Sexual Violence

For those of you who don’t know, one of the things I do, besides theatre, is work as a hospital advocate and community educator. I know this is a hard thing to think about or talk about but it affects so many people, people in our lives, people that we know and love and care about. Throughout April, I’m going to highlight a few different issues around sexual and domestic violence. I want to share a few statistics with you, focus on a few myths about sexual assault, and most importantly, talk about how YOU can make a difference! I am hugely convicted about this. As bloggers, I think we have a big voice and this is an important time to use it! So I hope it’s okay if we have a conversation…

Source: google.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Here are some numbers…

1 in 6 women have experienced a sexual assault. 1 in 33 men have, too.

Someone is sexually assaulted every two minutes. More than 200,000 people a year.

More than HALF of those assaults will not be reported.

97% of rapists will not spend a day in prison for their crime.

Again, I know this is not easy stuff to think about or talk about. But I hope this month, we’ll try. I encourage you to find out more. Visit RAINN for more information and statistics or for ways to get involved in your community.

If you or someone you know needs help or has questions, you can call the free, confidential 24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline and speak with a trained advocate. They can talk with you about anything or they can direct you to your local hotline, as well.

1-800-656-HOPE

Please feel free to email me or leave a comment if you have questions or thoughts about this issue. I would really love to hear from you.

love, elizabeth

The No Make-Up Challenge

I really love make-up. I love to wear it. I love putting it on. But I sometimes find myself troubled by how much I need make-up to feel like myself. Sometimes I don’t like the face underneath. I’ve always been envious of those women who seem to have a natural, unmasked beauty, a radiant and organic glow that says “I just woke up so refreshed this morning. I took a bath in a forest stream and some little birds brought me these uber-flattering yoga pants. I moisturize…with apricot nectar and fairy dew drops.”  I’ve been dying to know…Do I have a natural beauty hidden behind the foundation and eyeliner? Where are my little birds and yoga pants? Where is my radiant glow???

So last week, I gave myself a little challenge – just a chance to try to appreciate my skin and my face, unenhanced by cosmetics. I used an exfoliating face scrub from Bath & Body Works, Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner (which I only mention because I recently discovered it through Sarah’s blog and it’s awesome), and the generic substitute for Aveeno Daily Moisturizer. One week, no make-up. I took pictures everyday. No touch-ups or editing. The only change I’ve made to any of these pictures is to use auto-levels to better represent natural light. The challenge was to love the face in the mirror sans make-up.

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Day Six

At the end of the week, I can say I’ve made a new peace with my appearance. This face is flawed. It has blemishes and freckles and unevenness. Maybe this face doesn’t have a place in a magazine or in a movie but it is my face, the one God gave me, a face that is half my mom’s and half my dad’s. It is a map of all the places I have been before, it is a signpost along a journey I am continuing to make. I will look back at these pictures and know what it is to have been there. I have found a comfort in that. I kind of like my face.

I still loving wearing makeup. But I think I’m ready to let my own skin shine through a little more.

I want to hear from you. Is wearing make-up an essential part of your routine? What makes you feel most naturally beautiful? What makes you feel confident as you begin a new day?

love, elizabeth

Don’t Call Me Sweetie Pie, Sweetie Pie

Here’s the deal-i-o, men of the workplace. If you are not my father, my husband, or a sweet old man born before 1940, please call me by my name. It’s Elizabeth, by the way. It’s 2011 and if I’m your colleague and your professional equal, I deserve to be treated that way.

And I don’t care how you meant it. When you call me “sweetie pie,” you communicate that you believe that you and I are different, that I am sweet and cute and young and female, and that you are a strong, paternal, authoritative man. But the fact is that you and I have received the same education. We’re doing the same job in the same field. If you wouldn’t call a male PhD student “sweetie,” you shouldn’t call me that, either. I certainly would never address you as “hun” or “sweetheart.” Because that would be disrespectful and unprofessional, possibly even inappropriate.

And don’t hug me without asking my permission. We’re not that friendly.

Source: google.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

 

What can I say? Actual sexism bugs me.

love, elizabeth