In our newsroom roundup on September 28, 2022, we talked through local, national and global news from a feminist viewpoint. This includes stories of the physical and verbal abuse happening to women on and off campus within the past week, Black Women’s Equal Pay Day and the pay disparities that black women specifically face in comparison to all women, and Mahsa Amini a 22 year old who was captured and arrested for her wearing hijab improperly.
LOCAL NEWS
This week, in the local spectrum, we talked about some of the troubling local instances we have seen on campus right here at JMU.
Within the past week: physical & verbal harassment of women have been happening on and off campus as well as human trafficking tactics that are taking place.
Yes, this is a super heavy topic but the main reason I bring it up is to raise awareness in our community for some of the same reasons the blog is here today!!
Two of these reasons are:
- Creating a safe space for all genders & people
- Be active in raising awareness on various topics
To continue safety within our community here are some things these people have been doing as human trafficking tactics on campus:
- ZIP TIES ON CAR DOOR HANDLES
- CLAIMING TO HAVE A “BIBLE STUDY” & IS “NEW IN TOWN”
- ROSES ON WINDSHIELDS
- APPROACHED MANY WOMEN AROUND: FARMERS MARKET, D-HALL, THE VILLAGE, NORTHVIEW AND WALMART
- STALKING APARTMENT COMPLEXES
- SORORITY RECRUITMENT HARASSMENT
To ensure safety, here are some tips for safety on and off campus:
- Report Suspicious Activity
- If you see something, say something
- Always travel in groups
- Power is in numbers
- Carry legal weapons such as pepper spray
- Always share/tell your location to a trusted person
- Never give out any identifiable information about you or others
Additional Resources & Sources:
https://www.newcreationva.com/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09636410902900020
NATIONAL NEWS
On September 21, 2022, Black Women’s Equal Pay Day occurred. This day highlights the pay disparities Black women face. The day stems from Equal Pay Day, which highlights the pay disparity between women and men. It lands on a different date each year, depending on the latest gender wage gap data and new days were also added to bring attention to the specific disparities faced by different groups of women, according to AAUW. On average, Black women typically make just 62 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. This day was important for feminists all around due to many reasons, but intersectionality being a huge one. Class discussion included topics such as intersectionality being a factor that plays into this particular issue. Women and the pay gap in comparison to men is already a huge topic of discussion, but when you look deeper into the statistics, why are black women in specific the ones who get the short end of the stick? Talking about this pay gap is critical and needs to continuously be talked about for change to go into effect.
Article with more info: https://nationaltoday.com/national-black-womens-equal-pay-day/
GLOBAL NEWS
On September 13, 2022, 22 year old Mahsa Amini was visiting Tehran when she got arrested and captured into a white van by the morality police for wearing her hijab improperly. Witnesses claim she was beaten in the van and three days later, she died in the police’s custody. The police claimed she died of a heart attack however she had no prior heart related problems, many believe she was killed by the police. When everyone heard about Massas’ death, there were protests across the country and around the world. Protesters have been insisting an end to violence and discrimination against women as well as an end to mandatory wearing of the hijab. Amini’s death has become a stamp of the forcible oppression females have encountered in Iran for years, and her name has been spread all around the globe. Nada Al-Nashif United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights stated “Mahsa Amini’s tragic death and allegations of torture and ill-treatment must be promptly, impartially and effectively investigated by an independent competent authority, which ensures, in particular, that her family has access to justice and truth.
FULL ARTICLE:
“https://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a41357100/what-happened-to-mahsa-amini/
ShoutOut! James Madison University 