Fanm yo di se twòp atò!

Robin Morgan had it right when she declared that "Sisterhood is global!"  I just noticed this article on RH Reality Check, http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/11/21/young-women-are-haitis-future.

Read it before reading on.  The article details a feminist group in Haiti named KOFAVIV.  The group is primarily comprised of women who were sexually assaulted during the military dictatorship, and that is why the acronym stands for Commission of Women Victims for Victims (in Haitian Creole).  Their work is radical, grassroots, and really attuned to the needs of the women in their communities.  Spurred to action by both their own experiences and by the increase in sexual assaults against Haitian women, the founders began KOFAFIV to provide medical and psychological care to their fellow survivors.  They’ve been active for seven years now.  Because sexual abuse is really stigmatized down in Haiti, the women use one-on-one discussions with women in their communities to find those who need rape treatment services and help them to get medical or psychological attention.  They're similar to the second wave feminists who began the first rape crisis centers here in the US! 

Now you might be wondering, why the attention to KOFAVIV?  Aren't I specializing in American feminism?  I am.  However, I had the pleasure of meeting two members of KOFAVIV last year, a nurse and a translator.  They came to my workplace and talked to the advocates about all that they do.  The nurse didn't speak English, so the translator spoke for both of them.  I was really impressed to hear all about their work.  I was, though, taken aback by a particularly provocative question, “Do you ever find it difficult to get clients to come to the center?”  At an agency that serves thousands of women, men, and children every year through all of our programs and that is constantly in demand for the specialized counseling and advocacy we provide, I was surprised to hear this question.  However, I soon learned that their group has had the opposite experience of us.  Because rape survivors are heavily stigmatized, women had originally been hesitant to come to KOFAFIV and to disclose that they had been sexually abused.  The members of KOFAFIV, therefore, employ community outreach workers (termed “Community Human Rights Defenders”) who work within the different communities in Haiti to locate survivors and to tell them about how they can get help for the violence they suffered.  Through one-on-one work with survivors, the outreach workers are able to help the women take the first step of coming forward for help.

It's incredible to see the strength and commitment of these women all around the world.  I was absolutely overwhelmed to think about them, but they remind me that we cannot stop our work now.  We're all working for a fairer world.  And to which I say along with them, my international sisters, "Fanm yo di se twòp atò!"  Women say enough is enough!

Morning Train

There's a morning train
That's headed for New Orleans
Carrying business men and week day shoppers
I have sixteen bucks and a dollar in change
And that's not a bad price for a one way ride
On a morning train

I give you my devotion
You left me heartsick
Oh, you couldn't have hurt me more
Not working with a night stick
Now I'm tired of sharin' this bed of nails
So come first light I'm gonna be right
With the morning train

So goodbye lover, I'm goin' undercover
Crescent City's gonna swallow me
I'll skip my ring 'cross the Mississippi River
When it sinks I won't feel a thing
When it sinks I won't feel a thing

I'm gonna be stayin'
With a short time acquaintance
And when I met him he was playin'
On the Gulf Breeze circuit
He didn't play no hit songs or TV themes
He's a guitar man just a hired hand
From a local band

So goodbye lover, I'm goin' undercover
Crescent City's gonna swallow me
Gonna skip my ring 'cross the Mississippi River
When it sinks I won't feel a thing
When it sinks I won't feel a thing

Hear the whistles blowing LOUD!

When I hit the station
I'll take a taxi to the corner
I'm gonna meet him by a street car
Name of what-cha-ma-call-it
My imagination
Won't let us miss a thing
Life's gonna be fine when I leave him behind
On a mornin' train

So goodbye lover, I'm goin' undercover
Crescent City's gonna swallow me
Gonna skip my ring 'cross the Mississippi River
When it sinks I won't feel a thing
When it sinks I won't feel a thing
When it sinks, well, I won't feel a thing.

Performed by Nanci Griffith

The shortest "She's A Revel" blog post ever!

FOUR MORE YEARS!

FOUR MORE YEARS!

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

(*drinking a toast to President Obama, Tammy Duckworth, Brad Schneider, Elizabeth Warren, and my Dems with a glass of bokbunjajoo cause the taste of victory is sweet!)

A Very Special She's A Revel Announcement

Hey revels and readers, guess what??

Tomorrow's THE BIG DAY...i.e. ELECTION DAY!

So, unless you have either voted early or are under 18...GET THE HELL OUT AND VOTE!

You know, in January of 2005, the voters in Iraq braved tremendous hostility and violence to get to the polling places and make their voices heard.  Seeing these individuals with their fingers marked with ink to show that they'd voted was really inspiring.  Here, 7 years later in the states, I just know that the voters in the states affected by super storm Sandy will be trying their best to get to the polls.

I know that you all can do that too.  So please get out there and rock that vote!