Because We've Had Enough

What is being called this generation’s feminism movement- the Slutwalk: A March to End Rape Culture commenced Saturday, September 28, 2013. Hundreds of people arrive at Love Park to make the walk around Center City, Philadelphia to bring awareness to rape culture.

Present in cities across the world, Slutwalk began in 2011 in Toronto. After a police officer said, “Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized,” co-founder, Heather Jarvis, wanted to reclaim the word slut and stop victim shaming.

            This harsh reality does not allow women to be sexual beings without some sort of stigma. Clothing and self- expression become an excuse for rape. Instead of blaming the rapist, society blames those who are raped. It is the victim’s fault because he or she was either intoxicated, wearing revealing clothing, being a tease, or generally just asking for it.

Protesters are encouraged to wear whatever they want. Many choose to march in lingerie to prove clothing does not matter.

            If you talk to those who support the cause, they will tell you it is all about raising awareness. This is not just a woman’s issue, but also a human right’s issue. RAINN – Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, reports that one out of every six women is a victim of sexual violence. But if nine out of ten victims are women- one out of ten victims is male.

For Michael Genery that was the case. He was raped as a child in a boys’ home. He says, “ I struggled, but I turned from a victim to a victor.” Often men are only seen as the perpetrators and we forget they can also be the victims.

            As a society hyper aggressive sexualities in males is tolerated and sometimes promoted. Will Rome said her reason for attending the walk was, “to end internalized misogyny.” To her finding feminism saved her life. The movement is so important because as Rome said, “slut shame is so relevant,” to our culture.

            Many women, including Angela Rose who started Pave – Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment – speak of police blaming victims when they report rape. After being raped, Rose took on the police force and won after they said she caused her kidnap and rape. Most women do not report their rape because they are afraid to be blamed. Women suffer in silence, often blaming themselves.

            Rape is an act of power not of desire.

Creator of Stop Telling Women to Smile, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh attributes street harassment and the control over women’s bodies as major factors. She believes a safe place needs to be made for an open dialogue about sexual assault. Sexologist, Dr. Jill McDevitt teaches, “No has to be the standard and yes is the active choice,” when consenting to sex.

            As protesters marched around center city, sounds of joyous approval and looks of disgust came from those on the sidewalks. But the disapproving looks did not phase those involved as they continued to chant, “wherever we go however we dress no means no and yes means yes; one two three for we won’t take it anymore, five six seven eight no more violence no more hate!”

While the Slutwalk is a relatively new protest, the signs show the importance. One of many read, “Men get raped. Children get raped. Were they showing their tits too?” Silence is the same as doing nothing but there will be no more silence.

"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life. Define yourself." - Harvey Feirstein

Some Like It Hot

 It takes a certain type of person to become a glassblower. 

From waking up at 5:30 in the morning for studio time to the grueling heat of the 2,000-degree furnaces, working glass is not something to approach lightly.

Glass majors at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art know how difficult it can be but cannot avoid the spell glass casts over them. Kyra Buleza, a first year glass major, who initially was interested in painting, said “I kept walking passed the hot shop and thinking I have to get in there.” Though the excitement of the field drew Buleza, it was the sense of community and nurturing teachers that helped her make a last minute decision to become a glass major.

            Because glass is a teamwork intensive activity, a strong sense of trust forms. It is this trust that fosters the growth of the community into a family. Buleza said, “The extent of care is amazing. You are sweating and getting burned for others’ pieces. What is important is the piece. In turn, the gaffer (person working the glass) is trusting you with their piece when transferring it.” 

Sean Redmond, a third year glass major, says, “The person working on the piece is the center of the universe.  You need to protect the piece they are making.”

An amazing amount of dedication is needed to work with glass, shown in the countless hour spent in the studio and an unrelenting work ethic. And if anyone begins to wonder why they are there Buleza said, “(you) look around to see people who have been working all day – everyone motivates each other just by doing their own work. Every one has the same amount of drive and desire to do their best.” 

Evidence of hard work is seen in the burns glass artists have. A simple burn can tell a story of drive or stupidity. It can even tell you what exactly the person was doing when they got the burn. For this reason, Buleza always looks at the hands of glass artists. Both majors, agreed after working with glass nothing hurts as badly. Redmond said that burns "make you feel like you belong – it’s like a tribe, you’ve been initiated.”

The amazing work done in the hot shop can be attributed to the incredible dedication but one cannot forget the studio itself. Tyler is one of the top three college studios in the nation. It is equipped with every sort of way to work with glass – blowing, flameworking, casting, kiln and cold working. 

Despite the fact that glass making has been around for 5,000 years in places such as Murano, Italy, it was only sixty years ago that the contemporary art form began. Since it is so young, Redmond, said, “You can’t say everything in glass has been done before. I could be the person who develops a new technique.” 

Random experimenting and learning from the greats that established the art movement, many of whom are still alive, makes the impact the students could have in the future even more tangible. Pilchauk, a glass school in Washington State, is the pinnacle of the movement- creating no limitations on what can be done. Students aspire to go to Pilchauk. It is the magical place Buleza said where, "boys go to become men."

"Glass is the most magical of materials." - Dale Chihuly