Please post your research pieces, in this blog space. Please proofread your essays, include citations and a works cited. You will need to spread your post into 3-4 posts as your word count will exceed the limit.
We will discuss these as a class on Tuesday, January 30th.
Rory O’Brien, Anna Vrountas, Sosha Stecher, Visvajit Sriramrajan
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1/29/17
Playwrights as Socialist Reformers Research Essay
The election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States was a shock for many Americans. Many believed that a man who was as brash and inexperienced in politics as Trump could never be elected. Yet, despite being accused of sexual misconduct by seventeen women just weeks before election day, Trump was still elected into office. Concerned citizens feared that having someone like Trump in a position of power would make sexual misconduct more common, and cause youth to be unable to disassociate the achievements of their role models, such as the president and other accused celebrities, from the horrible acts they have committed. Those who were more hopeful believed that the shock of Trump’s election would spark a long overdue dialogue amongst our nation’s citizens about women’s rights and discrimination, impacting the younger generation in a positive way. While there is evidence that either result could take hold of our nation, it is the responsibility of our country and all of those who believe in equality to make sure that equal rights are given to all.
The President of the United States, an extremely prevalent role model for children, has been accused of sexual assault an astonishing seventeen times, yet was still elected into office and still holds the position. Among many responsibilities of the President is to represent and uphold the values of the United States, and demonstrate to children and all citizens to do the same. As a Chicago Tribune article states, “we need to teach children to be good stewards of the world they will inherit”, and we need to remember that “they are always watching and listening”, learning and being influenced by leaders around them. With Trump as president, it indirectly demonstrates to children that sexual misconduct and misogyny not only have very few consequences, but also are somewhat accepted. Furthermore, the wave of sexual misconduct accusations against male celebrities once considered “role models” has perpetuated the idea that sexual assault is often linked to success. Despite being accused of abuse, many of these men spent decades in positions of power and have only recently been punished. From the point of view of today’s youth, a successful acting career or a presidential campaign and sexual assault allegations become equal parts that make up the accused celebrity. Although young adults today are witness to thousands of brave victims stepping forward and standing together to stop sexual harassment, they are also seeing more and more of their role models being identified as abusers.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is important to note that there have been positive results that have stemmed from discussion over these issues brought about by the election of Trump. As women view other women bravely coming forth and speaking about their experiences with assault, the fear of retribution or consequences that are associated with vocalizing these thoughts begins to dissipate, engendering a new society of transparency. Men, both old and young, continue to grow in their understanding of the broad number of women affected by sexual assault. Many are beginning to recognize the cues and gestures, both verbal and nonverbal, that constitute misogyny. This has contributed to a growing awareness of the disparities in the treatment of both genders. Companies are enacting stricter policies to combat gender discrimination, and it is becoming more and more apparent that such misconduct is not, under any circumstances, acceptable. In a poll conducted by the Washington Post, it was discovered that “83% of women between 18 and 34 say feminism is 'empowering,’” signifying a transition towards equality in later generations, although there is still significant progress to be made. The same poll also found that 63% of those aged 18-34 identified themselves as feminists, as opposed to a smaller number of those in older age groups. Youth activism and an ardent belief in feminist thought have also resulted in acts of public dissent. Protests have become common, and writers and essayists have begun to direct attention towards the severity of these issues, and possible solutions to them. This course of positive action has been key to the success of feminist campaigns in reaching younger generations.
ReplyDeleteWhile there are two main ways in which Trump’s presidency can affect generations to come, it is important that we teach our children and the younger generation so that they can be effected in a way that causes positive change in the future. Using Trump’s presidency to understand the urgency of continuing feminist issues can help future generations combat inequality and misogyny once and for all. According to Huffington Post, 75% of parents with children under 18 believe that Trump is not a good role model for their kids. Instead of letting Trump become a role model, demonstrate good behavior for your children, teaching them at an early age that even though they are living in a time where a leader can still remain in office even though he’s openly degrading towards women, this is NOT how a decent human being should act. Institutionalizing a world filled with sexual assault and harassment may be easy for a child, especially if it’s all they know. Do not let this be the case, and do not condone these behaviors by promoting sexualization or being a passive observer in these situations. Keeping a child ignorant to these issues is just as ineffective, as you lose the crucial time to impress upon them the important values all human beings should share. We forget how today’s children will shape the future, and how big a role they will have in the upcoming years. They can be the generation that has no tolerance for inequality, or be a generation that continues to allows it.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/huppke/ct-met-flake-corker-trump-bullying-huppke-20171025-story.html
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-role-model-children_us_580142e4e4b0e8c198a83124
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/26/16526922/harvey-weinstein-donald-trump-sexual-harassment
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/donald-trumps-sexist-views-harm-your-kids-2016-10-06
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/feminism-project/poll/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sexual-assault-statistics_us_58e24c14e4b0c777f788d24f
Colleen McConnell, Aiden McGuiggin, Maddy Wagner, Cat Weiner, Katie Wolfendale
ReplyDeleteAP Literature
January 29, 2018
Imagine that you are a 12 year old girl living in the Greater Boston area. On a Friday night, you are most likely gossiping with your friends about the latest middle school drama, and the worst thing that could happen is your pink glitter nail polish chipping after two days. This is the idea we have as to what goes on when you are twelve years old. However, twelve years old is also the average age at which girls are introduced into sex trafficking. Twelve-fourteen year old girls are the main target for sex traffickers, or pimps, because they are innocent and insecure. While this is a subject that is mostly blind to the public eye, human trafficking is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed if we ever wish to give aid to the subject.
Most people in our society do not realize the reality of sex trafficking. They do not realize that it this is not a distant problem that only occurs in underdeveloped countries, it happens in our own backyard. In 2017, the Boston Herald released an article claiming that “the state’s underground sex trade has mutated into a “complex” monster that’s creeped into all corners of society” (Stout). Boston’s underground sex trade is one that is largely out of the public’s view, but in recent years light has been shed on this ever growing crisis. In May of 2017, there was a large bust in Boston that took down the perprotartes who were running a ring of brothels in Boston, Cambridge, North Reading, and Quincy. There were at least 10 female victims who were taken advantage of in this ring. It was in a joint investigation with the FBI that the Attorney General’s office was able to lead the takedown of a “major human trafficking and money laundering operation that extended through Greater Boston” (McGuinness). The 5 men who were arrested were charged with trafficking of persons for sexual servitude and money laundering. Sex trafficking is the most common form of modern day slavery that most of the world is not aware of. It is a necessity that we raise awareness for this issue, acknowledge the fact that it is happening in our backyard and ultimately do something about these terrible acts being committed on innocent men and women.
ReplyDeleteWhen one puts an image to the word human trafficking, it is often of undocumented immigrants being smuggled across international borders, but the harsh reality is that this phrase has a very different and highly specific meaning under U.S. criminal code. Human Trafficking crimes are defined in Title 18, Chapter 77 as focusing on the act of compelling or coercing a person's labor, services, or commercial sex acts. The most recent major sex trafficking bust was “37 law enforcement agencies across 17 states” (Chavez, CNN) the bust “rescued 81 adult and juvenile victims. At least 1,020 sex buyers were arrested, and 15 people face trafficking-related charges” (Chavez, CNN). Sex trafficking is an American reality that is often ignored due to the taboo held around sex, pedophilia, and prostitution, the leading reasons and names for sex trafficking.
ReplyDeleteAs sex trafficking is an American reality, it is also a reality around the world with 20 million people affected; 98% of those 20 million are women and girls, 26% are children. Although this heinous thing is a rampant worldwide issue, the views on sex trafficking differ vastly depending on where you are in the world. Although most of the United States, Europe, and Australia have laws and enforcement against sex trafficking, South America, Asia, and Africa still practice the act, despite it being limitedly illegal in most of the countries within (“Trafficking”). Perhaps one of the reasons sex trafficking is still so prominent in across the globe is the fact that many countries have not put in strict laws until fairly recently. In Canada, for example, human trafficking was not a “criminal offense” until 2005 (Mah). Another reason human trafficking maintains its prevalence is due to its historical ties. In Thailand, sex and human trafficking was not only legal, but endorsed until the 1996 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act. However this law has not done much to hold true to its core purpose. In 2003 the Ministry of Justice discussed legalizing prostitution for financial benefits and to “[improve] conditions for sex workers” (Reyes). With countries on all stretches of the globe supporting or choosing to turn a blind eye to human trafficking, it is no wonder that these issues still persist. It seems that, as of now, the best way to put an end to the horrible reality of modern day enslavement is raising awareness and making an active effort to protect victims and ensure that the perpetrators have a just punishment for their cruel actions and intents.
ReplyDeleteSex trafficking is prevalent everywhere. Whether it be in developing countries, or in hometowns, it is an issue worthy of thought and action. As a country, America needs to make an effort towards support for survivors. We need to shine a light on underground crime. Too many innocent victims are taken into human trafficking everyday. It is time to stand up and face corruption, and support those who have dealt with it.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited
ReplyDeleteAlvarez, Priscilla. “When Sex Trafficking Goes Unnoticed in America.” The Atlantic, The
Atlantic Monthly Group, 2018.
Chavez, Nicole. “More than 1,000 Arrests in Sex Trafficking Operation.” CNN, Cable News
Network, 2018.
Grinnell, Gregory. “Human Trafficking (Including Commercialized Sexual Exploitation, Forced
Labor, and Domestic Servitude).” International Labor Organization, 25 Jan. 2016.
Laxalt, Adam Paul. “Human Trafficking.” The Official Nevada Attorney General Website, State
of Nevada, 2 Mar. 2017.
Mah, Stephanie. “A Spotlight on Human Trafficking.” The Sheaf, 11 Jan. 2015.
McGuinness, Dylan. “5 Arrested in Alleged Sex Trafficking Ring - The Boston Globe.” BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2017.
Reyes, Cazzie. “History of Prostitution and Sex Trafficking in Thailand.” End Slavery Now, End
Slavery Now, 2018.
Stout, Matt. “Sex Trade Feared to Be Even 'Worse than It Once Was'.” Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2017.
“The Profits Made From Human Trafficking.” International Labor Organization, Human
Trafficking Center, 2015.
“Trafficking of Women.” ChartsBin, ChartsBin.com, 2011.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12EdgnG6eNuvMf_edpQ92nDQ26QuIHCyNsuCqZK0ZnFc/edit
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ReplyDeleteIt is often thought that injustice and restrictive rights of women are more prevalent in developing nations. After research, it has become increasingly more apparent that rape, the rights of rape victims and their children are being compromised, unfairly dealt and over looked internationally. Recently, the self-declared state, Somaliland, has introduced a bill that outlaws rape and similar sexually based crimes, which is their first legislation to combat gender-based violence. Rape has historically been a “normal” thing in their society. As if the trauma is not enough, women who were raped were forced to marry their rapists as it was a social expectation. Having rape criminalized is a huge step towards making rape become frowned upon instead of accepted in Somaliland. Rapists will now face up to thirty years in prison for their actions. It is easy to assume that societies who would allow rapists to have rights to their victims and their children are few and far between, however, twenty states in the US have no laws that bar rapists from seeking custody or visitation rights of a child that resulted from the rape, proving people everywhere are being deprived of basic human decency.
ReplyDeleteBy passing a law to criminalize rape Somaliland is taking the first step towards no longer making rape a normal occurrence in their culture. As of early January, “Somaliland has introduced a bill outlawing rape, the first piece of legislation to address gender-based violence in the self-declared state”. A woman who was raped would previously be forced to marry the man if the man wanted them, if they did not, they would be shamed by their neighbors and the community. Women would struggle to find a husband after they have been raped so families urged the woman to marry their rapist so that at least she would have a husband. Many decades after other countries, Somaliland is finally making progress towards women's rights and justice. Now “under the Somaliland rape and other related offences bill, all forms of sexual offence would be criminalised, including rape, gang rape, sexual assault, trafficking and child marriage”. It seems as though a breakthrough has finally been made in Somaliland, however there are still many women suffering in other parts of the world. After looking at other countries, “Analysis of rape laws in 82 jurisdictions by Equality Now, found that in 10 countries ,– including India, Nigeria, Oman and Singapore - husbands are legally allowed to rape their wives”. A small step has been made in Somaliland, but it is the first of many that need to be made worldwide.
Many are quick to look over what has happened in Somaliland in the past as they feel they don't need to worry about it happening in their life. However with the recent sexual assault claims and the very real threat of rapes happening in college, city and even personal life, people in the United States have a lot to worry about as well. In several U.S countries the already vulnerable and traumatized victims have to go through even more inhumainty as those who become pregnant are forced to share parental rights with their rapists. In many rape cases the victims suffer from severe PTSD as they can’t cope with the fear of seeing their rapist ever again. Now imagine having to raise a child with your worst nightmare.
ReplyDeleteIn the last year this nightmare has become reality for one Michigan rape victim. When she was only 12 years old she was held captive by Christopher Mirasola, a known sex offender and rapist. After her traumatic experience, the last thing she wanted to do was have to face her rapist everyday for the rest of her life. “The now 21-year-old woman told police Mirasolo forcibly raped her while holding her captive when she was 12 in September 2008”, yet this was still not enough to prevent her rapist from gaining joint custody. Though she admitted being raped during the custody battle, it was not soon enough. “In 20 states and the District of Columbia, a rape conviction is required before termination of parental rights is allowed”. Since she did not file her case before the trial, there is nothing further she can do. Many do not realize that this is a problem in many parts of the United states, as many as “seven states have no laws barring rapists from asserting their parental rights over a child”. This issue is far from being resolved, especially in the United States.
Most people do not realize that the United States as a whole has still has so much progress to make to protect victims of sexual assault. Many states are still lacking laws, “Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota, New Mexico, Missouri, Alabama, Maryland are among the states that don’t have laws protecting rape victims from custody fights”. It is estimated that “between 2005 and 2010, just 36% of nearly 300,000 annual average rape or sexual assault victimizations were reported to police”. This is a huge problem because these victims either feel afraid to go to the police, or as though they mentally cannot handle the pain required to relive the experience and tell the police and/or press charges. For these victims, not prosecuting their offender puts them in a tough position because “a victim is still vulnerable to having to face her attacker if there wasn't a conviction in her case -- and that's if she reported it and if it was prosecuted”. Not only is this a problem for rape victims, but this can cause even more problems for the victim if the rape results in a pregnancy. This is because “in 20 states and the District of Columbia, a rape conviction is required before termination of parental rights is allowed”. Even if a victim reports the rape or sexual assault and it gets prosecuted, if the rapist is not convicted, then they can pursue custody for the child. This is troubling because the majority of cases don’t even make it to prosecution and only about 12% of prosecuted cases result in an arrest. Some states “may not apply these parental rights laws if, say, the person convicted of sexual assault is the spouse of the victim at the time of the attack or if they were cohabiting after the assault”. Unfortunately proving that what has happened in Michigan is not an isolated case, and can happen to anyone with the lack of support and proper legal action available to rape victims.
ReplyDeleteOverall, not only do 40% of states in our nation allow for such inhumanity of having to possibly raise your child with one’s rapist nit it has become increasingly clear that almost everywhere in the U.S only a small percent of rape cases that get prosecuted cases that get prosecuted an even smaller percent result in convictions, showing victims are left underprotected and vulnerable. Research has made it obvious that rape, the rights of rape victims and their children are being overlooked, and wrongly dealt with internationally. This is not a problem that is only happening thousands of miles away in countries that we do not live in, this is happening in our country, in our own states, to our mothers, to our sisters, to our daughters, to our friends, and even to ourselves and something needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited
AfricaNews. “Rapists in Somaliland Can No Longer Marry Victims, Could Face 30 Years in Jail.” Africanews, Africanews, 10 Jan. 2018, www.africanews.com/2018/01/11/rapists-in-somaliland-can-no-longer-marry-victims-could-face-30-years-in-jail//.
Bowman, Verity. “'A Great Milestone': Somaliland Adopts Legislation Outlawing Rape.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 11 Jan. 2018, www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jan/11/somaliland-adopts-legislation-outlawing-rape.
Hare, Breeanna, and Lisa Rose. “Where Rapists Can Gain Parental Rights.” CNN, Cable News Network, 17 Nov. 2016, www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/health/parental-rights-rapists-explainer/index.html.
“How Can US Rapist Win Joint Custody of Victim's Child?” BBC News, BBC, 9 Oct. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41556542.
“PARENTAL RIGHTS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.” NCSL, National Conference of State Legislatures, 17 Nov. 2016, www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/parental-rights-and-sexual-assault.aspx.
“Somaliland Passes First Law against Rape.” BBC News, BBC, 8 Jan. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42604496.
Zuckerman, Esther. “31 States Allow Rapists Custody and Visitation Rights.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 23 Aug. 2012, www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/08/31-states-grant-rapists-custody-and-visitation-rights/324369/.
By: Elia Petros, Julia Washburn, Jyllian Kelloway, Tamara Tannoury
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