Awarenesses

Boobs on parade! Check out Boobiethon. Lushy turned me onto this site. I have joined the ranks and bared my breasts in the name of Breast Cancer Awareness. The only hint I am giving you as to my whereabouts on the site is: I'm as Pretty As A Picture.

Here's what I wonder: How can one month have so many awarenesses? Does it take away the meaning and purpose of having an Awareness Month when so many other causes are sharing it? This site indicates there there are NINE other health related causes being promoted. It is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. That is a whole lot ribbons to wear. People might mistake you for celebrating Gay Pride with all those colors going on- and that isn't until next month...along with Diabetes and Adoption.

I worked for a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault non-profit for 2.5 years. It was incredibly meaningful work and also, incredibly frustrating and sad. I volunteered for a year on the 24 hour crisis line before I applied for a job. There were some nights, after my shift was over, that I would just cry. So much sorrow, so much pain. Later, when I worked as the Community Educator, I went to all the local junior highs, high schools, jails and rehabs to talk about rape and abuse. While I enjoyed the work- teaching, creating dynamic presentations, talking to all different sorts of people about such heated topics- I grew disillusioned. Was I REALLY helping? It felt as though I was being pushed to say one message (boys are bad!) and that felt uncomfortable and wrong. I don't believe that men are the root of the problem. It is a societal problem. Sure, men perpetuate the violence more often then women but there is more to it than that. And frankly, in a 45 minute presentation, you can barely scratch the surface. What about talking about issues of low self-esteem? About our inability to communicate effectively and honestly about such topics as sex and boundaries? There was never enough time to go there and there is where we needed to start. I hope that I was able to reach some of my audience...maybe get them to think about themselves and how they are in relationships.

One time I was at a junior high health class when a student raised his hand and asked, "What is oral sex?" I looked over at the teacher to gauge how to respond and she winked at me and fielded the question. . ."It is when one person puts their mouth on another person's genitals." To which the entire class of 12 year olds groaned and ewwwwwed and laughed. One cried out, "Why would you want to do THAT? Eww!"

Oh, trust me kid, someday you will understand. ;)