Comments on: Stop Violence Against Women the World Over

By: Aloha

Aloha — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:22:00 +0000

I just returned to my home from Guatemala last night. I was there from 17 Dec-22 Jan. I am a labyrinth facilitator & b/f the trip I researched if there were any labyrinths in Guatemala that I could go in search of. What my results yeilded was a play called the Labyrinth of Butterflies that documented violence towards women in Guatemala. All attempted to find my labyrinth seemed to allude me. The play only ran until the 10 Dec., so I missed seeing it. I diligently searched through ancient & historical ruins, caves, temples, cathedrals, volcanoes; I felt my search was in vain. Because I have very limited grasp of the spanish language any posts around Antigua regarding the event went unnoticed. I’m a member of the Business & Professional Women in the tiny island of the Caribbean called Cayman Brac. Our sponsorship is Women’s Rights & Advocacy for Victims of Abuse. Myself being a survivor, this is something very near & dear to my heart. I would’ve given anything to have participated in this historical event of the human chain scaling the Volcan Agua. I would’ve even designed a heart-shaped labyrinth for the organization had I the opportunity & the organizers wished it. I walked into town in Antigua Saturday afternoon (21st) & knew by the many buzzing helicopters & the swollen population of peoples in the streets (most wearing Subvida de Vida tee-shirts that something monumental was taking place. We enjoyed the many cultural street shows & performances along with the rest of the throngs. It wasn’t until we returned back to our Antiguan home that evening & were watching BBC news that we realized we had passed through this historical event. I realize, though I didn’t take part in the climb, I did indeed find my labyrinth! I would dearly love to be included in any future events if travel & time is possible, to be kept to date for any means & methods to help promote this cause. I write for a small newspaper in the Cayman Islands & am a published author. My book’s theme was also about the desenitizing of human thought process. My travel to Guatemala was not only recreational, but for medical reasons as well. It is because of the marvelous sights left unseen & future medical needs that I will be returning hopefully many times in the future. Could you please help me enlist in your cause & put me in contact with the source of contact I would need to reach for being added as a participant in upcoming events or information forwarded. Again, my handle on spanish is limited (Bing provides translations), so if I could be put in touch with English speaking agents, it would be greatly appreciated. More power to you for your benevolent programme & inspiring heart!
Kathleen Bodden-Harris

By: Saying no to violence against women through online campaigns – Conversations for a Better World

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:23:48 +0000

[...] Girón of the blog Antigua Daily Photo made a statement about why we should reject violence as something normal, and why we should take [...]

By: Manolo

Manolo — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:56:03 +0000

Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre… here is a post in Spanish (with links to sites in English) about the event:
http://eltoronteco.blogspot.com/2007/12/no-somos-feministas.html

By: Global Voices em Português » América Central: Dizendo “Não” à Violência contra a Mulher

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:29:28 +0000

[...] Girón do blog Antigua Daily Photo [en] fez uma declaração sobre porque devemos rejeitar a violência como algo normal, e porque [...]

By: Global Voices in het Nederlands » Midden-Amerika: Nee tegen geweld tegen vrouwen

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:30:54 +0000

[...] Girón van het blog Antigua Daily Photo [en] poneerde een stelling over waarom we zouden moeten verwerpen dat geweld iets normaals is, en [...]

By: Global Voices Online » Central America: Saying No to Violence Against Women

Global Voices Online » Central America: Saying No to Violence Against Women — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:22:08 +0000

[...] Girón of the blog Antigua Daily Photo made a statement about why we should reject violence as something normal, and why we should take [...]

By: Laura McNamara

Laura McNamara — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:34:51 +0000

P.S.S. I will say women have one way of counteracting this (when violence isn’t involved). Patience. The amount of patience women show toward men, others and the world often drowns that of what men show. And, that’s a huge tool that women use to eventually assert their value and place in this world.

By: Laura McNamara

Laura McNamara — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:33:06 +0000

P.S. Rudy I really like the second thumbnail on this post…

By: Laura McNamara

Laura McNamara — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:31:10 +0000

As a working professional, I wouldn’t be able to count the number of times I felt I’ve landed a job because I’m a blonde-haired, blue-eyed “beauty” instead of a capable person for the job (fortunately I have a sound portfolio to back that up.) Also, I tend to have a ton of male friends as I am quite “tom-boyish” myself. Men often include me even when other women aren’t included. Instead of being a “cool CHICK” however, I am “one of the BOYS.” Why does it have to be “one of the BOYS” for me to be accepted? I also play a lot of sports and can play futbol (soccer) with any man. When men acknowledge that I can play though, more often than not I still get the infamous “yeah, you’re good… FOR A GIRL.” Ahem, a girl that just left you in the dust! Pffff…

I would have to heartily agree with Arturo. It still is very much a ‘Man’s World.’ And as a woman who tends to get a little further into the ‘Man’s World’ than most, I would definitely affirm it’s because they see it that I behave more like “one of the boys” instead of acknowledging that I’m just “being myself” and that perhaps I’m just “one cool CHICK.”

Even then, there are many (even good friends) that don’t really get past their stereotype of me just being the blonde-haired, blue-eyed ornament that has a largely decorative place in the social hierarchy.

By: Stop Violence Against Women in Guatemala | AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com

Stop Violence Against Women in Guatemala | AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:02:18 +0000

[...] Stop Violence Against Women the World Over [...]

By: Manolo

Manolo — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:59:47 +0000

Don Rudy, ahora si te mandaste, ya viste, no me necesitas por aca ni para los posts profundos ni para la psicoloquera
Now the serious comment: I actually was just talking to someone (my therapist, but don’t tell anyone ) of how sometimes I feel I “escaped” Guate and one of the reasons was that *expletive* machismo, just to find that it is a universal problem. @Arturo, I could agree with your observation about men, but that will mean diminishing myself, and by not respecting who I am as a male, I wouldn’t be able to respect the other (male or female). Respect begins at home, and oneself is the first one to respect.
Does this make sense or is it just my “patient” persona?

By: Sheila Fernandes

Sheila Fernandes — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:25:32 +0000

What an inspirational post. Please let us know what we can do to help. The pics are beautiful.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:16:01 +0000

Thank you for such a powerful post (and photos). As someone who has worked (professionally) in the movement to end violence against women for about two decades, I am always encouraged when I see others speaking out about these issues — especially when I hear from people who are speaking out in their everyday lives.

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:06:09 +0000

Gracias, muchas gracias, Rudy, para este articulo. Recently, I had an opportunity to attend a meeting where the guest speaker was a survivor (Que raro, no?) of the violence in my (okay, I’ve said it! MY!) beloved Guate. I only spoke to her for a brief moment after her speech, but she reminded me about the parts of Guate that I see very little of, and understand even less.
Please keep us posted about the organizations and events mentioned as part of the solution. Beautiful colors in the photos, and very informative post.

By: leif hagen

leif hagen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:02:51 +0000

I really like your photos of life in Antiqua! Those women’s dresses are beautiful and I imagine their laughs and personalities match their outfits!