Is it me, or has this past year been especially violent towards young adult women?

As a parent, I try to imagine what it would be like, knowing my child died in fear and pain, and I couldn’t protect her.  

Watch the video clip of protesters in New Delhi demanding tougher laws to address the rampant sexual assault in their country.

Doesn’t it seem strange to hear people talking about making women dress conservatively or to stay at home at night as a solution to prevent gang rape?

Yet in the United States, sexual assault and domestic violence laws didn’t come into play until the late 70’s and 80’s, only after our own protesters took to the streets.

I don’t like thinking about graphic images of  violence against women any more than you do. But it’s clear that having some dialogue about it is the first step in making change. And change needs to happen, because if women aren’t safe in their homes, their jobs, their buses, and their communities, than we’re greatly weakened as a society.

So what can you do to end violence against women?

Talk about it. Unpleasant, yes, but beginning a conversation is the first step toward meaningful change anywhere.

Consider volunteering at a rape crisis or domestic violence shelter, or giving them your donation of clothes or money if possible.

Remember the victim’s names. The father of the New Delhi gang rape victim would like to have a hospital built in her name. She was, after all, a promising medical student, and though Indian law does not allow sexual assault victims names to be released, he insists that remembering his daughter’s name will keep the heinous crime from being forgotten.

Include men in your volunteer efforts. Male leadership is critical in influencing young male’s choices, the laws, and public opinion. Men have mothers, sisters, daughters, and partners, but sometimes have been overlooked as important stakeholders when addressing violence against women.

Together, we can make a difference. Look how far we’ve come already.

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