Happy International Women's Day!!!!
International Women’s Day isn’t something I really celebrated, or even remember hearing of before coming to Mexico. But, this morning I was reflecting on what this day means for me, doing what I do (and being a woman). I spend almost every day either preparing lessons, activities, and information for or actually working with and pouring into young girls who have been marginalized, abused, victimized, and taken advantage of. To the most extreme degree, they were seen as nothing more than a product to sell. This day is about a lot more than celebrating the beautiful, sweet, precious daughters God created. It’s also about celebrating the strong, resilient, powerful, life-giving beings He made us to be, and we prove ourselves to be every day. More than that, it’s about the fighting we still have left to do.
Some of us are inclined to think “No, men and women already have equal rights, equal treatment, they are equal. What are you fighting for and complaining about?” In our daily lives, in the midst of micro-sexism and machismo, we can easily forget that there is still a fight left to win. These things just seem normal to us. Often the fight can seem misdirected. White feminism is very real, and it creates problems and barriers, and I say this as a middle-class white girl. I know I’m part of the problem. But I’m also doing my part to work toward a solution. Every day I can make one of the 8 girls in the home, even just one of them, feel more empowered as a young woman, we’ve won. We’ve all won. This day is not just a celebration, but a call to action. Every 98 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. 1 out of every 6 American women have been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. (Stats from RAAIN)
This day is also for every woman around the world. From the girl smacking away a grabby hand on the subway to the 12 year old being trafficked in Mexico. From the woman being told to “smile more” by a winking stranger on the street, to the child-bride in India. From the rape victim being blamed because “she was probably asking for it, wearing that!” ,to the mom who saw no other option than to entrust her daughter to a stranger, and give her a “better life” she was promised. There are over 27 million victims of human trafficking in the world today. If you weren’t already aware, modern day slavery exists and we can’t keep ignoring it. Femicide, women being killed simply just for being women, is rampant. 7 femicides occur every day in Mexico, 2,555 a year on average. This day to me is a call to action to fight against all the abuse, harassment, assault, and rape that happens every day. There are so many ways to do your part.
You might say, “8 girls, is that all there is the home she works at? That’s not many people she’s ‘empowering’.” Believe me, even I get caught up in the numbers and feeling like it’s not enough. But I was once taught that it’s all part of a chain reaction. If I can help empower and impact, and heal from abuse, 8 girls, each one of them will go on to empower a sister, daughter, friend -someone- who will then go on to help and empower someone else, and on and on it goes. I also sense a lot of hope when thinking about those girls who have already left our home, for the people they will go on to empower.I have faith that they learned something and were changes during their time in EL Pozo, no matter how short. I have faith that each one of them will go on to do great things. Our efforts aren’t pointless or fruitless, even though sometimes it may seem like it. Keep doing whatever it is you’re doing to lift your sisters up. Defend, advocate, stand-up, and step in. Men this message is for you too. We need you to stand with us, and we thank you for doing so. It means more than you know.
Before coming to Mexico, I knew women were victimized and abused, but never thought I needed to or could do anything about it. Coming here has taught me I can and I should. Not only that, but I feel a strong calling that this isn’t the end of my journey in fighting against the abuse of women. I have been reminded of and connected to many ministries and organizations, like the House of Hope, in the states that God may be calling me to work with in the future. Before coming to Mexico, I wanted to study addictions counseling, and while I’m still very interested in that, my calling has changed some and is now more than ever directed towards finding a way to serve, help, heal, and protect marginalized women everywhere. My vision for my life and God’s ministry has expanded exponentially. It’s so much bigger than I could’ve imagined. I’m expectant and hopeful to see where and to what He will call me next. This is only the beginning of the story. I hope my experience here in Mexico and the stories I share can expand your vision and world as well. And for now, I will do my best to walk into that home every day and give the girls the healing tools and opportunities they need to be the best they can be.