On Feb. 8 Alissa Blanton was murdered by Roger Troy, who stalked her for two years. A week before her death, Blanton was denied an order of protection by Brevard County Circuit Court Judge Dean Moxley.
Along with the delight of being in a new city, I have struggled as a feminist with whether or not I needed to have some form of hand-held self-defense. I did a quick survey, and National NOW staff members and interns have carried the following items for self protection: pepper spray, tai chi skills, a whistle key ring, a big heavy bag, mace, keys, even an old showerhead.
Shackling of pregnant women is an alarming trend in United States’ prisons. Only six states in the U.S. have laws expressly condemning the practice. The Pennsylvania legislature recently introduced an anti-shackling bill that received unanimous approval in the Judiciary Committee, and Washington state has a proposed bill hopefully being introduced soon. As more women are being incarcerated as a result of increasingly harsh drug laws, the number of pregnant women in prison has also increased, making shackling an even more pressing issue.
A high school girl is gang raped for two and a half hours at her high school homecoming dance.
Every minute three women are raped in the U.S. Teenage girls are especially at risk. According to a 2000 National Crime Survey, girls ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely to be victims of rape, attempted rape of sexual assault.
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