My head and my heart hurts...

Braved the weather today (April showers!) and took a walk to buy lunch. To get to where there are food places there are two ways I can go, I can either take a long route along the roads or a shorter route which passes through a small residential area. I usually take the shorter route... can get from my workplace to food place and back to workplace in under 15 minutes. There's a risk though - along the shorter route there's a garage - I'm usually heckled every time I pass. It always bothers me - some days more than others. 

I don't think guys realise all that it is to be a girl. That at every moment there must be a part of you always on alert. Always wary of the threat of being harassed or attacked whether it be verbally or physically. I can project as much positive vibes as I want to but there's always a part of me that is cautious. This wariness, what we feel and how guys can approach us have been spoken about by many people but the best I've read is this: Schrödinger's Rapist: or a guy's guide to approaching strange women without being maced. Give it a read. 

Earlier this month I read about the rape and death of Rehtaeh Parsons and I learnt that in the US, Sexual Assault Awareness Month is observed every April. I thought that although I'd previously blogged about how rape and assault makes me sick to my stomach... I'd blog some more. We could all use reminders of what's happening in the world to help us figure out how we can help make things better.  

The cover of one of my country's newspapers today: 

Click for article. 

Ergh. Aren't the police supposed to "protect and serve"? 

It hurts both my head and my heart. 

Links:

• Rape - nobody takes it on. (a Sunday Special Report from a local newspaper).
• Stop defining us by our sexuality and This is rape culture by Julia Gazdag
• 50 actual facts about rape by Soraya Chemaly 
• Hollaback - a non profit and movement to end street harassment 

For the period January to March 2013, there have been 104 reported cases of 'rapes, incest and sexual offences' in Trinidad and Tobago according to the TTPS. 

I'm sure the actual number that occured is higher. I'm thankful that I've never been in a position to be included in those numbers. I wonder what more I can do to help people that are. 

Sending out love and positive vibes. 

peace,

Ren