i received this email - may be of interest.
Catherine

----------  Forwarded Message  ----------

Subject: *Take Back The News*
Date: Saturday 17 Jan 2004 9:18 pm
From: Emily Brandt <emilybrandt@...>
To: emily@...

To those committed to ending sexual violence*,

Please read this, forward it along, and visit the web-site to learn more
  about this project and to get involved.  Together, we can make a change.

TAKE BACK THE NEWS is an independent media project that counters the
  mis-representation of rape by the mainstream media. It is a haven for
  survival stories told in survivor’s own, un-edited words.  It is an
  opportunity for the public to gain insight into the realities of rape, in
  hopes of opening hearts and minds, and inspiring action.

Please visit www.TakeBackTheNews.net to learn more about sexual violence, the
  project and how it began. Take the time to read through some of survival
  stories in the “News” section. Read the invitation on the home page, or
  check out the resource page. I encourage you to join the mailing list to
  receive project updates and announcements.

Take Back the News is an incredibly effective print-media project as well,
  particularly on college campuses.  See the “Act” page for step by step
  instructions on how to start your own project in your community!  Those
  campuses that have hosted projects have been deeply touched by the results,
  and my hope is that the project will continue to spread.

Feel free to contact me (emily@...) with any questions or
  comments, or if you would like to learn about volunteer or donation
  opportunities. Thank you for your time.

Best Wishes,

Emily Brandt
Director
Take Back the News

--Feel free to forward this message widely--

* If you are wondering why you received this:
I have gone to thousands of web-sites, including those of universities,
  newspapers, zines, organizations, blogs, artists, activists, and more in the
  past several months. If you have a web-site, I've been to it. If you do not,
  I got your address through the web-site of a
  group/university/project/organization that you are affiliated with. (If this
  makes you uncomfortable, I apologize and feel free to delete this message.
  Please understand that I had to get in touch with everyone I could to inform
  you all about this project.) This was hard work, but I have an important
  request. Help take back the news.


_____________________________________________________________
BUST Magazine: For
Women with Something to Get Off Their Chests
Subscribe at http://www.bust.com

-------------------------------------------------------

--
The F-Word : contemporary UK feminism - http://www.thefword.org.uk
UK Feminist Action : http://groups.yahoo.co.uk/group/ukfeministaction
Anti Street Harassment UK : http://www.anti-harassment.ik.com

Sorry if this is a little off-topic, but it's something that
apparently isn't getting much coverage.  The Iraqi Governing Council
is ruling that Iraq's previously secular family law will now be based
on Shari'a religious law.  This will seriously erode women's legal
rights.

The excellent Iraqi blogger 'Riverbend' explains what the implications
are: http://riverbendblog.blogspot.
com/2004_01_01_riverbendblog_archive.html#107418574968764277

Yes, I find it not only degrading but also humilating and voyeuristic.  The
bottom line is any and all women can apparently be exploited for financial gain.
As "Meow" said it does not matter whether a woman is a feminist or not, all
women deserve respect not denigration and humilation.

This film and others like it treat women and I mean all women, irrespective of
sexual orientation, ethnicity etc. as "meat" to be exploited and then thrown
away.  The question to be asked for what purpose is this being used?  The answer
- money - sex sells and therefore women's bodies are disposable. The wording
itself depicts the woman as nothing more than an "object" she is performing for
men's gratification.  It is the woman who is being abused and exploited - not
the man.  It is sex as defined from men's standpoint and it is sex for men only!

JENNIFER DREW







--------------------
talk21 your FREE portable and private address on the net at
http://www.talk21.com

Does anyone else find this really horrible?
I realize that the producers etc. have designed
this woman's behaviour to entertain the masses through
humiliation (she was scheduled to give a talk at harvard).
I find this behaviour more dispicable than anything
she has probably done in her whole life.
Using and abusing people for entertainment purposes
is not right (although you wouldn't guess it from
our society).  I also realize that feminists probably
aren't too fond of Jessica Simpson.  I don't think
it disqualifies her from basic human rights.
Non feminists get ptsd too.
I feel the same way about that Paris video.
It's almost like the tournante (gang rape rings).  If you sleep with
one guy or wear a mini skirt you are up for grabs and
people can do anything they want bc you are now
damaged goods.  I am not a big fan (have never seen
these shows at all in fact) of these women.
I do feel this is a construct of a patriarchal society
and we should at least recognize wrongs.

sorry if this was too much of a rant,
pixie

From Constance Silva <p.gaede@...>


"The camera was in the room for about 16 hours, but it was triggered
to roll only when motion was detected on the bed. " Even though
Jessica Simpson's TV Show conditions said                     no
cameras allowed in the bedroom, Jessica DID ALLOW A TOUR of her
bedroom                      and that was the turning point for the
silly little hotti... This amazing video is just slightly longer
than 64 minutes of actual footage. About 6 minutes of talking and
cuddling, about 5 minutes of arguing and fighting, and 45 minutes
of...you know what...Watch it now for F R E E  Any man with a
heartbeat would want to see this beauty declothed and getting it on
with her hubby! AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU!and
YES. We are showing anybody over 18 this video for F R E E!


Sure,
you could wait until this video comes out on your PayPerView
channel...
Or you
can watch it instantly
We won't be showing it free for long, so don't miss out!


Any man with a heartbeat would want to see this beauty declothed and
getting it on with her hubby! AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA
GIVE YOU!and YES. We are showing anybody over 18 this video for F R
E E!

All my rape shield law links were broken so I looked them
up again.  I thought you all might be interested bc of
the past discussion.
pixie

http://dictionary.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/results.pl?
co=lawcrawler.findlaw.com&topic=fa/fa63a3ac52a8ce64fdd2c2df125ebef9

replace rape shield law definition (broken lilnk)

http://lawcrawler.findlaw.com/scripts/lc.pl?entry=%22rape+shield%
22+law&sites=findlaw.com

Rape shield law

http://writ.corporate.findlaw.com/dorf/20030723.html

Kobe Bryant article on the rape shield law from a legal stand point.

This report http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/sheffield/2003/12/283164
html on indymedia UK has horrified me.

A series of billboards from Sky TV telling people who are "this ugly" to get
surgery...

Let's take action now!

Advertising Standards Authority - http://www.asa.org.uk/index.asp

Sky One - http://www.skyone.co.uk

Sky Customer Services on 0870 240 4040.

Pippa x

---

Yahoo! Groups Links

• To visit your group on the web, go to:
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/grrlactivistas/
   
• To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
  grrlactivistas-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
   
• Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

This report http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/sheffield/2003/12/283164
html on indymedia UK has horrified me.

A series of billboards from Sky TV telling people who are "this ugly" to get
surgery...

Let's take action now!

Advertising Standards Authority - http://www.asa.org.uk/index.asp

Sky One - http://www.skyone.co.uk

Sky Customer Services on 0870 240 4040.

Pippa x

Hello fellow riot grrrls :D

     Well it seems as though we've all been a bit quiet for a while!
I wanted to help break the silence by strongly, strongly reccomending
the following three sites. Please, please visit them. They are truly
eye-opening, particularly the latter two. One Angry Girl has some
really fun and funny stuff and great grrrl-friendly t-shirts,
bumperstickers, and info on "girlcotts" and loving yourself. Take
care and I hope everyone is still taking action to help the cause(s).
Peace and love for the New Year,

            *~Alysia~*



http://oneangrygirl.net
http://www.free-essays.us/dbase/d4/lvw225.shtml
http://www.talkintrash.com/

Just thought you might want to know about this if you don't already.
Petitions

http://www.capwiz.com/now/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=4014006


" Support Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Assault!
November 6, 2003



"Please urge your senators and representative to co-sponsor the bill
addressing violence and the workplace, the Security and Financial
Empowerment Act (SAFE). This timely legislation promotes employment
stability, economic security and safety for survivors of domestic
violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, as well as
for their families and household members. "


  Found on RAINN

  ps- I am updating my rape crisis info site if anyone is interested
here is the url:
http://pages.ivillage.com/rape_pathfinder_help/

also found in google under- rape crisis information.
thanks.

A message was sent through just now about "the best porn"  I tried to
delete it but it was accidentally sent to the list!  I am so very
sorry!  This member has been removed.

My apologies to all!

Laney

Reading about what this girl went through made me cry. It brought  the words
of "Silent Lucidity" to mind.
I decided to write her....that's what I have to offer.
I'm still waiting to hear the results of the DNA review (Thanks to the
Justice Department) of my mother's killer and my attacker. In early May it
was supposed to be a six week wait. 
Justice for All, especially Kirstin.
Missy

I read about this song/video on the Bitch magazine website, quoted below. I
think this song is now in the top 10 over here in the UK. I haven't actually
seen the video, and generally try not to comment on things I haven't seen,
but this sounds pretty bad to me.

If anyone sees the video being played on UK tv, perhaps we could all complain.
Let us know if you see it being played anywhere and we'll leap into
action...!

Catherine

http://www.bitchmagazine.com/blogtest/archives/2003_09.html#000042

"Eat You Alive" Bites

"The latest slice of misogyny from rock band Limp Bizkit is the video for the
song "Eat You Alive," which features frontman Fred Durst bringing an abducted
Thora Birch out into the middle of the woods so that he can serenade her with
a furious stalker anthem. "Hey you, Mrs. Too-good-to-look-my-way," he taunts
his captive, "ain't nothing wrong with wanting you/ ‘Cause I'm a man and I
can think what the hell I want, you got that straight?" He angrily beseeches
his victim to understand that her beauty reduces him to an uncontrollable
animal, thus sloughing off any responsibility for his violent actions. He
also expresses his desire to "smell on [her] panties" before tearing into a
rage-filled scream of "I'd eat you alive!" As the song goes on, Birch begins
to soften towards Durst, and eventually encourages him to flee a rabid search
party—in the process not only justifying violence against women, but
romanticizing it.

And if nothing says love like maniacal, stalkerish behavior, then our Fred is
quite the Casanova. Durst has a well-documented history of professing his
obsessive love for famous females, with Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears,
and Angelina Jolie among those on his list. Durst has gone on record with his
infatuation with Jolie so many times that a quick Google search yielded more
than a dozen disturbing quotes, including one wherein he fantasizes about a
reality-TV show all about his relentless pursuit of her attentions: "It would
be an ongoing thing with me courting her and finally ending up with a
proposal and with marriage, kids, movies and collaborations."

With his real-life delusions taken into account, the video for "Eat You
Alive"—which Durst himself directed—seems even more disturbing, particularly
in light of recent statements from Durst regarding his fixation on Birch
herself. VH-1 News recently quoted Durst as saying that cast Birch because
he's "always had a thing for her in real life" and that Birch really did fall
for him, it "would be tight." We can think of a better word for what it would
be: insane.

"Eat You Alive" debuted on MTV's Total Request Live last month, a surefire
vehicle for consistent and frequent airplay. Contact MTV at
www.mtv.com/youtellus/ and let them know that hearing and watching a violent
abduction fantasy is not your request.  - Cati Connell"

--
The F-Word : contemporary UK feminism - http://www.thefword.org.uk
UK Feminist Action : http://groups.yahoo.co.uk/group/ukfeministaction
Anti Street Harassment UK : http://www.anti-harassment.ik.com

Reading about what this girl went through made me cry. It brought  the words
of "Silent Lucidity" to mind.
I decided to write her....that's what I have to offer.
I'm still waiting to hear the results of the DNA review (Thanks to the
Justice Department) of my mother's killer and my attacker. In early May it
was supposed to be a six week wait.
Justice for All, especially Kirstin.
Missy

Dear Alysia,
I don't think it can hurt to alert the show before
hand that you are concerned about the portrayal of the
subject matter in a calm way.  If you fore see a
problem perhaps they will then consider a new point of
view they had not thought of.  I'm sure it will not
hurt the matter to speak out about it.

pixie

Dearest Womyn,
        I was encouraged by each of your responses. I have decided
to wait to see how the episode and season of Boston Public
progress to even determine whether or not to send letters. Thank
you for pointing out some facts for me that, in my outrage, I nearly
missed or glanced over completely. Perhaps this will even be a
landmark show adressing an important issue that has too long
slept and crept in the dark. Thank you for sharing your input and
taking action on the student-teacher sex, older person-younger
person sex, legal age of consent, and a multitude of other
issues key to diminishing the amount of suffering in our world.
We are creating a more equalitarian, just, beatiful, secure,
healthy society in which people can heal themselves and
eachother. Perhaps one day the demand for healing will lighten
as our world and the living beings in it will be part of a true
paradise. We will continue to work for that paradise.
        Here is a bit of my own personal input regarding an issue or
two. Even if a girl feels she is and all who know her agree and
she looks and acts and walks and breathes "grown
woman"...she is not. She is, afterall, still only a girl, regardless
of her personal level of maturity. She is undergoing the crucial
metamorphasis that will bring her into her adult life; she is still
learning and growing, not yet ready to leave the cocoon she has
spun and emerge as a butterfly. This is chronological, fortunate
or unfortunate as the case may be. All of this pertains to young
boys as well. They may be on their way to becoming young
woman; they may be very, very, close. But the fact is that the
neurological development that takes place during adolesence is
not finished until the adolescent reaches the age of at least
twenty-two, regardless of other physical, emotional, mental, or
spiritual development that may seem adultlike and as complete
enough to enable her or him to make a rational, healthy,
competent decision regarding whether or not to have sex or
enter a sexual relationship with an older, more mature person.
Whether we raise the legal age of consent or leave it as is, I
hope and pray with all the goodwill in my being that we will love
and nurture eachother in the strongest, healthiest ways and that
this world will not eat the young, old, innocent, and vulnerable of
the Universe alive. I send divine energy in hope you all will be
enabled to open up to the peace you each posess and that you
will take it with you in all aspects of your daily existance.
           Love and Light,
                   Alysia

You are 'right on' with everything you are saying, I am a victim
(survivor) of group sexual assault.  A pack of 'men' in my community
felt it their right to sexually violate me in an extremely demeaning
manner because they disapprove of me.  Society condones this type of
male prowess, in terms of  the right of men to 'correct' the behavior of
any woman they deem it necessary to do so, as a way of keeping women in
line, although they will not say that is what is going on.  Although
they are very confused, where I am concerned.  I am a very  upstanding
citizen and a very upright, virtuous woman, who happens to also be a
practicing Christian.  However, were I an out and out whore, I do not
believe it should be the right of any adult to presume to be able to put
their hands on another adult, for any reason.
Lee

What is an MP and how do I go about doing this.  I will be glad to.  Lee

[Moderator note:

An MP = 'Member of Parliament', United Kingdom equivalent to a Congressperson.]

"I don't, however, think raising the legal age of consent will do
anything. These people don't respect the laws that exist now, so how
will changing them do anything?"
>
> "I think it would reinforce a belief that sex is the enemy, and
women are not competent to make a decisions about their sex lives."

I totally agree with you there.  women have fought hard to be
recognized as enjoying sex rather than being the male's play thing.
I believe instead of raising the legal age of consent, there should
be more education in the schools about sex.  Unfortunately in the
states, most educators are only allowed to teach abstinence.  I
think that educators should inform students of the legal age of
consent and the catches and also about safe sex.  I know I was
informed when i was in Junior High and when I started volunteering
for the Rape Crisis Center, I learned the truth about consent.  Most
people don't know about their consent laws and I think a little
education in that would help.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software

>Unfortunately as evidenced in Firuze's email, many women appear to
believe the misgonistic lies concerning women and young girls.<

Yes, this is ALWAYS unfortunate (and my husband thinks is unbelievable
and unforgivable, since women should the more councious about this
problem). But in this case is even worse, because these women are
TEACHERS. They are role models, they creates patterns of behavior in
our children. If they allow the boys to get with it, and besides
condone the image of 'women are the ones to blame in these situations'
, then the battle to change men's mentality will be longer and
harsher.

Men have NO RIGHT, and NO EXCUSE for bullying, molesting or abusing
women, under NO circumstance. and if they do, they must be held
responsible and pay for their misbehavior.

>Too many boys and girls are growing up believing boys naturally are
superior to girls and it is a male entitlement to sexually abuse and
sexually
harass women and girls.  Such behaviour does not prove masculinity,
rather it shows such men are cowardly bullies, who act in packs and
believe they have the right to sexually abuse and sexually harass
women
and young girls at will, since no one will have the courage to stand
up
them. <

These teacher's attitude encourages this way of thinking in these boys
and girls. This must be changed.
And of course, these behaviors do not prove masculinity, yes, these
are proper of cowards and bullies, as Jennifer said here, and THIS is
the point that must be reinforced. To make them feel ashamed for these
low behaviors, instead of encourage them as part of masculinity rites.

>Not
all women are prepared to be kept in an inferior role, instead they
will
assert their right to be treated as equals.  If some men feel
threatened by
women's assertiveness, it is their problem not women's!<

I'd said that NO woman is prepared to be an inferior being, it happens
that not every one of them has the guts to stand up. But, for our own
self esteem, and for our daughter's, for our future, we MUST stand up.
And if some men don't like it, they can start thinking in buying  a
piece of land in the moon, and live there. Because, as far as I'm
concerned, they won't stop us here, in Earth. Or at least, I'll do my
best to avoid being stopped.

It all depends on the young woman, I think... some 16-year-olds are
mature enough to make that decision, others are not. I was not. I was
abused at 16. But, I had consensual sex for the first time at 18, and it
was wonderful. The man I did that with is the man that I am now engaged
to. I also know a man who is 26 and has a 48 year old partner, and they
are very happy together. No "unhealthy, boundary-crossing situations" to be
found. It has nothing to do with age... it has everything to do with
mind-set and maturity. I'm with Laney... I'm going to wait and watch the
episode before I write any letters.

Love,
Kristen



On Tue, Aug 19, 2003 at 11:40:34PM -0000, psycheflo wrote:
> The commercial still made me angry. I have watched young girls
> be taken advantage of dreadfully. I am sorry, but sixteen years
> old is NOT old enough to decide...not even eighteen...and when
> sexually active with someone who is that much older than you, it
> has proven to be extremely harmful to the youth and becomes an
> unhealthy, boundary-crossing situation that is also a form of
> abuse. The thing is, girls undertake a vital period of development
> and growth at just that time, and it is not finished until they are
> about twenty-four. I say we damn well better raise the legal age
> of consent so that young girls and young boys as well will stop
> being taken advantage of by older, smarter, boundary-stepping
> more stable jerks who may also act as teachers, mentors, older
> mentoring friends, "big brothers" to them...mix that up with a little
> sex and "romance" and you have an extremely abusive,
> unhealthy relationship. I'm SICK of people saying, "well, she's
> 18..." in Hawaii, "well, she's 14..." "in MA, "well, she's 16..."
> It's so screwed up, doesn't anyone out there see how harmful
> and wrong this is, that it's just another way the patriarchal society
> keeps us down by victimizing young girls like that who are
> children or barely more than children, growing, developing,
> young girls who really don't know any better because they can't
> yet? Well the grown-ups should and excuse my ranting and
> raving but I've seen these sad situations occur far too many
> times. Please protect our youth...we sure as hell best raise the
> legal age of consent, perhaps to twenty-one. Of course a
> twenty-one year old and twenty or nineteen year-old could
> become sexually intimate and it should be alright with the law,
> but for instance a forty and 14 or forty and 16 or forty and 18 year
> old?  Does anyone see the problems that stem from this? It's
> abuse. Abuse. End of story. Peace. I sure as hell won't go out
> with an older man even if I fall head over heals for him because it
> is so abusive. Other under-21 girls are blinded by their youth and
> love, which is o.k. because an area of their brain hasn't quite
> developed yet so they really aren't able to make the choice. Let's
> protect them now. These could be friends, sisters, nieces,
> daughters, students, grandaughters, cousins, girlfriends,
> co-workers, people you love...so why don't we protect ourselves
> and our loved ones?
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> grrlactivistas-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>

Yes, I agree some men and boys are raped and/or sexually assaulted but it
is primarily adult men who abuse women, girls and boys.  What seems to
be happening is yet again the focus is on males being abused.  By saying
yes, men too have experienced sexual assault and/or rape, it diminishes the
overwhelming numbers of women and young girls who are routinely
sexually assaulted and/or raped by adult men.  It is men who rape and it is
primarily men who are violent towards women, research has proved this
time and again, the vast majority of violent acts are committed by men
upon women.  Yet, mainstream society seems to think males suffering
violence is more important than women experiencing it at the hands of
men.  It is men�s responsibility to STOP the sexual abuse.  Of course not
all men are violent perpetrators, but for too long men who are not abusive
have remained silent and by denying some men are abusive, their silence
effectively condones sexual violence towards women and girls.


Instead of men (I use the term generically as it is not aimed at individual
men) saying �yes but we have suffered too,� they must join forces with
women to stop this increasing sexual abuse.  Women are human too, yet it
would seem only men are entitled to basic human rights.

Too many women and young girls are still being raped, sexually assaulted
and abused by misognostic men and it is women who are still being
blamed for men�s violence.  Whenever women and/or young girls speak
out against this violence and refuse to be passive victims, they are
condemned as being too aggressive, unfeminine, or man-haters.
Unfortunately as evidenced in Firuze�s email, many women appear to
believe the misgonistic lies concerning women and young girls.  It is much
easier to go along with the dominant group and say �yes these girls were
wearing provocative clothing etc.� rather than speak the truth and say
�these boys were behaving in an abusive and sexist way, they are the ones
who must be held responsible for their actions.�

Women are human beings, we are not sexual objects who exist simply for
men to use and abuse as they wish and then blamed because we dare to
speak out against sexual violence and sexism.  It is the narrow definition of
supposedly �normal� masculinity which must be challenged and changed.
Too many boys and girls are growing up believing boys naturally are
superior to girls and it is a male entitlement to sexually abuse and sexually
harass women and girls.  Such behaviour does not prove masculinity,
rather it shows such men are cowardly bullies, who act in packs and
believe they have the right to sexually abuse and sexually harass women
and young girls at will, since no one will have the courage to stand up
them.  As Furuze said, some parents are taking action against the sexual
violence.  That is precisely what needs to be done - women and men
making a stand against the misogonistic views being perpetrated.
Assertiveness is not a masculine trait, it is the right of every woman and
young girl to stand up for their rights and challenge male misogyny.  Not
all women are prepared to be kept in an inferior role, instead they will
assert their right to be treated as equals.  If some men feel threatened by
women�s assertiveness, it is their problem not women�s!



--------------------
talk21 your FREE portable and private address on the net at
http://www.talk21.com

-I gotta say something here too... for i have a friend who was raped
when he was just a teen.... the damage is done just as bad to men
too and there are many men who are abused as well... and there are
many women who molest there children... that i know first hand...
i'm sorry... i just can't stay in a group if it's not gonna be a
group for support to all... my prayers are with you all here but
when we post something... the facts need to be known instead of
going on what everyone hears... might want to dig a little deeper...
God Bless...

prayers and luv
jenny



-- In grrlactivistas@yahoogroups.com, "Lee Anders" <lee_anders@i...>
wrote:
> The fact is, our society (and many others) persists in viewing men
as
> the 'superior' sex and women as the 'inferior' sex.  It is true
that, on
> occasion, men are raped, but the predominant majority of rape
cases are
> women as victim and a man as the offender.  Subsequently, the
victim
> (who usually happens to be a female) is seen as the one in the
wrong,
> because the offending male (almost all rape offenders are men)
couldn't
> possibly be at fault.  Some disagree with me, but to me, this is
the
> epitome of sexism in action.  Have we come a long way, baby-- or
not?
> 'Food for thought.  To me, until society seriously confronts its
sex
> biases, rape and domestic violence will persist, along with other
sexist
> crimes.  The root problem is, like it or not, prejudice.  Why else
would
> this be the only crime in which women are victimized treacherously
and
> the only crime in which the victim, not the offender, is put on
trial?
> Rape is the way men keep women fearful and the way they keep
us 'down
> and under' and 'in our place;' they assert their manhood by
oppressing
> women (all part of the machismo ritualistic behavior of American
men)-
> no, machismo doesn't exist in many other countries, Sweden being
only
> one example.  A friend of mine, who came here from Sweden, was
appalled
> at the behavior of American men towards women, and she despises the
> 'macho' behavior of American men.  She only stayed here to be able
to
> see her son, whom her American ex-husband gained custody of.
> Lee

I'm new here and just would like to put a little input here... i'm
in total agreement... our children are starting way to young now a
days and there has got to be something we can do about it... i've
started a group for all these young girls and boys who think they
need to be some kind of goddess or something to please others... my
niece was 13 when her mothers friend...39 male... started molesting
her.. having sex with her... it happened 4 times before she finally
came to her mother and told her... the day the police came to pick
him up and arrest him... he ran in his truck stopped at a gas
station and blew his head off... these men know it's wrong.. whether
a teacher or not... they should no better and it shouldn't matter
how old they are when it is between a teacher and a student... a
teacher is a role model and someone who you are to feel safe to go
to if there is a problem... my opinion... God Bless....

prayers and luv
jenny



--- In grrlactivistas@yahoogroups.com, "psycheflo" <psycheflo@y...>
wrote:
> The commercial still made me angry. I have watched young girls
> be taken advantage of dreadfully. I am sorry, but sixteen years
> old is NOT old enough to decide...not even eighteen...and when
> sexually active with someone who is that much older than you, it
> has proven to be extremely harmful to the youth and becomes an
> unhealthy, boundary-crossing situation that is also a form of
> abuse. The thing is, girls undertake a vital period of development
> and growth at just that time, and it is not finished until they
are
> about twenty-four. I say we damn well better raise the legal age
> of consent so that young girls and young boys as well will stop
> being taken advantage of by older, smarter, boundary-stepping
> more stable jerks who may also act as teachers, mentors, older
> mentoring friends, "big brothers" to them...mix that up with a
little
> sex and "romance" and you have an extremely abusive,
> unhealthy relationship. I'm SICK of people saying, "well, she's
> 18..." in Hawaii, "well, she's 14..." "in MA, "well, she's 16..."
> It's so screwed up, doesn't anyone out there see how harmful
> and wrong this is, that it's just another way the patriarchal
society
> keeps us down by victimizing young girls like that who are
> children or barely more than children, growing, developing,
> young girls who really don't know any better because they can't
> yet? Well the grown-ups should and excuse my ranting and
> raving but I've seen these sad situations occur far too many
> times. Please protect our youth...we sure as hell best raise the
> legal age of consent, perhaps to twenty-one. Of course a
> twenty-one year old and twenty or nineteen year-old could
> become sexually intimate and it should be alright with the law,
> but for instance a forty and 14 or forty and 16 or forty and 18
year
> old?  Does anyone see the problems that stem from this? It's
> abuse. Abuse. End of story. Peace. I sure as hell won't go out
> with an older man even if I fall head over heals for him because
it
> is so abusive. Other under-21 girls are blinded by their youth and
> love, which is o.k. because an area of their brain hasn't quite
> developed yet so they really aren't able to make the choice. Let's
> protect them now. These could be friends, sisters, nieces,
> daughters, students, grandaughters, cousins, girlfriends,
> co-workers, people you love...so why don't we protect ourselves
> and our loved ones?