Friday, September 13, 2013


Refuse to Give Up! What is Resiliency?

Take Back the Night’s focus this year is ‘refuse to give up’, which is an example of resiliency. So what then, is resiliency? Resiliency is the ability to quickly recover from difficulties, such as trauma, threats, or tragedies. Being resilient does not mean experiencing no difficulties or hardships, it means moving forward with supportive relationships, encouragements, and reassurance. Resiliency is refusing to be silenced when standing up against the violence directed towards women and children.

The beginning of September marks the beginning of a new school year where students are met with positive beginnings. However, students from at least two universities were faced with negative messages glorifying non-consensual intercourse. Last week, a pro-rape chant was used during frosh week at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The chant itself celebrated and promoted underage, non-consensual sex: “SMU boys we like them young… Y is for your sister, O is for oh so tight, U is for underage, N is for no consent, G is for grab that a**.”  Similarity, the same pro-rape chant was sung during frosh week at the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia.

It was revealed that this particular chant has been used for some years. According to the Global Mail, the students’ attempted to conceal the chants by the mutual agreement that “if it happens in the group, it has to stay in the group.” Furthermore, there were students that have come forward complaining about the chants; however, their concerns were dismissed. It was not until the videos were posted on the internet that disciplinary measures and actions were taken to stop the chant from occurring.

Resiliency can come from different sources; from individuals or from a group, it can be personal or it can be public resiliency.  Regarding the pro-rape chants, resiliency came from the public; resiliency came from the students stepping up against the chants and fellow peers. Resiliency can mean different things to different people. What does resiliency mean to you?

There are no easy solutions to eliminate violence against women; we need a joint effort from society, governments, men and women. We can begin by recognizing and standing up against violence – let’s refuse to give up!

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Monday, September 2, 2013


Hello Everyone, 

Take Back the Night (TBTN) is just around the corner - September 26th!

Take Back the Night has become synonymous with standing up against sexual violence that is directed towards women. The TBTN march is an opportunity to reclaim the streets and to speak up against the violence. The first recorded event with the principles and ideas of TBTN occurred in the United States in October 1975 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event was organized as a response from citizens outraged after the murder of young microbiologist, Susan Alexander Speeth. She was stabbed to death blocks from her home while she was walking alone. In March 1976, the first "reclaim the night march" was held in Belgium to protest the ways violence affects the lives of women. 

The term "Take Back the Night" did not come into use until 1977, which comes from the title of a memorial read by Anne Pride at an anti-violence rally that same year.

Canada's first march was held in 1978 in Vancouver, BC. In 1981, the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centers announced that the third Friday in September be declared the evening for Take Back the Night marches. Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis has held an annual Take Back the Night march for decades. The march is held in Marianne's Park. The park itself was dedicated to Marianne Goulden in 1993 by the city of Guelph. Marianne Goulden was one of the first women to stay at the Women in Crisis shelter. Marianne was stabbed by her common-law partner, Timothy Weldon, in front of her teenage daughter. (For more information on Marianne see sources below). The violence affects us all whether it be directly or indirectly. Come join the march and stand up against sexual violence against women. Let's refuse to give up the fight! 

Sources: 

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Take Back the Night Guelph 2013

SAVE THE DATE!
Thursday, September 26, 2013

If you are interested in participating in the planning and preperation of the annuam march and rally to end sexual violence agaisn women and children please email wiceducator@gwwomenincrisis.org.