When colonizers took native land and murdered our ancestors, they imposed ways of being and thinking into every aspect of our lives. These practices have become the “norm.” The ways and stories and language recipes medicines of our ancestors were erased, deemed “uncivilized” and needed to be cleared away. Only they didn’t know we were seeds.
Through the hundreds of years that followed, Men and boys became prized in every aspect of life over women and girls. Overwhelmingly across the country and over time, men are presidents, CEOs, senators, mayors and sheriffs. Almost every major institutions of power have been and are headed by men. Where do we see images of women and girls? On billboards selling cars and beers, scantily dressed with ample cleavage and mini skirts. Every three minutes in this country a woman is raped by force. In wars, rape is a rampant weapon used to occupy and overcome.
We in the social benefit sector, fighting for racial justice and liberation of our communities are not immune to these forms of oppression of women and girls. Unwelcome touches, kisses and sexual insinuations are unfortunately too common. Women-identified staff’s ideas are often not taken seriously or given credit until a man-identified staff speaks same.
We have been consciously and unconsciously tolerating sexual harm for far too long.