The Power of a Purse

This was my submission for a writing contest for Mothers and More and their annual Power of a Purse Campaign.  I didn't win, but I enjoyed writing it so I thought I would share...

Our personality shines through in the selection of our purse. It represents our style. It’s shows who we are. Do you like small very organized purses and keep the contents to a minimum or large ones that can hold everything? Do you choose a flashy purse with bright colors or fancy embellishments? Or do you opt for a classic style or a basic black that goes with everything?

Some of us have numerous purses and we change them out as the occasion calls for. It’s like an accessory we use to match our outfit. Our purse represents us. I remember when I came home from the hospital with my first child. I glanced at my purse on the floor and thought “there’s my old life.” Now I would be carrying a diaper bag and yes it had to be fashionable too.

But today I am writing about those who may not have the luxury of owning even 1 purse. Did you know that almost half the world's population, 2.1 billion people, live on less than $2 a day. Of these people, 880 million live on less than $1 a day. Those statistics are staggering to me. And poverty exists right here in the United States as well. I am fortunate enough to take owning a purse for granted. But too many women don’t have that option. They don’t have a handbag to call their very own. To carry their personal items in. To have change floating around in the bottom - forgotten about because after all it’s only change.

 Did you know that the Power of a Purse campaign also provides educational resources to help women increase their financial awareness, confidence and control? Consider this quote: 

 

"If you educate a woman, you educate a nation." 

 

This quote conveys the power that a mother has. In countries were women are oppressed and discriminated against, often the man is in charge of the finances and will use it unwisely and for pleasure. Education efforts have shown that when the mother is placed in charge of the finances her maternal instincts will have her using the money for the betterment of her family. When you educate the mother you are breaking the cycle of poverty and uneducation for the next generation.

Just imagine what a simple purse would mean to one of those women. Please consider donating one of those purses discarded in the back or your closet that is no longer being used? Here is your chance to empower someone. To make them feel special. To give them a sense of ownership. And by contributing to this campaign and helping a woman in need you could very well be helping to shape a village, town, city or even a nation.

10 Things Men And Boys Can Do To Stop Human Trafficking

The following list suggests specific actions that men and boys can take to end this atrocity that is occurring here in the United States and around the world.

 

Author: Renaissance Male Project Inc

Date: 2010

Original Source

 

(1) CHALLENGE THE GLAMORIZATION

OF PIMPS IN OUR CULTURE

Mainstream culture has popularized the image of a pimp to the point that some men and boys look up to pimps as if they represent legitimate male role models and view “pimping” as a normal expression of masculinity. In reality, pimps play a central role in human trafficking and cause tremendous harm by routinely raping, beating, and terrorizing women and girls to keep them locked in prostitution.

Men can take a stand against pimps and pimping by renouncing

the pimp culture and the music that glorifies it.

(2) CONFRONT THE BELIEF THAT

PROSTITUTION IS A “VICTIMLESS CRIME”

Many men view prostitution as a “victimless crime.” But it is not. For example, women who are involved in prostitution are at a greater risk to be murdered than women in the general population (Potterat, 2004). Research also shows that women involved in prostitution suffer tremendous physical and mental trauma associated with prostitution. Viewing prostitution as a victimless crime or something that women “choose” allows men to ignore the fact that the average age of entry into prostitution in the United States is 13 years old, and that the vast majority of women engaged in prostitution would like to get out but feel trapped.

Men should stop viewing prostitution as a victimless crime

and acknowledge the tremendous harm and suffering that

their participation in prostitution causes.

(3) STOP PATRONIZING STRIP CLUBS

When men think of human trafficking, they often think of brothels in countries outside of the United States. However, strip clubs in the United States and abroad may be a place where human trafficking victims go unnoticed or unidentified. Strip clubs are places of manufactured pleasure where strippers are routinely sexually harassed and assaulted by owners, patrons, and security personnel.  Men rarely consider whether women working in strip clubs are coerced into that line of work, because to do so would conflict with the pleasure of participating in commercialized sex venues. Strip clubs—like brothels—are the most popular venues where the purchase of sexual services from women occurs the most.

Men can combat human trafficking by no longer patronizing strip

clubs and by encouraging their friends and co-workers to do the same.

(4) DON’T CONSUME PORNOGRAPHY

Pornography manipulates male sexuality, popularizes unhealthy attitudes towards sex and sexuality, and eroticizes violence against women. Pornography leads men and boys to believe that certain sexual acts are normal, when in fact sexual acts that are non-consensual, offensive and coupled with violent intent result in the pain, suffering, and humiliation of women and children. In addition, a disproportionate amount of mainstream pornography sexualizes younger women with such titles as “teens”, “barely 18”, “cheerleaders,” etc. Targeting younger women socializes men to develop appetites for younger and younger women and creates a “pedophile-like culture” among men. Victims of human trafficking have also been forced into pornography.

Men can stop the voyeurism of sex

and sex acts that fuel human trafficking by refusing to consume

pornography and encourage others to do the same.

(5) TACKLE MALE CHAUVINISM AND SEXISM ONLINE

Contrary to the myth that men do not gossip, men spend a significant amount of time online discussing their sexual exploits. The internet provides many men with the ability to mask their identities while indulging in racist, sexist, and violent diatribes against women and girls. Choosing to be a critical voice online is an extremely important way to educate and inform men and boys about their choices.

Men can change this culture by starting threads in online forums

that cause men to talk about their attitudes towards women and

how these attitudes and behaviors are linked to human trafficking.

(6) END SEX TOURISM

Men in the United States and other “first world” nations routinely travel overseas and have sex with women in developing countries. When men engage in these practices, they do not acknowledge the fact that many trafficked women and children come from developing countries—even in countries where prostitution is “legal.” Traveling overseas grants men a great deal of anonymity.

As men, wehave a responsibility to confront the men that go overseas and

participate in sex tourism.

(7) TALK TO MEN AND BOYS ABOUT MEN’S ISSUES

IN MALE SPACES

The only way to change men is by engaging spaces where men and boys talk and develop their ideas and attitudes towards sex and sexuality. Males spaces such as barbershops, locker rooms, fraternities, and union halls are the real classrooms where boys learn to become men and where men develop most of their ideas about how to interact with women. If men do not feel comfortable talking about these issues in male spaces, they can drop off informational brochures and make themselves available to talk with other men and boys when they have questions or concerns.

As men, we need to turn male spaces into circles of

accountability where men learn about non-violence, social justice,

and ending violence against women.

 

(8) SUPPORT ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING POLICIES

President Obama declared January 2010 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. However, more substantive legislation is required to end human trafficking. Men can educate themselves about the issues by visiting anti-trafficking organizations and by asking their elected officials what they have done to support or sponsor anti-human trafficking legislation.

One of the most important acts men can do to stop human trafficking

 is to support anti-trafficking legislation at the local, state or federal level.

(9) SUPPORT CREATION OF “JOHN SCHOOLS”

There would be no human trafficking if there were was no demand for it! Strategies aimed at ending human trafficking must focus on eliminating the demand. “John Schools” are education programs designed to educate customers apprehended by law enforcement who attempted to purchase sex. By teaching the legal and health effects of buying sex and the realities of prostitution, such schools impart knowledge that can reduce demand, making men conscious of how their actions can spur on human trafficking.

Learnwhether or not your local community has a John School. If not, encourage

your local prosecutor’s office or city counsel to start one.

(10) RAISE SONS AND MENTOR BOYS

TO CHALLENGE OPPRESSION

No boy is destined to be a “john”, a pimp, or a human trafficker. Raising young men in circles of accountability, to be respectful and protective of all women and children is one of the most important things men can do to stop human trafficking.

Talk about human trafficking as a modern form of slavery to help convince men and boys to become allies in the fight to end this form of oppression

Local Event: Book Club "Refuse To Do Nothing"

Join us for a discussion of:  Refuse To Do Nothing: Finding Your Power To Abolish Modern Day Slavery

 

This is a great book to introduce you do the subject of human trafficking. It was written for the everyday person and seeks to encourage you into action.

Slavery didn't end in 1833, when William Wilberforce's decades-long campaign finally resulted in the Slavery Abolition Act. It didn't end in 1863, when Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. It didn't end in 1949, when the United Nations declared trafficking "incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person." The sad truth is, slavery never ended. It just went underground, where it continues to exploit powerless men, women and children in horrific ways throughout the world. Now for the good news: you have power. In Refuse to Do Nothing, "Abolitionist Mamas" Shayne Moore and Kimberly Yim share their stories of coming to terms with the power available to them in their normal, everyday lives

Purchase the book Refuse To Do Nothing by Shayne Moore and Kimberly McOwen Yim

Available on Amazon or order through your local Barnes and Noble

Read on your own and then join us for a discussion on June 26^th from 7-9pm

Willow Creek Community Church
220 Exchange Drive

 

Week 1: 5/26-6/1
Read Intro, Chapters 1-4, and reflect on end of chapter questions

Week 2: 6/2-6/8
Read Chapters 5-8 and reflect on end of chapter questions

Week 3: 6/9-6/15
Read Chapters 9-12 and reflect on end of chapter questions

Week 4: 6/16-6/22
Read Chapters 13-15, Epilogue, and reflect on end of chapter questions

Abolitionist Prayer

Lord, may I be an Abolitionist

Oppression's deadly foe,

In God's great strength will I resist

And lay the monster low.

In God's great name do I demand

To all be freedom given;

That peace and joy may fill the land

And songs go up to heaven.

Local Event - Human Trafficking: Look Beneath The Surface

Saturday, May 18th at 9:00am
Human Trafficking: Look Beneath the Surface
 Willow Creek Crystal Lake campus is hosting a Compassion & Justice Expo from 8AM - 12PM.  The Compassion & Justice Expo will highlight local and global serving opportunities.

From 9:00 - 9:45 there will be a breakout session looking at the issue of Sex Trafficking. 
Hear from the Director of the Salvation Army's Promise program in Chicago and Becky Morris
from Freedom Firm fighting sex trafficking in India. Join us and find out how you can get involved in the fight against slavery right now!

Willow Creek Crystal Lake
220 Exchange Drive, Suite A
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Register Here