Gender Based Violence

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN OUR TOWN - By Chloe Jones

Within Reading community bonds have become stronger and the sense of togetherness is growing. The work put in to make Reading a better and safer place to live is the interests of many. However our work cannot end here, gender-based violence still runs hidden on our streets, sometimes so hidden a victim cannot recognise it. It puts lives at risk and injects fear amongst our town.

The first step to change & revolution is acknowledgment of the issue. By bringing this topic to the surface, refusing to ignore it, can act as cathartic healing for Reading’s trauma, create a conversation, starting a healing journey for many and prevent it from happening again. Of course it is not as simple as gender against gender. And although most victims of gender based violence are women being victimized by men, it is vital not to hate or discriminate against men as this counteracts our mission of equality and harmony. We are ever-evolving human beings, continuously learning and adapting to the things that happen around us.

Misogyny and internalized misogyny has been taught to us since the day we could understand English, through forms of media especially, (tv, magazines, radio, movies) however, many girls report feelings of body shame and inequality in school, as young as 5. And although now as adults it is simple to see and feel how negative it is, we have been unfairly conditioned to this very black and white way of living forever. It is easier and human nature to put someone into a box with a name we are familiar with but this pulls us further away from being able to just accept someone for who they are. A heavily divided society is weaker and individuals may feel more lonely. Standing together & accepting differences, celebrating differences as opposed to letting them turn us against each other, may be the thing that saves us. However if you have ever felt that an experience or felt targeted because of your gender, it is important to feel validation that this is discrimination and as a town, we won’t stand for it.

How to recognise Gender Based Violence

To be able to recognise different types of gender based violence, so you are not left questioning whether your feelings of discrimination are valid; they are, and here is why - gender based violence can be distinguished in 5 interrelated types of violence; • Physical Violence • Verbal Violence • Psychological Violence

• Sexual Violence • Socio-economic Violence Domestic abuse and sexual harrassment both fall into categories of violence and often some or many can be present at once particularly in abusive relationships. All forms may be within someone’s private sphere (families and intimate relationships) or committed by strangers in public space or by organizations, institutions and states.

Who Is A Victim Gender Based Violence

Even though gender based violence can be experienced by anyone, there are more cases against women and girls victimized by men. In particular asylum hard to recognise as we live in a society that silences and gas-lights women. We have come a long way, but quite frankly we cannot stop here! Reading is seeking a revolution, change is needed, our safety must be prioritised and we must look out for each other, the hard to reach members of the community need to know what is available to them. Many services for refugees, asylum seekers, rape/sexual assault victims, victims of verbal abuse, sexual harrassment, domestic violence and injustices within a work environment too, here are services ready to help you. Reading Refugee Support Group: upholds the spirit of the The Refugee Convention of 1951, obligating the United Kingdom to protect and respect the rights of Refugees. Committed to reducing poverty, suffering and social isolation of people who have already faced unimaginable persecution and hardship. Info at info@rrsg.org.uk 01189505356

judgmental space and welcome all women who feel they need help, support and advice. Initially established to support women who had committed offenses but were often victims of trauma themselves, Alana House has developed over the years to support all women with multiple or complex needs who are looking for support to help make positive life changes. Parents and children together: 03004564800 Trust House: Trust House Reading is one of the new Rape Support Centres established as part of the Home Secretary’s commitment to opening up to 15 new rape support centres across the UK. It was initially funded by the Ministry of Justice, is based in Reading and serves the wider Berkshire district. We believe that every individual has the right to be free from all forms of sexual violence and abuse. Trust House Reading’s confidential services place survivors at the heart of what they do, and seek to empower individuals to work through and beyond their experience of abuse. Berkshire Womens Aid: To provide support, advocacy and domestic abuse services to everyone who comes to us experiencing domestic abuse. To provide safe refuge accommodation for women and their children who are affected by domestic abuse and violence.

Everyone should be able to live free from the fear and experience of domestic abuse and violence in their homes and relationships. All BWA activities are underpinned by a set of values adopted by the organization’s volunteers, staff, management and trustees: Welcoming and empowering – we listen, encourage and empower informed choices

Places of safety – we provide environments where anyone using our services can talk freely, live safely and think about the future We do not judge – we listen and provide an environment where people using the service can recognise that some aspects of their life are not the way they want them to be

Trust – you can trust us: confidentiality is paramount and people using our service can count on professional, highly skilled support Equality – we believe in providing support to anyone who needs it, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability Raising awareness – We encourage everyone to understand domestic abuse and violence, to seek support and report concerns. Helpline: 01189504003 helpdesk@ bwaid.org.uk

STREET ARTS VERSUS GRAFFITI

The line between street art and graffiti is fine, both forms can co-exist when artists dance on either side of the line. Art in general is usually fueled by emotion, expression, activism, creativity and sometimes rebelliousness. However, the thing that definitely divides the two, is permission. Whilst graffiti is mainly word based, street art being image based, they are both as meaningful and deserve to be expressed. The artist desires to be heard or seen and remembered.

The Reading council wants to do more to tackle and banish graffiti whilst protecting and encouraging street art. The uprise in art and use of urban spaces is becoming more of a motif in Reading, celebrating expression and titivating a town with colour and uniqueness. It has been stated we as a community will be protecting Banksy’s piece, although the artist didn’t gain permission beforehand and the act itself is illegal, his reputation and subsequent value means that most of his pieces are often protected. He then heroically pledged to sell the stencil to raise money for the space to be transformed into an art space. This is exactly what Reading needs. However, this grey area could confuse street artists/ graffiti artists, as the rule does not seem to apply for everyone. If the value of it is not enough, it is condoned. It cannot be denied that the lengths Banksy goes to share his political art and the attention it brings to an area, can be highly appreciated by anyone. In Bristol, London, Brighton the urban culture, graffiti scene has been accepted and encouraged, where people’s artistic talents are loved. It can be puzzling to think why Reading Council are afraid to encourage, and the idea that it makes a town look unsafe and unclean.

Reading Borough Council housing, neighbourhood and leisure committee have plans to tackle graffiti whilst also introducing a Street Art Advisory Panel to ensure street art is not vandalised or removed.

Adele Barnet Ward said that ‘’it will make a real impact on how our town looks, having a cleaner, safer, greener reading with fewer scribbles on it’’. For artists to gain permission to express their art onto our town’s walls might be a long and discouraging process, and whilst the council picks and chooses which art is considered ‘’safe, green and clean’’ and what is a ‘’scribble’’, it is essentially discouraging this art form altogether. There used to be graffiti walls where artists were permitted to do what they wanted, under bridges especially however this liberty has been taken away. Something like this would be useful for upcoming artists to practice, to gain the chance to paint something with ‘’value’’ and be considered ‘’safe, green and clean’’ on our streets. We hope to see the new Street Art Advisory Panel making a positive impact, art will always be used to take your mind to a safe place.

BLACK FRIDAY: A BLESSING AND A CURSE - By Amber Swali

The day after Thanksgiving and a day to be grateful for all of life’s blessings, marks the day people are given to indulge in their greed and the opportunity to spend as little money as possible, on as many things as possible, most commonly known as Black Friday. While this sounds like an opportunistic holiday that is now celebrated internationally, not everyone reaps the benefits of cheap materialistic goods. When purchasing products during Black Friday weekend, we must consider the repercussions of our impulsive spending habits and question the ethical and moral nature of this holiday.

The origin surrounding Black Friday comes from the fact that retailers and businesses would no longer be ‘in the red’ and be ‘in the black’. It allowed business owners and economists to re-evaluate the extent of consumer confidence and discretionary spending as it is said to be the peak of profit per financial year for retailers. An alternative explanation dates back to the 1960’s in Philadelphia. The police department would complain about the overtime when the streets were packed with shoppers, tourists and fans in town for the next day Army Navy games, an environment rife with shoplifters and big crowds.

However, while the big corporations and companies celebrate being out ‘the red’, and reap financial benefits, it comes at the cost of climate impacts from excessive consumerism, aiding in the cycle of poverty and profits amassed from tax evasion.

Overconsumption of material goods has a harsh effect on the environment, as the production and creation aids in a greater extent of carbon emissions in the atmosphere and puts an abundant strain on the earth’s natural resources. According to a Green Alliance report in 2019, 80% of electronics and clothing, plus the plastic packaging they are wrapped in, end up in landfill, incineration or low-quality recycling after a short life.

Furthermore, companies like Amazon and eBay are said to be worst for likely to use Tax Avoidance strategies, outsourcing their profits to offshore accounts. Amazon published its 2020 tax figures, which showed that despite profits exceeding £128 million, it paid only £3.6 million in corporation tax.

The pressing issue of lawful working conditions and laws has also become a cause for concern and has been exposed by numerous media outlets who commented on the offers made by companies like Pretty Little Thing in 2020. The 99% off sale which saw clothes being sold for as little as 5p made many people question how this was possible all whilst Pretty Little Thing were supposedly paying their workers the correct wages. Model and author Jamie Windhurst tweeted, “Pretty Little Thing selling literal clothes for 5p and still being able to make a profit isn’t funny, it’s a reminder that the industry constantly exploits Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour through unacceptable pay and poor conditions.” The racial issues surrounding issues of workers exploitation are further exemplified when citizens buy into the cheap clothes and the love story of Black Friday.

What we can do to shop more ethically:

Despite the amazing looking deals presented by Amazon, the increase in attention towards the company’s bad practice has led to a global coalition launched demanding that the company addresses the environmental, political, fiscal and workers’ abuse. The hashtag #MakeAmazonPay has brought together an amass of unions, campaigners and organisations to cooperate in the fight against unethical practices, exploited especially on the Black Friday weekend.

Alongside Black Friday, is Buy Nothing Day, which has run since 1997 as a retaliation against Black Friday and to encourage a 24-hour detox from consumerism and to become further educated on the consequences of indulgent spending.

Buying from companies that are known for their ethical practices also aids in the movement away from immoral consumerism that has manifested into society. Patagonia is a prime example of a well-known business trying to change the narrative surrounding this holiday, as in 2016 they donated 100% of their sales to grassroot environmental organisations. On that day, $10 million of sales were made and donated. If more companies took this approach, we would gradually be able to eliminate the social, environmental and immoral fiscal consequences triggered from this single weekend.