-
Violence against women a world crisis
Photo credit: Urbanite
A Congolese woman awaits treatment at a clinic for rape survivors in Goma. (Getty)
The stigma of rape and mutilation by soldiers. The sting of a single, angry slap to the face. The suppression of the right to vote or attend school.
In every corner and to varying degrees, injustices against women cast a shadow over efforts to protect human rights.
“It is a far too prevalent scourge in many parts of the world. In fact, in all parts of the world in terms of domestic violence,” said Frederick Jones, spokesman for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who plans to reintroduce the International Violence Against Women Act in Congress this year.
One in three females will be beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime, according to the United Nations Development Fund for Women. And in some countries, nearly 70 percent of women report brutality that includes dowry violence and genital mutilation.
amNewYork examined some regions of the world and the gender-based injustices that plague them.
Congo: Rape as a weapon
Hundreds of thousands of women and girls have been raped during 12 years of civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Melanne Verveer, the newly appointed U.S. ambassador for global women’s issues, recently told a Senate subcommittee.
An average of 36 are sexually attacked each day, some also mutilated and left with “a lifelong badge of shame,” she said.Since January, the mass-rape epidemic has escalated in areas occupied by armed Congolese soldiers, whose responsibility is to protect their citizens, according to Human Rights Watch.
“The goal is to break apart communities. The women are seen as consorting with the enemies and their families — their fathers, brothers and husbands — are made to watch,” said Amnesty International spokeswoman Suzanne Trimel. “It’s a breakdown of humanity.”
The United States: Tangle of violence
In and around American Indian and Alaskan Indian reservations, sexual assault is commonplace. Those of native descent are 21/2 times more likely than other American women to be raped or sexually attacked, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Nothing was being done,” said Sarah Deer, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma and a tribal law expert, who knows “many, many friends subjected to violence.” In fact, few American Indian women report not knowing a rape victim.
In about 86 percent of reported crimes, the attackers are non-native, the Justice Department found. Deer called the statistic “an anomaly in criminology,” adding that tribes cannot prosecute offenders who aren’t American Indian. The jurisdictional tangles are compounded by underfunded and poorly equipped tribal police and health care centers.
Afghanistan: Wresting back rights
The oppressive effects of Taliban rule have waned since foreign forces intervened in 2001, but the guerrilla resurgence threatens what few rights Afghan women have reclaimed.
Under the Taliban, females were required to be accompanied by a male relative in public and wear a head-to-toe covering. They also were barred from pursuing an education, but the recent return to schools for Afghan girls has been perilous.
“Hundreds of schools — probably approaching a thousand girls’ schools — have been attacked, bombed, arsoned. Acid has been sprayed on them as they walk to school,” said Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation.
Last month, two poisonous gas attacks on schools in northeast Afghanistan sent more than 140 girls to the hospital. Many students returned to classes eagerly despite disfigurement.
“It shows you the determination of the human spirit,” Smeal said.
In a similar show of resilience weeks earlier in Kabul, Afghan women marched in protest of a new law permitting marital rape, among other abuses.
India: Death by fire
Dowry deaths, honor killings and rare but brutal cases of sati — the burning of a widow on her husband’s funeral pyre — point to the enduring patriarchal society in parts of India.
Deaths by burning, beyond sati, are prevalent. A medical journal in March reported that women accounted for 65 percent of India’s 163,000 fire-related deaths in 2001. Most deaths were females between 15 and 34, the Lancet found.
“People call it ‘cooking accidents’ or ‘kitchen accidents,’ but because most people use kerosene to cook, it becomes a very easy method for intentionally killing people,” said Nisha Varia, of Human Rights Watch.
About 5,000 Indian brides are killed each year in disputes over dowries, according to UNICEF estimates.
Honor killings, however, reach far beyond India into Jordan, Italy, the United States and other countries, human rights advocates said. Fathers, mothers and husbands justify the murders as protecting the family name from divorce attempts, immodest wardrobes and, in one case, a dream that the wife had cheated.
Economic freedom as a lifesaver
Women worldwide are marching in protest, reporting abuse and speaking out against violence, even as their lives are threatened.
But beyond thwarting injustices, advancing women’s economic situations is paramount, advocates contend.
Females able to own land, earn money and receive an education are more independent and empowered, experts said. Their contributions can boost an impoverished country’s economy as well as liberate them from violent situations.
“It’s ethical and economical,” said Trimel, of Amnesty International. “If you don’t address this problem, you’re going to see the same cycle of poverty and abuse.”
Pakistani women in Lahore protest the public flogging of a veiled woman. (Getty)
Steps taken this year by the United States:
* Creation of White House Council on Women and Girls.
* Appointment of Melanne Verveer to a new ambassador-at-large for global women’s issues post at the State Department.
* Formation of a global women’s rights subcommittee in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
* Planned reintroduction of the International Violence Against Women Act by Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) to coordinate various agency funding across the world.
‘Prevalent scourge': Gender discrimination and violence elsewhere
Eastern Europe: The region, which includes Albania and Bulgaria, is the largest recent source of sex trafficking, with about 200,000 people moved annually to other parts of the world, according to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
China: A one-child government policy and a preference for sons has resulted in abortions of female fetuses and left the country with 32 million more young males than females, according to BMJ (the British Medical Journal).
Saudi Arabia: Women are not permitted to vote or drive, oppressive measures highlighted after a judge’s controversial statement last month that husbands can slap their wives.
Africa: About 28 countries practice female genital mutilation, though it is increasingly condemned. The World Health Organization estimates as many as 140 million females worldwide are living with the excruciating effects of mutilation.
Tags: women's rights, violence against women, congress, congo, american indian, afghanistan
-
Crown Heights deli now a general store for skateboarders with an eye for vintage
Photo credit: Urbanite
Michael J. Sclafani and Valentine Leung run Park Delicatessen,
a skateboard, flowers and dry goods store in Crown Heights. (Willie Davis)
It seems like an accident waiting to happen: selling skateboards alongside flower pots and antiques.
A classic bull-china shop scenario, but it works for Michael J. Sclafani and his wife, Valentine Leung, who restored Park Delicatessen at 533 Park Place in Crown Heights. They turned the old deli into a general store, selling skateboards; T-shirts; vintage dry goods; old gardening equipment; flowers on weekends; and Coca-Cola imported from Mexico, where it’s made with sugar cane, not corn syrup.
“They look great in the bucket,” Sclafani said, pointing to the longneck soda bottles on ice.
Just then, Jason House, 33, came in and yanked a Coke from the pail. House was the shop’s first customer when it opened in April.
“I like to stop in and see what new stuff they have,” he said.Sclafani buys the ice for the Cokes from an old-fashioned icehouse, which is cheaper than a bodega and seems to fit his style. He found a deal on ice the way he rummages through roadside sales in search of old dry goods.
Despite selling a mash-up of flowers, skateboards and dry goods, the store reflects Sclafani and Leung’s interests.
Sclafani has an eye for antiques and even the storefront is vintage New York. He kept the name Park Delicatessen from the shop’s early days. He’s leaving the faded, broken sign out front as it is. Inside, the tin ceiling is mint, the display freezers show off a collection of old skateboards, and the deli counter remains.
Since the store opened, it has become a hangout for skaters. On Saturday, Tyri Quesaunders, 13, was buying a new board. Kids were out front doing tricks off a wood ramp.
Tyri said he was excited when the Delicatessen opened, because there are no skate shops nearby.
The character of the store is sometimes lost on the younger generation of Crown Heights skaters, who are there for the latest skate gear. They hardly see the other half of the shop lined with old wares.
“A lot of the skateboarding kids don’t even notice it,” Sclafani said. “They’ll turn around and ask, ‘What is all this stuff?’”
Tags: park delicatessen, crown heights, small business, retail, vintage skateboards, skaters, boarding, storefront, flowers, dry goods, antiques, general store, skate shop, shopping, neighborhoods, economy, brooklyn
-
amNewYork letters to the editor
Bloomberg can’t stand the heat
Mayor Michael Bloomberg displayed his lack of understanding of the democratic process when he called a reporter “a disgrace” for questioning his motives for seeking a third term. The question was warranted and demanded an answer. I am calling on Bloomberg to withdraw from the election and give someone with compassion and a soul a chance to run. As Harry Truman said, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
— Paul Chechanover, Forest Hills
Sotomayor proves the dream is alive
Re “‘Supreme’ choice,” May 27: Your front page photo of President Barack Obama and Sonia Sotomayor was fabulous. The picture is worth a thousand words. The historic event of America’s first black president nominating America’s first Latina Supreme Court justice is emotionally compelling evidence that the American dream is alive.
— Serena Nanda, Manhattan
Domestic workers need protection
Re “Linen CEO charged with beating his maid,” May 28: I read with disgust the story of George Bardwil, CEO of Bardwil Industries Inc. Domestic workers lack many basic labor protections that other workers rely on, and since they work in the isolation of private homes they are especially vulnerable to abuse. Our elected officials should pass the NY State Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights.
— Maria Svart, Sheepshead Bay
Tags: letters to the editor
-
TJ tries for 100-plus interviews in 24 hours
Photo credit: Urbanite
TJ Walker knows how to talk. And, on Monday, he’ll try to talk his way into a Guinness record.
The communications expert, who often helps amNewYork break down politicians’ speeches, will attempt to shatter a Guinness World Record for most radio appearances in one day. Seventy-two is the record, and TJ and co-author Jess Todtfeld (“TJ Walker’s Secret to Foolproof Presentations”) are aiming for more than 115 in 24 hours.
Listen in ... to almost any station.
— Emily Ngo
-
Standing out at a busy job fair
Photo credit: Urbanite
Dress professionally, have a strong handshake and act confident. These are some of the things that will help you stand out at a job fair.
The city is chock full of job fairs at the moment.
But success at these events depends on standing out amongst hundreds of other job-seekers.
We asked Nicole Williams, a career expert, TV personality and author, for advice on how to do just that. Williams explained that you need to ace both verbal and non-verbal communication.
Non-verbal cues
“People are making assessments based on how you look,” Williams said.
For that reason, it’s important to wear a suit and carry a professional-looking bag with a resume tucked into a folder. “You need to indicate that you’re taking this seriously,” she said.
“It’s also about what you can do to differentiate yourself — that means good posture and a strong handshake,” Williams said.
You must also bring a business card. Even if you’re not working, you can have a good quality card made that includes your contact information and the kind of job you’re seeking.Verbal cues
“It’s all about connecting and differentiating yourself from the crowd,” said Williams.
She explained that it’s important to show you can engage others, ask good questions and respond in a human way, and not with the same, canned answers they hear from everyone else.
“Ultimately people hire those they like and want to spend time with,” she said.
Follow-up
Oftentimes recruiters won’t give you their contact information, but if they do, Williams suggested following up in a couple of days, and resending your resume.
“If you contact them too early, the e-mail might get lost. Since they’re just getting back to their offices, catching up and work and reviewing the job fair,” she said.
While Williams said she likes a handwritten note, e-mail is fine. “If you wait too long, you lose momentum.”
Looking elsewhere
“There’s a huge hidden job market, so think of everyday as a job fair,” Williams said.
Because some employers are forgoing the expense of a job fair (and avoiding them for fear of being inundated with candidates), you must be willing to network everywhere. Try it at the dog run, the salon — anywhere you can go and meet new people.
Tags: job fairs, career fairs, new york job fairs, new jobs, looking for work, job posting
-
Career Closeup: Making a difference one-on-one
Photo credit: Urbanite
Social workers provide comfort and support to their clients. They also help them pay bills and remind them to take medication.
Special to amNewYork
While it’s not the highest paying or most glamorous job out there, social workers can feel good about themselves, knowing they help people with emotional, medical and government boosts.
“Social workers are committed to social and economic justice for all,” said Darrell P. Wheeler, associate dean of Hunter College School of Social Work.
What social work involves
The basic job is “case work,” or counseling, with individuals and families. Work environments include schools, hospitals, clinics, senior residences, group homes, community centers, government agencies, private foundations, courts and prisons.
Some social workers supervise other social workers, run agencies and nonprofits or become policy advocates.Social work training
An M.S.W. (master’s in social work) “is the desirable credential that allows a social worker to manage her own cases and move up the ladder,” said Wheeler. Hunter College’s highly regarded M.S.W. program is offered full- and part-time.
The M.S.W. is followed up with a licensing exam. Two more years can bring the C.S.W. (clinical social work) designation. This lets a social worker open a private therapy practice, often to supplement a staff job.
To get a taste of a career change to social work, “volunteer with an organization like Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said Samantha Alvarez, a social worker with Good Shepherd Services, a New York social services and youth development agency.
What to expect
“Social work is not a routine office job,” Alvarez said. “You’re a part of your clinical team, and you become like family with your clients. Every day is varied, interesting and rewarding.”
One major downside is that the job can be emotionally draining, because you’re dealing with tough cases, that sometimes don’t get that much better.
But it can still be a nice change for those looking to make a difference and get out of the cubicle.
Added Wheeler, “People are tired of pushing products and crunching numbers. What’s more meaningful than improving lives? Our career’s motto is ‘the power to change.’”
Job Snapshot: Social Worker
Education: L.M.S.W. (License plus Master’s in Social Work). The M.S.W. program at Hunter takes about two years; www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork
Salary: With new L.M.S.W.:40-50K; higher with experience, therapy practice or director duties
Skills: Commitment; patience; time and project management; foreign languages a plus
Drawbacks: Must deal with bureaucracy, tough, harrowing situations and often low pay
Forecast: Field is expanding; growth specialties are kids, veterans, seniors
Learn more: bls.gov/oco/ocos060.htm; helpstartshere.org
Tags: social work, social workers
-
Looking for work? This week's job fairs and events
Photo credit: Urbanite
Tuesday, June 2: Manhattan Review’s Free GMAT and How to Get into a Top MBA Program Seminars
Location: 420 Lexington Ave., suite 2310
Time: 7-9 p.m.
To register: Free, 212-997-1660 for more information
Wednesday, June 3: Green Jobs Summit
Location: FIT’S Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, Seventh Ave. at 27th St.
Time: 5-7 p.m.
To register: $15, JanetaBachnick.com/GreenJobsSummit.htmlWednesday, June 3: Diversity Job Fair
Location: Affinia Manhattan, 371 Seventh Ave.
Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
To register: Free, DiversityJobFairs.com
Wednesday, June 3: Writing cover notes and letters that make you stand out
Location: New York Public Library, Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Ave.
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
To register: Free, 212-644-3894 for more information
Wednesday, June 3: Company Contacts for Job Seekers
Location: New York Public Library Science, Industry, and Business Library, 188 Madison Ave., Lower Level ETC 2
Time: 1:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
To register: Free, 212-592-7000 for more information
Thursday, June 4: Uniondale Job Expo
Location: Marriott, 101 James Doolittle Blvd., Uniondale
Time: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
To register: Free, JobExpo.com
Thursday, June 4: Semi-Annual Not-for-Profit Fiscal Workshop
Location: Friars Club, 57 E. 55th St.
Time: 2-5 p.m.
To register: Free, 212-697-6900 for more information
Tags: job fairs, career fairs, new york job fairs, new jobs, looking for work, job posting, job front
-
Pre-fare hike MetroCards won't expire until August
Photo credit: Urbanite
Straphangers will get some breathing room when the MTA fare increase kicks in.
Riders who buy an unlimited MetroCard before the June 28 fare hike and swipe it by July 6 can continue to use it, NYC Transit officials said.
Grace periods for unlimited MetroCards are as follows:
• Monthly MetroCards will last until Aug. 4
• 14-Day cards will be valid through July 19
• Weekly cards will last until July 12
• Single-day unlimited cards will be valid through July 6
Riders who activate their unlimited MetroCards by July 6 but don’t use them can mail them to the MTA for a refund after Aug. 4, officials said.With the fare hike, base subway and bus fares will rise by a quarter, to $2.25. The cost of monthly MetroCards will increase from $81 to $89. A 14-day card will rise to $51.50, a weekly card will cost $27 and a one-day pass will increase to $8.25.
The MTA is raising fares by an average of 10 percent to help plug a $1.8 billion budget deficit.
Tags: metrocard, mta, subways, new york city, transit
-
Supreme predicament for GOP
Photo credit: Urbanite
Oh, this could be great for Obama and the Democrats.
If Republicans will just keep pulverizing Sonia Sotomayor, they might well achieve a rare double fiasco for the Once-Grand Party - pursuing a doomed campaign against a highly qualified Supreme Court nominee and guaranteeing that Latinos will vote Democratic for the next 30 years.
Yes, they can!
And the Soto-bashers have been getting loud encouragement from the official party elders: Newt Gingrich (“Racist!”). Rush Limbaugh (“Racist!”). Karl Rove (“Stupid!”).
That same nasty rhetoric has been lighting up the phones this week on conservative talk radio, just as the build-a-wall-and-send-the-immigrants-home talk did last year and the year before.
And it’s proving every bit as alienating to the one growing group in America that Republicans actually had a chance with.
Hispanics.By now, most Americans - and almost all people with Spanish surnames - are aware of Sotomayor’s extraordinary bio and impressive accomplishments.
The childhood in a Bronx housing project with a hardworking single mother. The top grades at Princeton and Yale Law. The stints as a Manhattan DA and corporate lawyer. Her 16 years as a federal district and appellate court judge.
There’s also the political reality that Democrats have 59 votes in the Senate and probably will have 60 by the time this nomination is voted on.
So what’s the explanation? Why fight a losing battle against an obviously qualified nominee? Why needlessly alienate a crucial voting bloc?
Habit and shortsightedness, mainly.
The people who’ve been guiding the Republican Party - the ones who lost the White House, the Senate and the House - keep falling back on some once-effective techniques: Forget about the middle. Play to the rigid conservatives in the Republican base.
Feed ’em guns, gays, religion and hostility to immigrants.
Between Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, that was enough to win some bare majorities.
But America has been changing, growing more diverse, and that divisive rhetoric isn’t working like it did.
But it still fills the coffers of special-interest groups. And it still excites the base.
It may be yesterday’s strategy. But until something new comes along, it’s today’s strategy, too.
(Ellis@Henican.com, Twitter.com/Henican)
Tags: ellis henican, sonia sotomayor
-
MTA offers mobile transit directions
Photo credit: Urbanite
For those of you not cruising around with an iPhone or BlackBerry, you can now get train directions on the fly.
NYC Transit will begin offering a free automated phone service Friday that provides bus and train information, officials said. “Trip Planner Voice” will provide 24-7 directions based on an address, intersection or landmark. Hopefully, it will become the Hop Stop for the cell phone set.
“Finding the easiest and fastest way to take a trip should not be a chore,” Transit spokesman Paul Fleuranges said.
Transit now provides directions to an average of 4,500 riders a day through their call-in center. The new automatic service is meant to reduce wait times, official said.
To reach the service, call 718-330-1234. Transit also offers on-line trip planning at www.tripplanner.mta.info.
Tags: transit
