Poverty and Sexism
To initiate effective change, it is imperative that social justice is implemented for the common good of all people. Individuals should be able to develop their full capacities, feel secure in society and have the right to an equal distribution of resources. Often times, individuals are challenged through social systems that oppress one through laws and social stigmas. It is essential that one does not stay neutral through these injustices and stand up against the oppressor. It is up to a community to engage and strive to end the oppression that silences and enables the oppressed. Through my experience at Safe Haven, I have become an ally that has become educated about the injustices the community faces and aware through …show more content…
The cook county detention center, has faced an overcrowding and lack of funding issue for its inmates. The resolution to this problem was created by the Cook County board president, Toni Preckwinkle, to be given the right to release low-risk crime offenders as they wait trial. Trial in the Cook County jail system could take up to fifty-seven days, in which 90% of inmates await trial. According to David Olson, a professor at Loyola University it is shown that the "vast majority of jail inmates have not yet been tried for the crimes they're charged with, and about 70 percent are accused of nonviolent offenses" these non violent offenses are known as "survival" crimes. According to the West Garfield Crime reports, it should be noted that the majority of these crimes fall into the category of prostitution, sexual assault, robbery and narcotics. These crimes are survival crimes, because women who are impoverished have limited choices in regards to what they can do to survive. Women in impoverished communities are further disadvantaged when they aren't able to come up with bonds made by the judicial system. Most bonds are set up to $6,000 or less, and a woman in poverty is often times unable to meet these dues. This further causes women to stay stuck in a criminal system, where they are guaranteed no opportunities. If criminal systems were altered …show more content…
It was important for me to share my life stories, and what oppressions I've dealt with as a Latina in the nearby neighborhood of Humboldt Park. Through this exchange of testimonies, I discovered that several of these women have experienced rape and other forms of sexual harassment. Some of the rape incidents were recent for some, while others were years ago, but nevertheless they all experienced sexism. Sexism in areas of poverty and in cultures where male dominancy is valued, is very common. When a woman has limited resources or education, such as the women of safe haven, sexual violence becomes implemented in their lives. To understand sexism, it is important that the term 'sexual violence' is made known to all women. Sexual violence is defined by the Building and Prevention and Intervention Responses as "any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed against a person's sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work." this definition has an overall universal meaning of sexual violence. Sexual violence also includes any sexual harassment, marital and partner rape, incest, sex trafficking and any unwanted sexual contact. For women, it is important to understand that they when they are
To initiate effective change, it is imperative that social justice is implemented for the common good of all people. Individuals should be able to develop their full capacities, feel secure in society and have the right to an equal distribution of resources. Often times, individuals are challenged through social systems that oppress one through laws and social stigmas. It is essential that one does not stay neutral through these injustices and stand up against the oppressor. It is up to a community to engage and strive to end the oppression that silences and enables the oppressed. Through my experience at Safe Haven, I have become an ally that has become educated about the injustices the community faces and aware through …show more content…
The cook county detention center, has faced an overcrowding and lack of funding issue for its inmates. The resolution to this problem was created by the Cook County board president, Toni Preckwinkle, to be given the right to release low-risk crime offenders as they wait trial. Trial in the Cook County jail system could take up to fifty-seven days, in which 90% of inmates await trial. According to David Olson, a professor at Loyola University it is shown that the "vast majority of jail inmates have not yet been tried for the crimes they're charged with, and about 70 percent are accused of nonviolent offenses" these non violent offenses are known as "survival" crimes. According to the West Garfield Crime reports, it should be noted that the majority of these crimes fall into the category of prostitution, sexual assault, robbery and narcotics. These crimes are survival crimes, because women who are impoverished have limited choices in regards to what they can do to survive. Women in impoverished communities are further disadvantaged when they aren't able to come up with bonds made by the judicial system. Most bonds are set up to $6,000 or less, and a woman in poverty is often times unable to meet these dues. This further causes women to stay stuck in a criminal system, where they are guaranteed no opportunities. If criminal systems were altered …show more content…
It was important for me to share my life stories, and what oppressions I've dealt with as a Latina in the nearby neighborhood of Humboldt Park. Through this exchange of testimonies, I discovered that several of these women have experienced rape and other forms of sexual harassment. Some of the rape incidents were recent for some, while others were years ago, but nevertheless they all experienced sexism. Sexism in areas of poverty and in cultures where male dominancy is valued, is very common. When a woman has limited resources or education, such as the women of safe haven, sexual violence becomes implemented in their lives. To understand sexism, it is important that the term 'sexual violence' is made known to all women. Sexual violence is defined by the Building and Prevention and Intervention Responses as "any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed against a person's sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work." this definition has an overall universal meaning of sexual violence. Sexual violence also includes any sexual harassment, marital and partner rape, incest, sex trafficking and any unwanted sexual contact. For women, it is important to understand that they when they are