We need Personal, Everyday Action to End Violence Against Women

Never laugh at a rape joke, speak out against lower wages for women. Don’t underestimate the power of everyday activism to uphold justice.

Activism can be as soft as a pillow, as hard as a rock. There are untold ways to be an activist. It's never the wrong time to uphold justice and there is always room to balance power. This seems obvious until efforts to end violence against women are talked about like a job that only certain people can do.

Questions remain concerning the best ways to prevent and respond to emotional, physical, sexual or economic violence against women. Yet the key must lie in everyday action, in whatever situation we may find ourselves.

No matter how intense attempts are to normalise violence against women, it’s crucial to recognise the power of your personal activism. Even when victims get used to their pain, cover scars, or accept death, we can’t give up on our ability to positively influence our own and others’ experiences.

Activism can be as soft as a pillow, as hard as a rock. There are untold ways to be an activist. It's never the wrong time to uphold justice and there is always room to balance power. This seems obvious until efforts to end violence against women are talked about like a job that only certain people can do.

Questions remain concerning the best ways to prevent and respond to emotional, physical, sexual or economic violence against women. Yet the key must lie in everyday action, in whatever situation we may find ourselves.

No matter how intense attempts are to normalise violence against women, it’s crucial to recognise the power of your personal activism. Even when victims get used to their pain, cover scars, or accept death, we can’t give up on our ability to positively influence our own and others’ experiences.

Our personal activism ultimately affects what our world becomes. We should take every opportunity to match our words with tangible actions towards justice. We cannot choose to be activists only when it suits us. Activism is consistent in being unconditional.

Everyday actions to defend, protect and support women, children and vulnerable groups are what inspires others to stand by someone being discriminated against in public, and stay with them until their security and safety is ensured; to never make excuses for violence against women; and to rethink tolerated or accepted behaviour and strive for change.

Such everyday actions can spur others to consider and experiment with more positive ways to use their power in potentially abusive situations. They can push others to question their inaction and break the silence around systemic injustice. And they can inspire others to nurture their own power within and overcome fears of challenging the status quo.

Personal activism draws people to love and accept themselves, believe that they are valuable, and feel that they are deserving of their human rights. It is through personal activism that we connect, strengthen our efforts and join our power for greater impact. And this positively influences the lives of others, as well as our own.

Nana Nyarko Boateng is a writer and an editor. She works at Gird Center, a writing, editing, and training services company in Accra. This post first appeared on OpenDemocracy's 50.50. Gender, sexuality and social justice project's blog.

Image Credit: Amnesty Finland via (CC BY 2.0)