Take Back the Night Speech

Hey everyone, I attended a bunch of Take Back the Night events in April. If you're not familiar with this event, click here : http://www.takebackthenight.org/.

The following is my speech on the common experiences of women and how that relates to violence against women:

"I would like to take a moment to express heartfelt appreciation to the survivors who chose to speak. Their words have the power to inspire all of us to demand change. As we look out from our perspective as individuals, the urgently of this issue can feel suffocating. But we are not alone.

Preparing for this speech lead me though a process of reflection. I kept coming back to a basic question, how did I end up here? How did I end up standing before you, this evening? My personal call to action finds its roots within a quiet grumbling just below the surface, a quiet nagging dissatisfaction that I wasn’t able to put words to. My development into an activist finds its voice through a series of realizations.

I am not a victim of sexual violence. I do, however, share a basic characteristic with most victims. I am a woman. The way I experience the world is shaped by a continuous fear that my most sacred, feminine space will be brutally stolen from me. I walk quickly to my car with my purse tightly pressing beside me. I make sure my keys are in the classic key fist in case I need to use them to defend myself. I’m careful about who I make eye contact with and for how long. I have trouble trusting male friends. I make sure to wear tennis shoes in the city in case I suddenly need to run. I try to always walk to my car with a friend. I spend an enormous amount of time and energy thinking about how and when to leave my house. And I am not the only one.

Listen to the following scenario.
You’re walking down a busy street with plenty of people milling around. A man is about to walk pass you. You’ve never met this man before and most likely you’ll never see him again. It’s broad daylight outside. As you pass each other, you causally glance over at him. He’s giving you the look. The up and down, ummm I’d like to kick the tires on that ride look. A creepy feeling rises from your gut to rest in the base of your throat. All of a sudden, you’ve shrunk. Your eyes dart away and your pace slightly quickens.
By a show of hands, who can relate to this situation?

Most women have felt that feeling of having their space compromised, violated, or simply ignored. How many times have you watched as a guy put his arm around a female friend and watched her shrink? Watched her jaw set. Saw the uneasiness dance across her face. Watched her shoulders and back grow stiff. How many times have you been that woman? Behind this very general sense of foreboding is a very specific fear that most women share. A fear of sexual assault.

Tonight we come together as a community to address this fear. This night is for all those who understand the feeling of having their space confiscated. This night is for our mothers, sisters, aunts, nieces, friends, AND our brothers, fathers, uncles, nephews. Tonight we walk together across all genders, races, ages, social backgrounds, across all the lines that traditionally divide us, to raise our voices as one. One voice to cry out into the darkness, no more. No more violence. No more fear. No more victims. No more silence. Tonight look around into the faces of your fellow comrades in this fight and gather strength. This struggle goes beyond these walls and beyond this night. Tonight, I make a simple request, use the might, the power, of this voice created this night to carry you pass the naysayers, the self doubt, the pain, and the loneliness that this work can bring. Gather the courage to imagine a world where safety is absolute. A world where fear does not guide our decisions. This night, this moment, is about a declaration that comes shamelessly from anger, pain and most of all, hope. Tonight we as a community, announce that we want better. The power to change the world rests in our voices, tonight and every night. We have a responsibility to all those in this room and beyond, to speak.

Thank you."