi—higher class people. The Mastoi fearful of prosecution said the 12 year old boy had sex with a Mastoi girl. The council was convened and all Makhatar could do was apologize, but not good enough. The council said Makhatar had to be gang raped—which in Meerwala in southern Punjab mean the girl generally commits suicide.
Makhatar’s parent watched her and made sure she didn’t after the gang rape. She became enrage and went to the police and demanded prosecution. The president, Pervez Musharraf , heard about it and sympathize with her and gave her $8,500, which Mukhatar put back into the community to make a school.
This poor girl had to endure kidnapping by the president¬¬¬¬¬--he once sympathize with her and now loathed her. He felt she embarrassd the country by her talk of rape, threats on her life, her family’s life, spies watching her, trips to the US and all they wanted to talk about was her rape and not her precious school and her older brother feeling her behavior was disrespectful.
Although her president doesn’t think highly of her, her community does. They see her as a role model/heroine, savior, and giver of education. Many women come to her for shelter, answers and saving. Even the police officer sent to spy on her, grew to realize the evil of his ways and stood by Mukhatar and her mission. He admired her so much, he asked for her hand in marriage. She would be the second wife, but the first wife approved whole heartedly.
Chapter 5
This chapter is about the hymen and how sacred it is. A girls virginity is protected and easiest way to disgrace a family is defile the daughter. The culture’s who feel female sexuality is so sacred, they have created an environment where women are dishonored. These cultures have created honor killings which are just plain murder. An honor killing is when they think the girl’s purity is in question, perhaps she said out with a boy she liked all night. So, the girl is killed because of something could have happen—some are never sure and there has been evidence the girl’s “virture” most of the time is still intact.
The Congo has been deemed the place where rapes occur the most, now just sexual assault but assault with sticks, bayonets, guns and shooting guns in a women’s vagina. It is used as a form of warfare. Going in and shooting up a village is dangerous, so the militia are going to attack women, girls and children.
Dina was raped and assaulted with a stick. She had puncture bladder and rectum and was sent to a hospital called HEAL. Many women were there because of the same kind of injuries but are getting the help they need by this organization. They don’t turn people away but the women/girls may have to wait awhile to get surgery.
Harper Mc Connell is a young adult who decide to travel abroad for her studies. She wanted to see the issues and problems for herself. Harper learned Swahili quickly and is an asset to HEAL. She started a school on hospital grounds to help the girls who have never been able to go to school and need to wait for surgery. The other program she started was a skills-training course; girls awaiting surgery learn how to basket weave, sewing and other tasks. HEAL sets them up so they can continue the skill at home and make money for their family; if a girl learns to sew, she may get a sewing machine to take back to her village.
Harper believes all students should take a trip overseas to have life moving experience. France, Germany, and other countries are fine, but see what place needs you and devote some time there—she says it is absolutely worth it.
