V-Day: using technology to end violence

It's V-Season. This is normally the time of the year when i'm in complete feminist chaos, organizing events to raise awareness, funds and create change. For five years, i have been a part of V-Day, an amazing non-profit working to end violence against women and girls worldwide. As the organization diligently worked with amazing women to open safe houses in Kenya, Cairo and the Pine Ridge Reservation, i engaged in activism through my computer. As part of the College and Worldwide Campaigns, i connected all of the activists around the world through a digital web. It started off as mailing lists, but eventually grew to a whole vibrant community site. People shared their stories, their struggles... all in a truly safe space. I am in awe of these women.

V-Day was the first place where i constructed a digital community that felt meaningful. There was a focus, a desire to connect, a true need to support. We were there when one of the cast members committed suicide after her boyfriend beat her. We were there when our organizers got arrested. We were there when they were told that they were being transgressive. Technology allowed us to build a web of people working towards the same goal, across space and time.

As much as i love the digital end, it is always V-Season when i ache to see and experience the physical manifestation of vagina warriors. I'd like to take this moment to encourage you to join me in participating in V-Season, in fighting to end violence against women and girls locally as well as globally. Attend a local V-Day event in February. Or better yet, come with me to Juarez to tell the Mexican government that it is unacceptable that hundreds of women have disappeared and shown up brutally raped and murdered without investigation. At the very least, help support V-Day in working to end violence. V-Day is a fantastic example of what can be done when you connect like-minded people around the world in order to fight atrocities.