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Topic 1: Racial Discrimination
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Introduction
History proves that racial, caste, and colorism discrimination has devastating impacts on societies. From inhibiting individuals from reaching their full potential to inciting violence, discrimination has been one of the most enduring challenges for humanity. Controversies surrounding current stories of discrimination could create unnecessary rumors and further misunderstanding. To change the world and develop their own opinions, young individuals must fully understand global issues. Here, the Awareify team will provide unbiased, understandable descriptions of ethical, social and political issues, factual accounts of incidents related to these issues, and the perspectives of various people regarding these issues. The topics covered include the Black Lives Matter movement, caste discrimination, and colorism.
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Black Lives Matter
Topic 1
"When the color of your skin is seen as a weapon, you will never be seen as unarmed.” That is a beautiful quote said by Taylor Griffin. This quote is related to the BLM (Black lives matter).
Black lives matter is a movement currently present with activists. Black Lives Matter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. The founders of this movement are Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi.
This movement became active again due to the George Floyd case. This movement is to protest against the incidents occurring or which have occurred, for example police brutality and all racially motivated violence against African-Americans. There are ongoing protests to stop the discimination and to get justice for all the innocent people that have either been hurt, injured, or dead only because of their race. There have been several opinions on the cases and BLM as well. There have been updates since the first day of the movement as well, and along with that, there are a few people who are still unaware of all these situations. It is a decentralized movement that is currently surging popularity in the United States of America.
Here, we will be educating you about the cases, the updates, statistics, and also information on BLM by making posts with creative representation to simplify the events going on and updates for BLM.
A lot of people are unaware of how severe these problems are. According to the 2010 national crime victimization survey (NCVS) done by the bureau of justice statistics (BJS) under the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). 62, 593 black were the victims of white violence but 320, 082 whites were the victims of black violence. One more fact about BLM. An Unarmed victims of police lethal force by race ethnicity graph was made. Blacks in 2015, 34.0%, 2016, 43.1%, 2017, 44.9%, 2018, 48.9%, and lastly, 2019, 46.3%. Blacks were always the most. Racial discriminatoin is just increasing.
Some cases regarding Black lives matter you might have heard about could be George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, and some others. There are many more occurrences, globally. George Floyd, a case about an innocent man who was killed by a police, he was killed by the police brutally placing his knee on George Floyds neck, while he is lying on the neck, suffering and telling him that he cannot breathe. A report was made on the evening of 25 May, when Mr Floyd bought a pack of cigarettes, It began with a report of a fake $20 (£16.20) bill. Believing the $20 bill he used to be counterfeit, a store employee reported it to police. That is how it all started. And the way it ended you may ask, Mr. Chauvin, kneeling George Floyd till his last breath.
Another case, Breonna Taylor, again, an innocent woman who has been killed. Louisville Metro Police entered her home one day on a narcotics drug search. Soon shots were fired, one fatally killing Breonna Taylor. The police claim they fired only after one officer was shot and injured. And Kenneth Walker, Ms. Taylor’s boyfriend, claims he shot in self-defense against the people he believed were breaking into his home (the police officers did not announce themselves). Later, after the police searched the house, no drugs were found in the residence and no body cam records were found (the police officers were not using that equipment.) Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and officers Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison were placed on administrative leave. Protests rose in demand for a federal investigation into Breonna Taylor’s death.
Protests have grown violent in some locations after officers starting using force against demonstrators. In many places around the nation, protestors vandalized statues depicting Confederate leaders and Christopher Columbus. Similar statues that depict people that supported racism are being defaced or legally removed. In support of the rising movement Black Lives Matter, several demonstrators have taken the project of painting several Black Lives Matter murals across the country. One such significant mural was placed in front of the Trump Tower. Much to many people’s irritation, the mural has been vandalized almost six times, as reported by ABC Eyewitness News.
A tweet posted on May 29, 2020, indicates US President Donald Trump’s perspective on the demonstrators’ actions. According to the tweet, he refers to the demonstrators who are vandalizing discriminatory statues as “THUGS”, and further comments that they are “dishonoring the memory of George Floyd”. He supports the usage of military force to deter protests. Many protestors viewed this tweet as an indirect threat, as President Donald Trump says that, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts”.
Mayor Bill de Blasio showed his support for the movement by painting part of the Black Lives Matter mural in New York City. Other activists say that these murals are “not enough” and that what is really needed is “real systemic change to the system that oppresses and marginalizes Black people” (Politico, “'It's not enough': Activists say Black Lives Matter murals are an empty gesture”).
The popular coffee company, Starbucks, first publicly supported the movement, but then privately told their employees that they cannot wear Black Lives Matter clothing or other accessories related to the movement. Vice President Nzinga Shaw explains the clear diversity in their company, but the fact that BLM apparel goes against some of the company’s principles. In order to solve the rising criticism against the company, the company finally allowed employees to wear clothing supporting the movement and announced the distribution of 250,000 BLM T-shirts to their employees. Furthermore, they announced their plans to donate 1 million dollars to organizations supporting racial equity.
The Black Lives Matter movement demands equal treatment for African-American citizens and calls for changes in the state justice systems of the United States of America. The protestors' violent actions are controversial, but their reasons for protest are widely supported by many figures across the nation. Now, many citizens wonder, is the United States of America people society rid of racism? Or will there be another justice reformation, to formalize the principles of the nation?
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Discrimination and caste Systems
Topic 2
The caste system is a social hierarchy of India. It divides the citizens and people residing in India into different groups based on their ritual purity. Although, now the caste system is not as bad as it once used to be it is still present in the rural parts of India despite it being abolished in 1950. The main discrimination is done against the Dalits. The Dalit children are not been given the proper education, treated poorly and made sit at the back of classrooms. In many villages, the Dalits are not given basic living amenities such as running water, a roof over their home, plumbing, food, etc. The way they are treated is, if anyone touches the Dalits or anything that the Dalits have touched becomes impure and the only way to become pure is to take a bath in the holy waters. The Dalits are given jobs very rarely and when they are, the jobs are inhumane and honourless. There is a famous Hindi quote which translated means “we would rather die than ever drink water from the hands of a Dalit. ” This quote denotes how segregated the Dalits are for just being born into that particular cast. This discrimination is significantly less than before but it must be stopped entirely.
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Colorism
Topic 3
Colorism is a type of discrimination where people with lighter skin are given a higher priority and respect than the ones with darker skin. This is one of the many types of discrimination.
So, how did it all start? Starting from Hindu Mythology, all the demons were covered in the darkest of colors. To the color of their skin, to their power. On the other hand, all the heroes (kings, queens, princesses and princes) were lighter skinned and considered pure. This is where colorism started. People who have darker skin are associated with demons and impurity. Because one of the major reasons for darkness is the sun. People consider dark people touched by the sun, while the fairer are untouched. Thus the fairer skinned people are considered pure. This belief was not only in India, but in the entire world. During Industrialisation and eras earlier. Slaves with lighter skin were assigned more delicate and sensitive jobs, while darker skinned slaves were assigned to work outside in the sun for ours and do more rough work. During the 1800s and 1900s, employees were hired through the paper bag test. The paper bag test is where employees were compared to the color of a common paper bag. If they were lighter, they would be hired and given several opportunities. If they were darker, then they would be fired/not hired. Lighter skinned people used to still be hired if they didn’t have a great resume. Another reason that fairness is such a big requirement (In India) is due to Indian history. All the conquering empires in India had fair skin. Such as The Persians, Mughals, Portugeese and British. It was also known Light skin is better and associated with power. Skin color indicates a person’s moral and intellectual qualities.
This is also connected to our Hindu Caste System. The higher castes had fairer skin. And the ones in the lower castes had darker skin (because they had to do more physical labour work). Therefore, stereotypically a person’s caste is derived by their skin color. A Sanskrit word: Asuryaparsh, is defined as the person that is fair skinned and untouched by the sun is considered “Pavitra” also known as pure and rich.
The first fairness cream was created by E. S. Patanwala in 1990. He invented the fairness cream known as Afghan Snow. From then India started to apply fairness creams. The main obsession of getting more fair started in 1978 when Unillever started the company “Fair and lovely”. This started many other companies to start fairness products. In 2010 in Indian fairness market value was 423 million dollars. In 2014, this industry was estimated at almost half a billion dollars. Surprisingly, 30% of women fairness cream were men. Yes! Men and Women both use fairness creams. Emami company was the first to launch a man fairness cream called Fair and Handsome. The Indian Film Industry is majorly connected to this industry. Many producers and directors don’t take actors that are dark skinned or give them a smaller role. This applies oppositely to fairer actors. Fairer actors are given more job opportunities and films with lead roles to play in.
Several communities have been at war and discriminated due to colorism. African vs American, Indian caste system. American Asain. This isn't only in these communities, it lives all around the world. Colorism intersects with everything. Colorism intersects with gender. Colorism can destroy a life, millions of lives. Which it has! In conclusion, Colorism is a global phenomenon that needs to be destroyed.
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Conclusion
This world is filled with inequalities. We provided examples, controversies, artistic presentations and informative paragraphs to prove our points. Discrimination and Racism are 2 major global issues today. We really need to fight discrimination and help the ones in trouble. There is a lot more than just BLM, the Indian casteism and colorism. People all around the world are getting discriminated against. Come on! These are issues that need support and powerful voices. With the gift of your voice, you can give someone else a life.
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TOPIC 2: Mental Health
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Introduction
Attending to mental health is extremely important in a person’s life. Mental health problems can be linked to influence almost all aspects of your life, and can negatively affect your social, physical, emotional, and intellectual wellbeing. Everyone experiences problems related to their emotional health, including the people that look strong on the outside.
In this week’s highlight, the Awareify Team divided the general umbrella subject, mental health, will talk about what mental health is, what affects it, some examples of mental health disorders, why it is important, and what can happen if you don’t look after your mental health. While we are mainly focusing on mental health, we will also talk about the entirety of stress and how to be happy. Our aim is to help you through difficult times and show you how to take care of your mental wellbeing.
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What is mental health?
Mental health is a very important aspect of our personality and our everyday life. It controls things from our behaviour, emotions, choices, relationships, and how we deal with stressful situations. Mental health depends on many situations such as biological factors like your genes, or the chemistry of your brain. Or your life experiences such as truma, or anything abusive, and lastly, heritage of mental problems like family having such problems. An important thing to always remember is mental health problems can always be cured with the right attitude. A positive mind is really important as it allows people to realize and understand their full potential. It can help people cope with the stresses they are facing, it can help them work productively, and help give back to their community.
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Depression
Depression is a state of a human being when he/she is extremely sad and has a low temper. People tend to give up luxuries, and their favorites. In depression, there is always a cause and an effect of this feeling. There are several factors that lead to Depression, like body-shaming, relationship problems, etc. A human being can be depressed for a day, week, month, year, or even for decades. According to WebMD, one would feel worthless and guilty, tired, lack of energy, low attention span, insomnia, loss or gain of weight, and many more.
There are also types of depression that lead to different kinds of problems or issues depending on what kind of depression one can have. Major depression is also known as major depressive disorder, classic depression, or unipolar depression. People with major depression experience symptoms most of the day, every day. Like many mental health conditions, it has little to do with what’s happening around you. You can have a loving family, tons of friends, and a dream job. You can have the kind of life that others envy and still have depression. A persistent depressive disorder is a depression that lasts for two years or more. It’s also called dysthymia or chronic depression. Manic depression consists of periods of mania or hypomania, where you feel very happy, alternating with episodes of depression. Manic depression is an outdated name for bipolar disorder. In order to be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, you have to experience an episode of mania that lasts for seven days, or less if hospitalization is required. You may experience a depressive episode before or following the manic episode. Some people with major depression also go through periods of losing touch with reality. This is known as psychosis, which can involve hallucinations and delusions. Experiencing both of these together is known clinically as the major depressive disorder with psychotic features. However, some providers still refer to this phenomenon as depressive psychosis or psychotic depression. Hallucinations are when you see, hear, smell, taste, or feel things that aren’t really there. An example of this would be hearing voices or seeing people who aren’t present. A delusion is a closely held belief that’s clearly false or doesn’t make sense. But to someone experiencing psychosis, all of these things are very real and true. Depression with psychosis can cause physical symptoms as well, including problems sitting still or slowed physical movements.
There are multiple different factors for depression.
In some cases, body shaming can be caused by depression and the bullying that happens. Because when one is not happy with their body, they may face bullying which are 2 important factors that lead to depression. Stress can be one of the factors that cause depression again. Body shaming can cause stress which can cause relationship problems and which leads to depression. And there is bullying as well. Bullying can leave people with emotional or physical bruises which eventually heal, but there can be lasting effects of bullying that can harm the rest of the person’s life. In fact, one study has found that some people who were bullied as children and are still experiencing mental health issues after 20 years according to Houston Behavioral. When someone is bullied, the effects and the memory of the certain person bullying you can haunt you for life which leads to anxiety which can slowly lead to depression. When you are bullied you feel a certain emotion which is different for a lot of people but for example when you are bullied, you feel alone, you feel sad because you don’t have the power at that point because the person who is bullying you insults you and is mean to you which makes you feel miserable. Their many other factors leading to depression, they can be personal problems as well, such as work, family issues, and fights with your significant other or friends.
Now, here are some effects of depression.
To be happy in a relationship, you need to be happy and keep your partner happy. Maybe your partner may not like the way of your living, or clumsiness, because of all this, depression can worsen the relationship problems and can even cause relationship problems. Because of these problems, you might get even more depressed because of losing your loved one. To be able to make proper decisions, one needs to be active, physically, mentally, emotionally, and intellectually. During the depression, one is never physically sporting or active because of the interaction and openness needed. One is never mentally strong because they are never emotionally supported because of the problems they face in their personal lives. Intellectually, one needs to know the right knowledge to make good decisions. During the depression, you would make decisions, however, those decisions wouldn’t be a well thought and productive decision, however, that decision would cause more harm to you and others. This is how depression can impact decision making.
Here is a real-life example of someone who had depression:
When Jessica C. moved to New York City, she knew her transition would be stressful. After all, she was starting a new job and settling into a new apartment. Plus, she had to learn her way around one of the world’s busiest cities. “It was a lot all at once,” she says. “Everything did seem like it was falling apart.” The anxiety proved too much: Jessica stopped eating, lost 15 pounds, and felt tired frequently. Thinking the anxiety from her move was at the root of her problems, she sought out a therapist. “I knew I had some personal things I had to be conscious of, but I didn’t realize the extent of my problems.”
After a lengthy search for a therapist, Jessica found a psychiatrist, and after her first visit, she had her diagnosis. It wasn’t an anxiety disorder as she had suspected; it was major depressive disorder (MDD). She was given a low-dose antidepressant and another medicine to help treat the anxiety.
“I was surprised by the diagnosis. I called my mom after the first appointment because I had this feeling of shame. I remember asking her, ‘What if this medication makes me become a new person?’ She reminded me there was no shame in this diagnosis,” she says.
That was six months ago, and Jessica feels as if she has a new lease on life. She continues the low-dose antidepressant, and her anti-anxiety medication is used only on an as-needed basis now. She sees her psychiatrist once a week, but they’re working on a long-term plan that includes meeting less frequently. As for Jessica and what she understands in retrospect: “Some people don’t realize depression can come from a major life change. My problems aren’t rooted in abuse, and I don’t have a family history of problems,” Jessica says. “If you don’t feel right, get help.”
Depression is a really serious problem and can be cured with therapy. I advise anyone who is going through tough times, to go see a therapist, it really helps.
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Dementia
Dementia is a syndrome that causes the decay of one’s memory, thinking, and behavior, it has also been known to worsen one’s ability to perform everyday tasks. Dementia into just one single disease but rather an umbrella term that defines diseases that cause the aforementioned symptoms. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's, about 60-80% of dementia cases are Alzheimer's. Some other forms of dementia include Vascular dementia. Vascular Dementia occurs when there is reduced blood flow in the brain. It often results in plaque buildup in arteries that feed blood to the brain or even a stroke. Another form of dementia is lewy body dementia. Lewy body dementia is caused by protein deposits in nerve cells presenting the brain from sending chemical signals which result in delayed reactions and memory loss. Lastly, there is also frontotemporal dementia. Frontotemporal dementia is not a single disease but rather a several diseases that are a category because they’re very similar. All of the frontotemporal diseases affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Personality, emotions, behavior, and speech are controlled by those two lobes. The symptoms of frontotemporal dementia depend on the parts of the brain most affected. You can divide most of the symptoms into two categories, language and behavior. The symptoms of frontotemporal dementia are inappropriate actions, apathy, or lack of interest or enthusiasm in activities, lack of inhibition or restraint, neglect of personal hygiene and care, compulsive behavior, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, language recall problems, loss of reading, and writing skills and difficulty with social interactions. Dementia is connected to science since this is a mental disorder that causes memory loss and decreased thinking skills. Dementia takes place in your brain when neurotransmitters and the nerve cell dendrites are not able to meet and the synapse is very slow in transmitting messages to the brain. This causes memory loss where the affected person is not able to recognize people, thoughts, or memories. Dementia is also when a nerve cell’s dendrites or the nerve is damaged that weakens the process of transmitting neurotransmitters and slows down synapses in the brain (Dementia - Symptoms, and Causes). The reactions of the affected one depend on the number of neurons lost and damaged along with which part of the brain would be affected. It also depends on the causes of dementia. Because of dementia, people affected may face memory loss, hindering communication, visual, investigation, planning, coordination, and motor functions. This is because the damage is brain cells and neurons. Because the brain is the control center of your body. Connecting this to the types of nervous systems. There are 2 major types, the peripheral and the central nervous system. The central nervous system consists of your brain and the spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system consists of nerves in your entire body transmitting messages from and to your brain. This would impact your central and peripheral nervous systems. Because messages are transferred from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system. And from the central nervous system to the peripheral nervous system. Because of the damage in nerve cells, the messages would not be able to get transferred. This would also disturb your peripheral nervous system more because this contains the somatic and autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system is responsible for transferring sensory inputs from the joints, eyes, muscles, tongue, nose, and ears. While the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the impulses from the central nervous system, to your glands and organs. Both of these sub nervous systems will be impacted because when you have a low amount of nerve cells, the neurotransmitters and synapses slow down that affect the flow of the nerves and reactions. Memory loss is caused due to the slow/no synapses and the limited impulses reaching the brain and back because of the poor quality and quantity of nerve cells. Damages in the nerve cells, the dendrites, and the axon terminals. They are not able to connect with other neurons because of their low quality, quantity, and several damages. Dementia is mainly caused by damage to brain cells. This damage interferes with your communication. There are several impacts of dementia. People who have been diagnosed with dementia can impact a person’s emotions. They can feel shocked, disgust, fear, and sometimes even relief. Dementia can be hereditary. Dementia can really impact your intellectual, emotional, social and physical health. Your intellectual health can be impacted since you tend to forget information and knowledge due to the disorder. Dementia can also impact your emotional health in a negative manner since it gives you shocks and your emotions are mainly blank. Dementia can also impact your social wellbeing because people may not remember who you are and that person would lose their social life. In dementia, you tend to forget things and become weaker. Thus, your physical health would also be difficult to manage. There were several famous people that got Dementia. Many actors such as Charles Bronson, Eddie Albert, Glenn Campbell and Perry Como. In conclusion, dementia is a disorder that can really restrict people from doing their everyday work and cause them to have a negative impact on their wellbeing.
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Personality Disorders
What is right? What is wrong? Who decided that? Society. Society plays a huge role in what we understand. We are taught the meaning of right and wrong, we are taught what is beautiful and what is not. We are taught what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. A personality disorder is somewhat on those lines. Personality disorders are also known as character disorders which is a type of mental problem where a person thinks, feels, and behaves different from what is expected out of them by society. These are long term patterns of behaviour and inner experiences that significantly differ from what society expects. Without treatment, personality disorders can be long-lasting and severe. Personality disorders affect the way one thinks of oneself or others, the way of responding emotionally, the way of relating to other people and the way of controlling one’s behaviour. There are 10 types of personality disorders to be specific.
The first one is called an antisocial personality disorder. It is a pattern of disregarding or violating the rights of other people. Someone with this particular personality disorder may not respond to the social norms, may be deceitful and dishonest and would act impulsively due to their unorganized nature.
The second one is called an avoidant personality disorder. This is a pattern of extreme shyness where a person has feelings of extreme sensitivity to criticism. People with this particular personality disorder would be unwilling to get involved or participate with other people unless being liked is certain. When they are criticized or rejected, they might view themselves as not good enough.
The third one is called a borderline personality disorder. It is a pattern of instability in a personal relationship or intense emotions or a poor self image, A person with this particular personality disorder, would go to great lengths to avoid or prevent being abandoned or left. They have repeated sucide attempts, display innaporate and extreme anger or have ongoing feelings of emptiness and major loneliness.
The fourth one is called a dependent personality disorder. This is a pattern of needing to be taken care of. People with this particular disorder, exempt clingy behaviour, have difficulty making daily decisions with any reassurance from others. They also feel helpless and uncomfortable when having to take care of themselves alone.
The fifth one is called a histrionic personality disorder. It is a pattern of excessive emotion and attention seeking. People with this particular personality disorder, may be uncomfortable when they are not the center of attention, and they always use some way be it physical (appearance, etc) or mental ways to draw attention back to themselves. They also have rapidly changing emotions which are expressed in an exaggerated way.
The sixth one is narcissistic personality disorder. This is a pattern of need for admiration and praise from others. A person with this particular personality disorder, may have a huge sense of self importance and they tend to take advantage of others or lack empathy.
The seventh one is called obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. It is a pattern of perfection and control. A person with this particular disorder may be extremely focused on details and schedules which are quite minor. They may work excessively and not allow themselves to spend time for leisure.
The eighth one is called paranoid personality disorder. This is a pattern of being really suspicious of others and always seeing them as mean or bitter. People with this particular personality disorder often just assume or believe people will harm and deceive them. And they face major trust issues.
The ninth one is called a schizoid personality disorder. It is a pattern of being detached from all social relationships and expressing little to none emotion. A person with this particular personality disorder typically does not like close relationships, and chooses to be alone at most times and doesn't care about praise or criticism from anyone.
The tenth one is called a schizotypal personality disorder. This is a pattern of being very uncomfortable in close relations, having distorted behaviour and acting out. A person with this particular personality disorder may have odd beliefs or behaviour and will have excessive social anxiety and would participate little to none.
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Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that usually appears in late adolescence or early adulthood. Its impact on speech, thinking, emotions, and other areas of life can affect a person’s social interactions and everyday activities.
Schizophrenia is a fairly uncommon condition, affecting around 0.25% to 0.64% of people in the United States, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). It can have a profound impact on a person’s life, as well as the lives of those around them. In some cases, a person will start to show unusual behaviors from childhood, but these only become significant as they get older. In others, the symptoms may appear suddenly. Schizophrenia is a lifelong condition, but treatment can help manage the symptoms.
Many people with schizophrenia do not realize that they are unwell. Hallucinations and delusions can seem very realistic to a person who is experiencing them. This can make it hard to convince the individual to take medication. They may fear the side effects or believe that the medication will harm them. Schizophrenia affects different people in different ways, but there are some common symptoms. These include:
confusing speech that is hard for others to understand
lack of facial expression
lack of emotional expression
lack of motivation
difficulty concentrating
psychosis, such as delusions and hallucinations
out of sorts
Anxious
lack focus
The main symptoms of schizophrenia are explained in detail.
Delusions
A person experiencing delusions may believe that something is true when there is no strong evidence for it.
For example, they may believe that:-
They are very important
Someone is pursuing them
Others are attempting to control them remotely
They have extraordinary powers or abilities
Hallucinations
Some people experience hallucinations. The most common type is hearing voices, but hallucinations can affect all the senses. For example, a person may also see, feel, taste, or smell things that are not really there.
Confused thinking and speech
A person’s thinking, and speech, may jump from one subject to another for no logical reason. It may therefore be hard to follow what the person is trying to say.
There may also be memory problems and difficulty understanding and using information.
Other symptoms
Motivation: The person may neglect everyday activities, including self-care. They may also experience catatonia, during which they are barely able to talk or move.
Emotional expression: The person may respond inappropriately or not at all to sad or happy occasions.
Social life: The person may withdraw socially, possibly through fear that somebody is going to harm them.
Communication: The person’s unusual thought and speech patterns can make it difficult for them to communicate with others.
Here are some ways this affects your wellbeing:-
Schizophrenia may result in physical health disorders. An example of this is the stress of psychosis resulting in raised levels of the steroid hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol are associated with weight gain, diabetes, and raised blood pressure.
Flat affect (diminished emotional expression) is a hallmark symptom of schizophrenia, although it may also affect those
with other conditions. It is a lack of showing emotion characterized by an apathetic and unchanging facial expression and little or no change in the strength, tone, or pitch of the voice.
Most people with schizophrenia struggle with social situations.
The treatment of schizophrenia can sometimes transform a person's appearance, weight gain being a prime example and the illness itself can significantly change a person's voice, accent, and language use
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What is Stress and the types of Stress
Simply put, stress is complicated. It can increase your performance drastically, but it can also emotionally break you until there’s nothing left. Whether we are college students, teens, siblings, employees, or parents, we all experience stress in multiple divisions of our lives. Important events in our lives can make us feel tense about what is going to happen and unsatisfied with our current performance. We can’t avoid feeling stress, but what we can do is learn, spread awareness, control, and use it to our advantage.
To live a stress free life, we need to completely understand the science of stress, as well as the effects and causes of stress. After gaining some insight into these aspects of stress, I would want you to ask yourself, ‘could stress actually be positive’?
According to MedlinePlus, stress can be caused by “any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous”. This includes stressors present in your daily routine, drastic life changes, and relationship issues. We, as students, most often experience stress as a result of personal and academic expectations. Chronic stress can negatively impact your health by exacerbating health conditions, inducing arrhythmia, and influencing your happiness levels. In fact, one of the six leading causes of death is distress.
(Jane at Habits for Wellbeing)
A common misunderstanding about stress is the type of stress. Colloquial references to stress usually refers to the stress that negatively impacts people. This type of stress is labeled as distress. However, Dr. Richard Lazarus’s theory and his “Transactional Model of Stress and Coping” shows us that stress can sometimes be positive. As described by Dr. Natalie Reiss, Dr. Harry Mills, and Dr. Mark Dombeck, eustress (which is the name for positive stress) motivates a person and enhances their performance. The way you can tell the difference between the two types of stress, is by looking at the causes and effects we mentioned above. Unlike distress, eustress is normally short-term and is thought to be within an individual’s coping abilities. This is the stress that you feel during a swimming competition, the kind that allows you to recognize the potential competition and positively motivate you to do better. Psychologists analyze athletes’ performances during championship sports competitions to understand how they take advantage of eustress during the game. David Beckham was under immense pressure to score that one free kick goal during the 2006 Soccer World Cup. Instead of panicking or becoming afraid, he used that stress to perform better and score the goal.
Furthermore, scientists believe that you can turn your distress into eustress by controlling what we stress about and for how long. Mindful breaks, meditation, and exercise help people to become self-aware and focus on their surroundings instead of the stressor. Changing your perspective towards the task at hand can help control the pressure you feel and immensely improve your work efficiency.
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How to de-stress
1. Identify your stress triggers.
First things first, what exactly stresses you out? Do you know exactly what triggers this reaction? How do you react to it? When you have a few answers, look for possible solutions.
While you’re not going to be able to eliminate every stress trigger in your life, you can at least remove the ones that you have influence over.
2. Laugh
Research has found that laughing can decrease stress hormones, reduce artery inflammation and increase HDL, the “good” cholesterol, said Suzanne Steinbaum. She is a D.O., who is an attending cardiologist and director of women and heart disease at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
“Once you start laughing, it forces you to feel better,” said Dr. Steinbaum.
3. Breathe.
Slow, deep breathing, even if it's only for a couple of minutes can dramatically decrease tension. Clinical and sports psychologist Leah Lagos, PsyD., suggests to Rodale’s Organic Life that you try one the following breathing exercises during your lunch:
Power 10 - Take 10 breaths. Focus on feelings of anxiety and stress while inhaling and releasing and letting go while exhaling for 6 seconds.
Heart boost - Think about two of the best moments of your life and then positive feelings you experienced during these specific moments as you inhale. Release any negative feelings as you exhale. When you pair a positive emotion with an inhalation, your heart will shift rhythms in order to improve your mental state.
Heart shifting - Here you’ll take three sets of five breaths with a 4-second inhale and a 6-second exhale. During the first five breaths, focus on negative emotions and then let them go with each exhale. For the second set of breaths, clear your mind of any other thoughts and just focus on the feeling of inhaling and exhaling. Finally, focus on embracing “the love in your heart during the inhale, whether that be for a family member or friend. Let go of the negative emotion while exhaling.”
4. Eat well.
Our moods and our foods are closely linked. That’s why when you feel down in the dumps or stressed out you automatically reach for your comfort food. Nonetheless, cookie dough for breakfast is never the best option health wise.
Sure. Mac and cheese is delicious and may temporarily make you feel better but eating it daily won't. Have some mixed vegetables on your Ramen noodles. You can start small.
Healthy eating improves your energy, makes you more productive, and improves your physical and mental health.
5. Meditate
Time and time again this practice of inward-focused thought, along with deep breathing, has been proved to reduce heart disease risk factors including high blood pressure.
Meditation relatives such as yoga and prayer, are also effective in relaxing the mind and body. Don’t think you have time? Check out 5 Minute Meditation. As its name implies, it’s designed to help you reduce stress by meditating for just just minutes.
6. Practice gratitude.
When it comes to increasing your happiness, improving your health and coping with stress there isn’t as powerful as gratitude.
7. Scream, sigh or sing.
Stress is a result of us not letting it out. One of the easiest ways to release this stress is just by letting out a good old-fashioned primal scream. And, you can also sing your favorite song since that releases endorphins and oxytocin.
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The science of being happy?
Positive psychology is a field in science that explores the scientific reasons, causes, and effects of being happy. Dr. Martin Seligman, a psychology professor at UPenn that is studying in this field, says that the goal is to research what makes us excel.
Happiness has been studied since the days of Aristotle, and scientists have mainly categorized happiness in two categories: hedonia, which refers to short-term pleasure, and eudaimonia, which refers to a person’s sense of accomplishment or where a person feels content with their life (Craig).
Scientists held various behavioural experiments with volunteers to receive statistics and observe a person’s reaction. But some neuroscientists argue that the science of happiness can be explored by studying hedonic brain circuits(Kringelbach and Berridge(2010)). These are two different approaches, but both contribute to the scientific discovery of the system that is exercised when we are happy and what exactly makes us happy. Contrary to these two perspectives on happiness, some believe that happiness should not be considered as a scientific factor of human emotion, because it is not measurable.
Just like we have a particular set range encoded in our genes for body features, we have one for our happiness levels too. But this range is extremely flexible and dependent on changes in a person’s life. So, even though happiness levels are due to a combination of behavioral actions, genes, and events in our life, observations prove that people can control their happiness by adapting their lifestyle, behaviour, and thoughts(Seligman).
Building scientific evidence shows that being happy can positively affect your physical and mental health by preventing stress, boosting the immune system, and protecting your heart(Coyle). Regardless of which approach you take towards understanding the science of happiness, I encourage you to explore the lifestyle that you think will make you most content.
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How to be happy
Of course, you can do it! Happiness is something different for everyone. Some people find happiness in finding peace with who they are and some have happiness in having a secure network of friends who accept you unconditionally. Regardless of everyone’s version of happiness, here are a few things that will make you satisfied from the inside.
Smile :)
We smile when we are happy so when we smile that causes our brain to release dopamine which is a hormone that makes us happy, so when the brain does that we tend to become happier. This doesn’t mean you have a fake smile everyday, but start off each day by a smile in the mirror.
Exercise
Exercise is not just limited to helping our body. It also helps reducing stress or the feelings of anxiety and symptoms of depression and it also helps to boost one’s self esteem and happiness.
Get plenty of sleep
A good sleep is crucial to a good health, healthy brain functioning and good emotional well-being. Reserve an hour before you sleep as a quiet time, where you don’t look at your devices, maybe take a nice hot bath, read or do any other activities that help make you feel relaxed.
Be grateful
Sometimes, we feel like we don’t get what we want while others do and we simply just start comparing ourselves to them. But we often forget that we have so much that many others desire. Focusing on the things we have rather than what we don’t will change our attitude towards life. It’s as good as looking at the glass half full rather than the glass half empty.
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Conclusion
So! What did you learn from all this information? 10th of October 20’20 is world mental health day. From this information, it is very important to relax and destress. We have provided techniques above how to and why you should be more happier. The more happier you are, the better work you do. You should be happy and less stressed because it can impact your social, emotional, intellectual and physical well beings. Exercise is known to release dopamine in your brain. Dopamine is also known as the happy brain cell. Dopamine is a hormone which causes you to be happier. Today you have learned about several mental health disorders and how they can impact people. Imagine the pain people go through everyday because of their disorder. A father cannot remember their son! A person can’t walk properly! So, now it’s your turn. Start spreading awareness about mental health. Tell people not to make fun of people who have these certain disorders. And be more relaxed and happier.
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Topic 3: Homophobia & Sexual harassment
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Introduction
Sexual harassment and Homophobia are one of the most enequal actions in today’s world. They both result in several killed in one year. Homophobia is inequality towards gay people. One famous homophobia murder is of Matthew Shepard. Sexual harassment is the harassment of people sexually. These need awareness and so, we are creating awareness amongst you people.
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Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is in essence any unwanted sexual behaviour this could include assault , abuse , sexual favours and rewards for them . For example catcalling , unwanted sexual contact , rape or violence for refusing sexual contact . This occurs in basically every country but mostly in developing ones like India for example . This usually happens because of many factors including lack of sex education , law enforcement and strict punishments . Mostly this happens because of gender discrimination against women . They used to be regarded as the inferior gender and many injustices used to be carried out against them which were actually allowed by the law . This behaviour encouraged many people to believe that their own behaviour was warranted , lawful and overall okay to have . Even now strict rules aren't in place against it and some men still think that women are an inferior gender and their mistreatment is alright . Victims nowadays are usually paid hush money. A few examples could be the Ani Chopourian case in 2012 . The victim suffered from unwanted sexual contact by a surgeon in the hospital she worked in . A federal jury in California awarded Chopourian $168 million, potentially the largest judgment in U.S. history for a single victim of workplace sexual harassment and the case was closed .Another example is the Bill Clinton case . Paula Jones launched one of the most high profile cases of sexual harassment against Bill Clinton that she alleged happened in a hotel room in Arkansas in May of 1991 . The case was dismissed due to lack of evidence but she was compensated for emotional damage . She inspired so many women to come out about their ordeal that the number of workplace harassment cases skyrocketed that year . These are just two of so many cases of sexual harassment .
It is estimated that 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or sexual violence by a non-partner (not including sexual harassment) at some point in their lives. However, some national studies show that up to 70 per cent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. Evidence shows that women who have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence report higher rates of depression, having an abortion and acquiring HIV, compared to women who have not [1].
Similar to data from other regions, in all four countries of a multi-country study from the Middle East and North Africa, men who witnessed their fathers using violence against their mothers, and men who experienced some form of violence at home as children, were significantly more likely to report perpetrating intimate partner violence in their adult relationships. For example, in Lebanon the likelihood of perpetrating physical violence was more than three times higher among men who had witnessed their fathers beating their mothers during childhood than those who did not [2].
It is estimated that of the 87,000 women who were intentionally killed in 2017 globally, more than half (50,000- 58 per cent) were killed by intimate partners or family members, meaning that 137 women across the world are killed by a member of their own family every day. More than a third (30,000) of the women intentionally killed in 2017 were killed by their current or former intimate partner [3].
This topic is so important to address as so many women every year suffer . Less than 50 % of these women actually report their ordeal or the perpetrators . Women don't even find it safe to take a cab alone or walk alone at night . Women ‘s safety is at risk here . Shouldnt everybody be allowed to feel safe from this . It is and never will be acceptable to allow such things to happen .
We should try our best to prevent sexual harassment from happening . Some methods for its prevention can be raising more awareness about this topic , getting stricter punishments , policies and rules against it in place . There should also be more sex education and effective training against it . Men and boys should be educated against it. More honest and unprejudiced law enforcement and judges wouldn't hurt either . Mostly we have to try and destroy the power complex that some men have that leads them to perpetuate sexual harassment .
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Homophobia
“I think it's ironic how we still prefer two men holding guns rather than two men holding hands” -Christine Ada
Homophobia attracts a spread of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuals or folks that are identified as being bisexual, lesbian, gay or transgender. People are often homophobic in many different ways. Homophobia takes the shape of insults, discrimination and even includes violence. This bullying could be a danger and people could enter depression or even commit sucide. Homosexuality remains a criminal offense in 72 countries. And even in countries with no legal barriers, like the US, there are shocking levels of hate crimes like 53 transgender murders from 2013 to 2015 and not one one was prosecuted. There are too many cases of LGBT people being harassed on the streets, beaten up and sometimes killed, simply because of who they're . Many intersex people around the world are forced to undergo dangerous, invasive and completely unnecessary surgeries which can cause life-long physical and psychological side effects. There are numerous crazy people who force them into doing something against their will like on March 13, 2020, a few days before the nationwide lockdown began, Anjana Harish, a 21-year-old student from Kannur had put up a live video on Facebook. An openly queer person, Anjana, had accused her family of abusing her physically and mentally in the video. "I really do not know what to say and what to do. The medicine makes me dizzy and I am not able to see or talk properly. I've become robotic," she said in the video.After a few days, Anjana was found hanging from a tree in Hosdurg in Goa. While there are hints of a foul play within the student's death, queer activists across social media have called out Anjana's family and have accused them of being homophobic, which, triggered a student’s suicide. There are a lot of LGBT people in China are forced to undergo "conversion therapy", often done by unscrupulous, unlicensed providers during a sector that operates with little oversight by the authorities, rights groups said. In 2016 an individual surnamed Wang sued a hospital where he had been shut inside for 19 days while getting therapy within the city of Zhumadian. In another case, a transgender woman's family admitted her to a hospital against her will. There is one more where two women who were violently attacked on a London bus in the dark by a gang of young men who demanded the couple to kiss. One among the ladies said she is disgusted by being asked to perform by men who treat women like “sexual objects”. Melania Geymonat, a 28 year old doctor who is training to become a surgeon, was on a date together with her girlfriend Chris, a 29 year old American, when the attack happened once they were surrounded by a gaggle of 5 men Who were following them .19-year-old boy. Avinshu Patel committed suicide in Chennai after he was ridiculed for being homosexual.He originated from Mumbai. Avinshu put up a social media post about the harassment he had suffered around him. “My grades fell dramatically. I started skipping school. I often stayed in bed and cried.” This testimony is typical of the experience of the many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students round the world. These children are often denied their right to education due to discrimination and violence supported real or perceived sexual orientation or identity . LGTB people are protected under Human Rights legislation. However, this doesn't guarantee the proper to culturally relevant services. There's no public policy requiring services and agencies to actively end heterosexism. Within the present climate, LGTB issues are frequently considered to be a low priority.
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Conclusion
Sexual harassment and homophobia are really bad things that cause injustice to several people in our society. These should not be happening in our world and we need to find a way to stop them. If at any point of time you find out that someone is undergoing sexual harassment, contact the police or seek help of an adult. People should also be aware of homophobia and not be biased
against gay people. Your one step can help create a change in the world and save lives. Start spreading awareness about these issues.
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Topic 4: Rape and Acid attacks
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Introduction
The exact definition of rape is the “unlawful sexual activity, usually sexual intercourse, carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against a person’s will or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent because of mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness or deception.”It is always something that is forced upon a person and not wanted by them. It can happen to any person, men, women, and trans people. Rapists take control of another person, usually using violence, or threatening to do so. Rapists can also end up using drugs to try and control the victim better. Rape is a very serious crime, no matter who does it (including family members or friends). It is always the most difficult for the victim to deal with, and they need a lot of nurturing and help to heal properly.
We find it in our homes, in our shops, on the street, and almost everywhere: acid. You may not have noticed it, but it’s there, and it’s a serious problem. Acid attacks are a big problem in today’s world, with global cases increasing annually. This atrocious crime victimizes hundreds of vulnerable people around the world and endangers trust bonds between family members. Victims are forever scarred, both physically and mentally, and are often shunned by their communities because of the social stigma around this type of violence. For this month’s launch, the Awareify Team spreads awareness about this pressing issue in the hope to support acid attack victims and help our audience stay aware and safe from perpetrators.
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Where is this problem taking place?
Rape is very common in the world and happens in every country. There are countries with extremely few rape cases, mostly due to the strict laws they implement, like Saudi Arabia and the UAE in general.
Here are the top 10 countries with the highest number of rape cases in 2020:
South Africa- it has the highest rate of rape rate of 132.4. In fact, in 10,000 people, there are 66,196 incidents of rape.
Botswana- they have a rape rate of 92.90 and in 10,000 people, there are 1,865 incidents of rape.
Lesotho- They have a rape rate of 82.70, and have 1,777 incidents per 10,000 people.
Swaziland- The rape rate over here is 77.50, and they record 849 incidents per 10,000 people.
Bermuda- They have a rape rate of 67.30.
Sweden- Sweden records a rape rate of 63.50.
Suriname- They have a rape rate of 49.20
Costa Rica- The rape rate is 36.70 in this country.
Nicaragua- They have a rape rate of 31.60.
Grenada- Finally, Grenada reports a rape rate of 30.60
Other countries with very high rape rates include; Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, Japan, USA and Russia.
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Why do people commit rape?
Firstly, it is important to keep in mind that a rapist or sexual assaulter can be any type of person. It should not make people feel scared and untrustworthy of everyone, but it is just necessary to remember that the people who commit this crime are not limited to a certain type.
Their can be a variety of different motives behind rape, and it is kind of difficult to come up with a proper number for a certain type of motive. However, rapists do have certain traits in common. They often have a lack of empathy, narcissism, and a general hatred towards the sex they have raped. This is mostly why many conclude that rape is about power and domination, not sexual gratification.
Even though a rapist can be of any gender, many cases end up being young men because of toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity refers to certain norms in society that end up depicting how a man should act like and behave, often putting harm to men themselves. In this case, because of many norms in society, and especially in countries with higher rape cases, the only way to get other male peers to respect them, and to have some sort of status with them is to be very sexually experienced. Men and boys who are not sexually active are often teased and ridiculed. This is why many rapists end up being young men because of peer pressure, trying to maintain a certain ‘reputation’, and societal norms in general.
In fact, the media ends up playing a very big role in these types of situations. In the media, there is a lot of exposure to sexuality in general, nudity, and many media suggest that one needs to dominate other people sexually in order to have a status. This is why, many times, even though it is not always the case, ‘exposing’ clothes can be a trigger for rapists. This is why in countries like the UAE, which don’t have a lot of sexual content in media and don’t talk a lot about sexuality in general, end up having a much lower rape rate, as revealing clothes or a necessity to gain a reputation among their peers don’t end up being a trigger.
This in no way means that a person should not wear whatever he or she likes in order to avoid being raped. It mostly means that a higher number of sexual encounters does not need to be something that is rewarded and prized, and over-sexualization and other elements of toxic masculinity should stop being a part of societal norms, and reinforced in the media as well.
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Example of cases
Soumya Murder Case
This is a rape case that took place in Kerela, India, in 2011, and it took the whole state and country by a storm. It was a very big case, and was in the media for a good amount of time as well. It is recorded as one of top ten cases India will never forget. This case really made people question the safety of women in the state and especially the country.
Here is a brief timeline for the events of the case:
February 1st, 2011: Soumya was travelling in a passenger train to Shoranur when a man, Govindachamy entered her compartment (a woman’s compartment). He tried to rob her at first, banging her head six times against the train wall. When she still resisted, he pushed her hands when the train door was closing, in the gap, and pushed her out of the train. He then jumped out of the train as well, and walked for some distance before finding her severely injured on the train tracks. He then carried her to the woods, and proceeded to rape her. She was later found unconscious and taken to a hospital.
February 2nd, 2011: Naturally, Govindachamy was considered as the only accused person in the case, and arrested by the police.
February 6th 2011: Soumya battled for her life for five days, but eventually, her injuries were too deep, and she died in Thrissur Government Medical College Hospital.
November 11th, 2011: A fast-track court (one that gives justice and makes a decision quicker than a normal court) found Govindachamy guilty of murder, and sentenced him to death.
December 17th, 2013: Govindachamy’s plea for the removal of the death sentence is rejected by the high court of Kerala.
June 30th, 2014: Supreme court approves the Kerala high court’s decision for death penalty, and rejects Govindachamy’s appeal filed against the Kerala high court.
September 8th, 2016: The Supreme court, because of an observation, criticises the Kerala high court for not showing enough evidence for proving and accusing Govindachamy guilty of murder.
September 15th, 2016: The Supreme court announces the final verdict for this case. They dismiss Govindachamy for murder, as they believe that it could not be proved that his actions specifically caused her murder. They relieve Govindachamy of murder charges and and dismiss his death penalty as well. He is still held responsible for rape, but only got a sentence of 7 years in jail.
As you can see for this case, it is really awful how Soumya was so brutally raped and murdered, yet she doesn’t get justice at all. All the rapist, Govindachamy gets, is only 7 years in prison. He gets to live as a free man when he really doesn’t deserve it. Even though it is important to have rights for every person, such a horrible crime should never go unpunished in any case. Even if the Supreme court did not find enough of it to convict him of murder, rape is still an unforgivable offense. It is necessary that the Indian government starts to take these things seriously, and deal out strict (and frankly, appropriate) punishments.
Perhaps it is still a controversial issue, but clearly the sexual assault laws have not made much of a difference. There is still a very high rape rate in India, and a significant amount of victim-blaming as well. People need to begin to reevaluate the consequences for rape if there is any hope for decreasing the cases, and helping change society for the better.
International case:
Hanna Prince’s story
She was raped and was unable to report the case. The sexaul assualt was far from common on the campus. She wasn't taught about sexual assault but all she knew was “no means no” and a few other things about not walking at home alone. But she was not raped in the street, in a dark valley, but in the same campus.
She went to a party and she met a boy and she soon came to be in a relationship with him. Later that night, she wanted to go home and the boy offered to walk her to the house, and since she did not want to walk in the dark valley alone, she accepted the offer. The boy offered to come inside the house when he reached for a glass of water and she said yes. She regrets the decision.
He finished the water and the pretense was over. He then demanded to go to the room. I said no. Despite my refusal, he was relentless, the more I said no, the more anger there was.
His hand grabbed my arm, so forcefully, that it became clear that he wanted to rape me. He took off my tights, and did what he did. He left after that. It became clear that he only offered to drop me to my house to rape me, and no other case.
He was no stanger, nothing in a dark valley, but raped in my own house. There was no evidence that the boy raped me, because I was the one who let him in, I was drunk, and he was no stanger. No one would believe me, therefore I did not complain to any authority. I was scared, and I was afraid, I told no one.
I still get shivers because I remember my thoughts every time. That night was 3 years ago. I then realized after reading an article about 2 brave girls talking about their rape case anomaly, and i decided to step up and complain to the authority, after that I took the stand and tried to change the rules on the campus of sexual assault and rape.
I was also groped and sexually assaulted after a few months in a club however I did stand up that time because I got brave.
When the rules in the university changed, the girl's complaint was heard a bit more, and there were thousands of cases that came in for sexual assault. She was appalled by the disgusting cases and wanted to speak more and take more initiative.
She left the campus after a while because it reminded her of her case but she still has shivers, thinking about her incident.
This whole story taught her to step up and stand up for herself. As well as to not keep quiet, and no one is alone in this. She has grown up now and she has opened several campaigns to talk about these issues.
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Famous people and activists
Here are some famous activists who are survivors of assault and rape and then who became activists for assault.
The first activist I would like to talk about is a woman named Jess Ladd, she is 29 years old and is now a founder and CEO of sexual health innovations. She was sexually assaulted as an undergraduate and her college and then was a public health activist. She was very confused about why there wasn’t a place for survivors to find reliable information around STD testing, counseling, and reporting.
Ladd felt particularly disturbed by the lack of clarity around her options–she'd volunteered as a sex-ed teacher when she was a teenager, and conducted research on sexual health. In 2011, she founded Sexual Health Innovations, a nonprofit focused on creating the sort of sexual-assault-related technology she wished she'd had access to.
"There are a lot of reasons that college survivors take an average of 11 months to file a report," says Ladd. She herself ultimately took more than a year to report her own assault.
Another activist, Antonia Assar who is 24 years old, she is a playwright and a performer. She came out as a survivor of sexual assault.
"I just could not fit the identity people wanted me to," she says. "I couldn't find anybody to laugh with. As a comedian and actor, I was really desperate for that."
In 2014, she announced on Facebook about the sexual assault and a charge. For her, coming out as a survivor was just as brutal and traumatising as her actual assault. She thinks that there is so much sexual violence coming from people and they thinking they are not rapsists, and too many people are living and growing in toxic environments to not identify sexual assault, and in there, that’s where comedy comes in, that’s why she does this.
Another activist, whose name is Kat Alexander and is 35 and is currently the founder and CEO of Report it, girl. She was molested by her older brother and he did go to jail for that. She went though a thought time and a few rough phases and then she opened a repot it girl website for and by survivors of sexual assault and rape to heal and spread awareness.
"One particular piece of data stuck out to me, which is that most people never tell," says Alexander. "Yet research does show that putting language to experience–expressive writing about trauma–actually does lead to healing. And seeing other people put words to their experiences gave me the tools to start my own writing and healing."
Report It, Girl now features a range of survivor stories, from other child assaults to military rape.
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Correlated problems to these problems. What factors lead to this?
Blaming the victim, saying things like “she asked for it”
Trivialising sexual assault “boys will be boys”
The tolerance some people have of sexual harassment
Publicly scrutinising a victim's dress, attitude, state, motives and history
Gratuitous gendered violence in movies
Defining manhood as sexually aggressive
Defining womanhood as submissive and sexually passive
Pressuring men to “score”
People refusing to take rape and sexual assault violence seriously
People being uneducated about sexual assault and rape
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Whar are Acid Attacks?
Acid attacks are ways of executing assaults against ladies and young women. They are utilised as a way to forever scar the victim. They are huge brutality ladies and young women. The most common reasons behind these attacks on women are the refusal of marriage, the rejection of sex, and the sexual dismissal of men. It is an expression of control over women and girls’ bodies. In most of the cases, the attackers intentionally aim for the face of the girl, to destroy the eyelids. A women’s face is seen as something sacred. And unfortunately, in a lot of places, a girl’s beauty is the only thing that matters. Her acid attacked face then becomes a public mark of shame for society, making it hard for her to get married or get any work done. Sadly, even in these cases, it is the woman that is looked down upon, not the man.
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Where is this problem taking place?
India
According to the Indian National Crimes Bureau’s report, 228 acid attacks were reported in India in the year 2018 alone. However, unreported acid violence cases would tremendously increase the total number of national cases. Activists observe that India’s acid attack cases are gradually increasing, emphasizing that it reflects on India’s national character and proves that this problem cannot be ignored.
Pakistan
We can see a similar situation presenting itself in Pakistan. Almost 153 acid attacks took place in 2014, with worse national statistics from the years before. Thanks to amendments in the Pakistani Penal Code and the enforcement of the Acid and Burns Crime Bill of 2012, acid attack numbers have decreased by about 50% since then. However, the Acid Survivors’ Trust International organization says that acid attacks victimized at least 80 people in 2018, bringing to attention that the problem is still present.
Bangladesh
After national acid attack cases peaked to more than 400 in 2002, Bangladesh was swift to draft and enforce legislation battling the problem of easily accessible acid. With help from organizations like the Acid Survivors Foundation, acid violence cases were brought under 100 per year.
United Kingdom
Many people are under the impression that acid attacks only take place in developing countries. Countries in South Asia do have among the highest records of acid attacks, but this is a global issue. In the United Kingdom, acid attack numbers increased two and a half times from 2012 to 2016. At least 501 crimes related to violence with corrosive substances were reported in 2018.
Laxmi Agarwal
Agarwal was attacked int he Delhi Khan Market in 2005 by her acquaintances named Nadeem Khan also known as Guddu and Rakhi. Laxmi was fifteen at that time. And the reason she was attacked was that she didn’t wish to marry Guddu.
The terrible bit was after the attack everyone spoke ill about her and her family rather than the attackers. These people who spoke behind her back were especially women which is the saddest part as this is the main reason behind the rise of patriarchy. They all questioned her upbringing and faulted her for the attack. After confiding in her family, the trial went on for four years. But in the end, Guddu was prisoned for ten years, and Rakhi was prisoned for seven years.
The story was simple but the consequences were not. She was fifteen and a thirty-two-year-old man proposed to her for marriage. It was simply too early for her as she wasn’t even a proper adult yet. She wanted to complete her studies. That is why she told him no. Soon, one or two months later, the same man sent me a text saying how he loves me and he wants to marry me but she didn’t respond. He texted her again demanding a response but she never responded. After four days, the man and his brother’s girlfriend went to the bus stand where Laxmi catches her bus. The girl pushed her and threw the acid she was holding on Laxmi’s face.
Pragya Singh
Pragya had received a marriage proposal from a distant relative before she was to be married to her current husband Sanjay Singh. But she and her parents turned down the proposal. The man threatened to ruin her life but by that time she was happily married. It was this angry man who threw the acid on her face due to his rejection. He was supposed to serve ten years in prison but only served four and a half due to his economically stable family.
After the acid was thrown on her face she was in devastating pain. For the next two years, she had to undergo nine surgeries and remain without a hairline. She lost complete vision from her left eye and is facing problems with her right eye. And she has completely lost her right ear. Her left arm is fully burnt and half her back and chest is burned. In her words, “I is a living corpse”.
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Causes of Acid attacks
Now that we understand the gravity of this problem around the world and in our own country, let’s understand some of the causes of these acid attacks.
Activists explain that women are most often attacked for reasons of relationship problems with their mates. Women are also attacked as a result of family contentions. Alok Dixit reasons that men are often attacked by rivals who are jealous of their professional status, or because of family disputes. With men and women, the reasons are different, but “the trauma and the pain both suffer is the same” (Dixit). Furthermore, acid attack victims are often afraid of speaking out against their attackers or spreading awareness. This is often due to the social stigma around acid attacks, but the victims might also feel afraid of being attacked again, or, if their attacker was a family member, they might not want to complicate the situation for the fear of being abandoned.
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Why do people commit these crimes?
Sadly the main reason why people commit acid attacks is due to women refusing marriage proposals and not having a physical relationship with any person. Along with the rejection of any sort of person. This causes anger and the fire of retaliation towards a person and causes the person to attack the person’s beauty. By throwing acid, a corrosive substance on them. Acid attacks represent the control over a person’s body and life by the vengeful person. This is mainly due to the division of boys, LGBTQ+ and girls and how each of them are grown up by their beliefs and values of impurity and revenge. Acid attacks don't only take place to girls, it also takes place to boys, girls and to the entire LGBTQ+ community due to old beliefs and values of their impurity and unfit to social norms and society. Some other reasons for acid attacks are low dowry, prejudice, ego and rivalries.
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Cases examples:
Let’s look at some victims’ stories of their experiences before, during, and after an acid attack.
Lalita Benbansi, a 27 year old acid attack victim, has gone through 55 medical procedures with the sole intention of restoring her body’s functionality and preventing future infections. For this particular victim, cosmetic goals are well out of reach. The attack took place on November 11th, in the year 2012. Lalita said she knew the attacker, her own cousin, was fueled by a family argument a while back. Lalita suspected he was making careless and silly remarks threatening her about pouring acid on her face because he was drunk at the time of the argument. She was caught by utter disbelief when he stuck by his word and committed the atrocious crime. The acid he poured melted her ears, severely damaged her nose, and forced her family to spend all their savings on her long stay in the hospital. Lalita could not afford proper medical care for a while, but thanks to the NGO, Make Love Not Scars, she was able to raise funds for further medical care.
Statistics provided by governments and organizations show that females were historically almost always the victims of acid attacks, while males were the perpetrators. But in the past few years, the number of male victims of acid attacks increased. Male victims are commonly underestimated and not given enough support, because acid attacks are most often viewed as gender-based violence against women. While this is true for many cases, males are also victimized for reasons of property disputes, professional jealousy, and family arguments. In fact, 35% of all acid attack victims are male, according to Rahul Varma, the CEO of Acid Survivors Foundation India. Journalist and activist Alok Dixit further shows us that 133 out of 386 people in India that became victims of acid attacks from 2013 to 2014, were male.
Chandrahass Mishra objected to some inappropriate comments the landlord’s son was making about female passerby’s. After the boy taunted the man and asked him to be “like a tenant and not a landlord” (Mishra), Mishra complained about his disrespectful behavior to his father...which angered the boy even more. On 7th July, in 2011, Mishra was boarding his scooter to travel home for the day, when the boy came up with a bucket of hydrochloric acid and poured it on him. By the time Mishra was admitted in the hospital, his right ear had melted and one of his eyes was fused shut.
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Famous people and activists
Angelina Jolie
Leanardo Di Caprio
Natalie Portman
Reese Witherspoon
Katy Perry
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Petitions or any steps that people can take to support this from home
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Conclusion
To conclude this topic, acid attacks are a global major problem which we need to stop. You can help stop and support the stop of acid attacks by signing the petitions above and support the people around you. Make donations to the women welfare and help acid attack survivors. There are several organizations in the world such as ASTI that spread awareness about acid attacks. Change your attitude and everyone’s attitude around you. Make people more aware about Acid attacks and ask them to help these victims. Acid attack survivors go through major wellbeing problems and they could use a lot of support and love from you.
Signing petitions helps people to establish factual and subjective information about the topic that will be used to implement laws as a primary research from the citizens of India. This is the time where you can help acid attack survivors and change their and your lives. Rape is another very important topic that people need to understand start spreading awareness on. Both of these problems need your help, so please sign the petitions we provided and start spreading awareness.
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