Parenting Perspectives
A Woman’s Narrative
“Look at this adorable girl! I can’t wait to see how she blossoms as she grows.” She was just 10.
“Do you think she’ll still be this cute when she’s older?” She was merely 8.
As the story unfolds, we learn about the boy behind her who unfastened her training bra in class. The teacher was aware but chose to ignore it. She was only 12.
Every girl transitions into womanhood, and every woman has once been a girl who felt the sting of objectification, being viewed as an entity to be possessed, sexualized before truly grasping what that meant. Each woman you meet has learned to survey her surroundings, to dress in a way that maximizes her “safety,” and to navigate confrontations with men who believe they have a right to her body and space.
I am a woman—an active, thinking, and formidable human being—yet I often feel stripped of my power by men intent on asserting their dominance. I feel disappointment and rage.
Yet, I am also an artist. In August of 2017, I recognized that merely harboring my anger wouldn’t catalyze change. Instead, I could channel my creativity to spark a broader dialogue.
This film comprises a series of vignettes, recreating real instances of harassment and assault experienced by myself or women I know. It is by no means exhaustive—can any film encompass all that?—but I hope it serves as a beginning.
We are women. We are mothers, sisters, daughters, nieces, aunts, lovers, friends, partners, and creators.
We are human beings who own our bodies.
It’s time to reshape our society for the better, starting with educating the men around us as we advocate for, empower, and amplify the voices of the women in our lives.
A Man’s Insight
In 1999, I faced a life-altering car accident. A driver ran a stop sign, totaling my vintage Buick. When the police arrived, they ensured no one was in critical condition, documented the incident, and checked licenses. It was then I discovered my license had been suspended due to an unpaid ticket.
A minor offense, yet the officers had the discretion to impose a $75 fine and a court summons—the minimum penalty. Instead, I was sentenced to five days at Rikers Island.
Rikers consists of multiple jails, with barred cells reserved for violent offenders; most accommodations are dormitory-style, crammed with cots in a high-pressure environment.
On my first night, as lights went out, I heard unmistakable sounds of intimacy in the air. In an instant, I was struck by a series of chilling realizations:
- This wasn’t consensual.
- New arrivals are often targets.
- If I were assaulted, I could defend myself, but any altercation would only extend my stay.
Faced with these grim realities, I felt trapped in a nightmare.
MEN: This is the constant reality for women.
- To live in fear for their safety.
- To wonder if strangers harbor violent intentions.
- To know that retaliating could worsen their situation.
- To question the potential for sexual violence from acquaintances.
- To face threats of sexual violence online for speaking out.
Men, you will never fully comprehend the weight of this fear that women carry daily. The crucial question remains: WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP END IT?
Begin by engaging with this short film. Empathy is a powerful catalyst for change.
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Summary
This piece highlights the experiences of women navigating a world filled with objectification and fear, juxtaposed with a man’s perspective on his troubling encounter with the justice system. It calls for empathy and action from men to combat the pervasive culture of harassment and violence against women.
Keyphrase: The Female Experience in Today’s World
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