Friend, Did you watch the Golden Globes last night? Wow - what a historic evening. In case you missed it, women and men in Hollywood made one powerful statement after another about speaking up about sexual abuse and harassment, imploring all of us to step forward, protect and advocate for those who don't have a voice, and support those who have had the courage to come forward. One of the highlights of the night was an inspirational speech by Oprah Winfrey. In her remarks, she included the following: "Each of us in this room are celebrated because of the stories that we tell, and this year we became the story. But it's not just a story affecting the entertainment industry. It's one that transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics, or workplace. So I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue. They're the women whose names we'll never know. They are domestic workers and farm workers. They are working in factories and they work in restaurants and they're in academia, engineering, medicine, and science. They're part of the world of tech and politics and business. They're our athletes in the Olympics and they're our soldiers in the military." At SAN, this statement hit way too close to home for us (both literally and figuratively). Every day, we assist women right here in Southern California who have experienced sexual assault in their homes and work places. Nearly all of the clients we serve are either homemakers or work in the service industry, have limited English proficiency, and are more often than not, new immigrants to this country, unfamiliar with their rights and resources. We applaud those in Hollywood who are leading the Time's Up campaign and the trailblazers of the #MeToo movement for their incredible work in bringing this important issue out of its shadows. As South Asian Americans, I hope we can follow suit. Sexual assault continues to be a taboo topic in our community - that is NOT acceptable. If you're ready to take action, we could use your help in one or more of the following ways: -
Volunteering for our Awaz- Voices Against Violence program by serving as a bilingual advocate or intake coordinator; -
Spreading the word about our services for survivors of domestic violence/sexual assault; and -
Donating to our organization, so we can continue to serve more women and families who come through our doors. Last, but certainly not least, if you or someone you know is in need of assistance, PLEASE contact us. Our services are free and confidential, and available in five South Asian languages (Hindi, Urdu, Bangla, Gujarati, and Nepali). If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911. 2018 is being referred to as the "Year of the Woman." Only we can ensure that this isn't just rhetoric, but a new reality. Let's get to work! Shikha Bhatnagar
Executive Director |
