So today in class we watched the short clip of "In Morning and Rage" and as I was on Buzzfeed this came to my attention. Unbreakable is a photo campaign done by Grace Brown. She started off by just photographing her friends who had been sexually assaulted for a school project. Each woman/man being photographed holds up a line that their attacker used. As I went through these photos, and then watched the video at the end of this Buzzfeed I was overcome with strength and courage. Not only has Grace Brown brought more light to the hidden acts of sexual assault, but she has done it in an intrusive way. Instead of shaming the victims (which is what usually happens during the second rape of the victim by society) Grace Brown allows the viewer to be part of the healing process of the victims. Grace does not protest or scream for rights; instead, she just puts the facts in our faces with honesty and compassion. I encourage everyone in the class to please look over these photos and watch the video! Does anyone think that something like this could be done on SLU's campus? If not what way could we as feminists in action aid in sexual assault problems on campus? I know that there in an online board that will be starting that is dedicated to sexual assault, but I don't think that is enough. Sometimes I think simple acts like Grace's could supplement/change SLU's ideas on how to treat sexual assault on campus.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/regajha/27-survivors-of-sexual-assault-quoting-the-people-who-attack
http://doctor-slimshady.tumblr.com/post/61692284711/danfreakindavis-scaattacaatt-snarkenstone
ReplyDeleteJessica, if you found the BuzzFeed article interesting, I think you would really love the one I posted above! It is very powerful and was hard for me to fathom, but it takes lyrics from Blurred Lines and compares them to what a woman's rapist said to her...it gave me chills it was so intense.
I would absolutely LOVE to do something like this on SLU's campus! I have been thinking about it since I saw the article I linked to above. To be honest, I don't know if SLU would let us do that, but I think it is something that would just be so insanely powerful. I don't think an online board is enough either. Maybe we need to get together and be able to have a discussion so women can tell their stories of either sexual assault or sexual harassment, like a panel or a group, and how we can support one another through it. Even if we have not all been victims of assault or harassment, I think it is something that girls can relate to one another about and work together on. Something like that may prove to be very beneficial, but be able to keep a professional demeanor like SLU wants. Hell, we could maybe even combine your project with my PEEPS project to allow girls that have been victimized or have felt victimized to have other student support groups to go to?
I love the combination idea lets do it!!!!!
DeleteThis is a really powerful project. I think this would be a great project to do at SLU. I like Kristien's idea of having a sexual assault and harassment discussion to allow women a space to tell their stories but I also think an online is also a good. It could give women a chance who are not comfortable talking about their sexual assault away for them to share their story and feelings anonymously. I think those two, the discussion and online board, together could be beneficial for everytone on this entire campus
ReplyDeleteI think having a support group on campus is an excellent idea! Maybe we should look more into starting one..
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome project! Those images are haunting.... I would love for broader exposure of campaigns like this!
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