Blog | 23 November 2021
16 Days, 16 Actions…
Join us in marking ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’
This Friday, 25th November, marks the start of ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’.
16 Days is an international and annual campaign that started in 1991. It aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence and gets us all talking about how we can end it.
Big words, huge goals, often matched with massive social media coverage and support. But this year we’re bringing the campaign back to its most important part – You.
Our team have put together 16 actions that you can do to learn and unlearn, challenge and act.
Some of these actions are short and quick, and some might take anything from an hour to an evening to complete. Actions highlighted with ** at the start may be triggering for survivors of gender-based violence. So please look after yourself whilst engaging with them, or feel free to skip them all together.
We’d love to know about your 16 Days journey and what you think of each action. So please comment, share and tag us on social media!
- Day 1: Find out what Gender-Based Violence is.
We’ve put our definition below to help you!
Gender-based violence refers to any harmful acts directed at an individual because of their gender. This includes the persistent and systemic emotional, psychological, financial, physical and sexual abuse and violence directed at women and people of marginalised genders around the world. Gender-based violence is deeply rooted in and fuelled by the existing patriarchy and unequal power structures in our society.
- Day 2: Attend the Reclaim The Night Brighton 2021 event and/or follow them on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook.
Reclaim the Night is a demonstration against rape culture, street harassment and sexual violence. The movement began in the 1970s in the UK (after similar marches were held in Germany and Rome) and continues today with the overarching message that we should all be able to walk safely at night without the fear of rape & violence.
- Day 3: Sign up to The Feminist Bookshop Life Drawing Fundraiser event.
Life drawing is a mindful activity that doesn’t require any previous experience, simply an open mind & interest in learning to draw through observation. This event will raise funds for Survivors’ Network.
- Day 4: Read this article on The 6 Things You Need To Know About False Reports of Rape by Dr Nina Burrowes.
Nina’s fantastic article sets the record straight. False reports of rape are consistently and invariably low. The real problem here is that sexual violence is common in our society, and survivors are not believed.
- Day 5: Watch Ben Hurst’s TEDTalk- ‘Boys won’t be boys. Boys will be what we teach them to be.’
- Day 6: Sign up to our newsletter
That way you can keep updated about our trauma-informed frontline services supporting survivors, as well as our campaign and culture change work across Sussex. Plus all the ways that you can get involved too!
- ** Day 7: Watch Michaela Coel’s drama TV series ‘I May Destroy You’ .
This is a brilliantly creative, authentic and responsible exploration of topics relating to sexual violence, gender, race, sexuality, and so much more.
- ** Day 8: Commit to challenging jokes about gender-based violence, including rape jokes.
Fancy watching some comedy that punches at rape culture instead?
- Day 9: Read this article by Anne Wafula Strike about the experiences of disabled women in relation to the #MeToo movement.
Today (Friday 3rd December 2021) marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the perfect opportunity to highlight the nuanced experiences of survivors with disabilities.
- Day 10: Read this gal-dem article about trans-inclusivity in sexual violence support services by Jeevan Ravindran.
“I think it’s really important for rape crisis centres to recognise that being trauma-informed, and being truly feminist at principle, is the same as being trans inclusive” – Kitty (Training Officer at Survivors’ Network). - ** Day 11: Listen to Rupi Kaur’s TedTalk- ‘I’m Taking My Body Back’
This series explores the lived experiences of gender-based violence and trauma amongst the women imprisoned inside HMP Foston Hall. Check out the work of Women in Prison and Bent Bars Project to learn more!
- Day 13: Commit to practicing active consent in your everyday life.
We found this video about consent for children a really helpful starting point! (If you are a parent/carer we would advise that you watch it alone first before sharing it with your children and young people).
- Day 14: Watch this short video explaining the term ‘intersectionality’ and consider what makes up all of your identity, and the folks around you.
- Day 15: Listen to this Surviving Society Podcast episode featuring Professor Alison Phipps.
Alison discusses her ground-breaking book ‘Me, Not You: The Trouble with Mainstream Feminism’ in this fascinating podcast covering an intersectional approach to sexual violence, and our responsibilities around how we campaign to end it.
- Day 16: Look after yourself by practicing self-care.
Why not try one of our interactive grounding techniques?
Thank you for joining us on the above 16 Days journey. We hope you got as much out of these suggestions as we have, and found this a helpful first step in your activist journey towards a kinder world!