Three Ways to Tackle Women’s Issues That Anyone Can Do

The statistics are stark. Every nine seconds, a woman in the United States is assaulted or beaten. One in every four women experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. Three of every four U.S. adults know someone who is or has been involved in a relationship in which she was or is being physically abused. As visible as domestic violence has become – thanks in large part to activists who have worked hard to shine a light on this particular women’s issue – it is only one of many women’s issues that affect all of society. In part, domestic violence is more visible than other women’s issues because these activists have worked hard to remove the stigma from women in these relationships.

There are other societal ills that disproportionately affect women and children that don’t get the same attention, in large part because so few people realize the extent to which they affect and harm women. These include drug cartels, which often entrap and employ women to package and transport drugs; illegal adoption, which victimizes both prospective parents and, far too often, young women and girls forced to give birth to babies who are then sold on the illegal adoption market, and Internet love/money scams, which entrap thousands of women a year and defraud them of tens of thousands of dollars.

The statistics can be discouraging to someone who wants to make a difference, but there are things that you can do to help, even in a small way. Remember that as little as 15 years ago, it was legal to beat and sexually assault your wife in some states. Few cities had the resources and facilities to help a woman who wanted to escape a violent life. Now nearly every city in the country has shelters, safe havens and crisis hotlines to assist women who are trying to make new lives for themselves. The same kind of public awareness can shine a light on other women’s issues and help the women victimized by them.

What You Can Do to Help with Hidden Women’s Issues

-          Learn. Research and get to know the problems that affect women and the women who are entrapped by them. The more you know, the better equipped you will be to help.

-          Listen. Women who have been victims of domestic violence often say they were too ashamed to tell anyone because of the judgment they faced. Be open and non-judgmental and listen.

-          Share. The recent attention to women’s issues in Congress has done more than raise awareness. A number of strong women who hold seats in federal and state legislative bodies have put a very public face on women’s issues like domestic violence and violence against women. Every time a strong woman steps up to say “It happened to me,” she extends a hand to every other woman living in silence and violence.