By WCF Fellow, Trish Calvarese
After being held captive and repeatedly raped for 18 years, a young girl bore two children from the man who kidnapped her. After being strangled to death and discarded in a dumpster by her husband, the body of another woman was so mutilated that she could be identified only by breast implant. These gruesome headlines give a tragic face to the fact that violence against women in the United States has recently increased.
- One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime
- There are more female victims of violence in the Untied States than there are casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
- The proportion of women experiencing physical or sexual assault is higher than the proportion of women serving in elected office.
- 1.3 million women are raped or assaulted in the United States every year, yet there are only 75 female Representatives, and only 17 female Senators currently serving in Congress.
- One in four women are raped or assaulted every year, yet only three women have ever served on the Untied States Supreme Court.
I dare say that there is a relationship between these sorry statistics. I dare say that the lack of women in office is a threat to our national security, and only if we achieve equality in our political systems will we end such terrorism and violence against women.
The image of the powerful female is, unfortunately, not as sanctified, not as habituated, not as glorified as the figuration of violence against women.
How do we counter the fact that video games like Grand Theft Auto reward the virtual raping and beating of women—systematically teaching an entire generation of males to disrespect their female peers? We need women in positions of authority, openly and earnestly in power, to change the face of women’s role in our society.
The proof is in the policy:
- DC Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s 2009 revised budget proposes a cut that would have a devastating impact on victims of domestic violence—which is about one-fourth of women in the District.
- California Governor Schwarzenegger this summer completely cut state funding for all domestic violence programs. Ninety-four shelters will be affected, and the cut may lead to domestic violence victims being turned away at the door.
On the other hand, Lynn Rosenthal, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, successfully championed 225 million in stimulus money to be spent on programs that deal with violence against women.
The simple fact is that women are more likely to champion efforts to reduce violence against women. If we want to see real change in issues such as domestic violence, reproductive health, and fair pay, we need more women at the political table.
Help us get started – Ask a woman you know to run today.