This week my women’s studies class has been discussing violence against women. Cases of rape and battery occur all too often and unfortunately the victim is usually a woman. We read about the horrific crimes that took place in Juarez, Mexico. Women were raped and mutilated in ways that are almost indescribable. What I found sad was the lack of media attention surrounding these attacks. Hundreds of women were abducted and killed, and the news didn’t even really make it to the United States. In Mexico even it seems as though not a whole lot was done to combat it. If something like that happened in the U.S. I think it would have more media attention. Don’t get me wrong, there are hundreds of incidents of rape that take place in the United States on a daily basis, but these women were brutally, brutally, raped and murdered.
I think women in the United States take for granted some of the advantages we have in comparison to women in other countries. We have made great strides towards equality and when we are violated or abused we can bring the attacker to justice. Women in some countries do not have that right, and they are treated more like cattle than women. Here in the U.S. more can be done to protect women, but we also need to take a moment to be thankful for everything we have. Women in the United States need to reach out and find ways to help other women all over the world. Women need to unite to combat violence.
