A blog on Peace after violence

Violence against women is woven into our societal fabric. Among European descendants, it has been an endemic issue for centuries. Gender violence will continue until we, as a society, dismantle our ingrained understanding of acceptable male behaviour. First, let’s consider the difference between words and actions. We say rapists should be held accountable, yet we let most rapists go free. Less than 12% of police reported rapes in Canada result in a conviction. However, statistics show that only 2% of reports are false. Our words reflect what we hope is the case, while our actions reveal entrenched beliefs. When our justice system repeatedly fails to hold violent men accountable, it shows an entrenched belief. This belief suggests that men have more value than women. It also reveals what we, as a society, think of 1) a woman’s right to safety, and 2) a woman’s reliability. We can change entrenched beliefs through acknowledgment, education and action. We also need effective law enforcement that holds violators accountable.

I wrote the following poem after an interaction with the police that left me feeling unheard and isolated.

“Was that a NO?”

By Jane Powell