Dating Violence in China

Dating violence is aggressive behavior that occurs in intimate dating relationships; it includes physical assault, verbal and psychological aggression, and sexual coercion. This chapter discusses the issue of dating violence globally, with a focus on China. The chapter first presents a case of date rape. It then describes the prevalence of dating violence locally and globally and discusses the risk factors and protective factors. Next, it highlights how transnational feminism is adopted to understand the phenomenon. The chapter situates dating violence in China in the historical trends of women’s movement and violence research. The chapter deconstructs the current myths regarding dating violence and illustrates the current creative advocacy and activism among Chinese young people.

Stepping Forward, Standing Strong

The term human rights defenders was coined after the ratification of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights in 1998. The term encompasses those who identify and act as advocates, activists, professionals, and workers; those who monitor and take reports; and others who work in the human rights arena. The point of unity that all human rights defenders share is that they seek to promote and protect basic civil rights. They may do this in multiple capacities, including providing legal aid, mental health services, casework, and general protection such as providing shelter or security. The work of human rights defenders is difficult and dangerous. In 2017, more than 300 human rights defenders were killed. The Philippines has a history of violations in the spheres of labor, politics, and gender rights. In 2017, there were human rights violations in the form of more than 350,000 displaced persons, more than 4,000 extrajudicial killings, overpopulated prisons, and the trafficking of thousands of women and children. The most effective way to address these violations is through transnational organizing and movement building, cultivating international alliances of women who fight abuses against human rights defenders. These organizations and coalitions operate beyond borders and create change through engagement.

Coping with Loneliness

This chapter examines loneliness and how it affects health and well-being. It discusses how loneliness may lead to ill health but also how ill health may lead to feelings of loneliness. It reviews the evidence suggesting that loneliness is not only linked to overall morbidity and mortality in older adults but also a major predictor of psychological distress. With the global growth of the aging population, considerable research attention focuses on these issues in Europe, the United States, and Australia. The proportion of Australians aged 65 years or older is growing, with prevalence rates of loneliness among older adults as high as 30%. The impact of this is discussed in this chapter, as are recent developments, current conditions, historical trends, transnational feminism and advocacy, and how loneliness impacts the health and well-being of older women in Australia.

The Honor Killing of Qandeel Baloch

Qandeel Baloch, a controversial Pakistani social media star, was killed by her brother in 2016 in the name of “honor.” Using Qandeel’s honor killing as a case study, this chapter analyzes honor killings to gain a better understanding of what they are, their prevalence, and the factors attributable to them, particularly in South Asia. The chapter also examines the role that social media has played globally in giving marginalized populations a voice and platform online while simultaneously making them more vulnerable to cyberbullying, harassment, and, in Qandeel’s case, even death. Through contextual and empirical accounts, the chapter cautions readers to not think of honor killings as a faith-based problem confined to a particular geographical region but, rather, as a larger epidemic that is strongly rooted in a culture that persists, to a small extent, in developed countries as well.

Non-Consensual Image Sharing

Non-consensual image sharing is a 21st-century concern at the intersection of some of the most difficult challenges of our time: sexual trauma, victims’ rights, internet privacy, and free speech. Also known as non-consensual pornography, technology-facilitated violence, and revenge pornography, the phenomenon occurs when sexually explicit, nude or semi-nude photos are distributed without the consent of the individual pictured. This chapter explores non-consensual image sharing research and discusses trends as well as future questions that have yet to be answered about the pervasiveness of this problem. It is asserted that research on the impact of cyber sexual exploitation on victims is needed, as are initiatives that integrate victim resources, tools for law enforcement, and technical resources to identify and remove content.

The Women of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation

This chapter describes the impact of colonialism on indigenous women with a focus on the experience of the Lakota women on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota. It explores the experiences of indigenous women as related to history, culture, intrapersonal violence, and internalized oppression. A case study of a Lakota woman is provided as an example of strength and triumph in overcoming adversity and being empowered despite the challenges of marginalization faced by many Native Americans in the United States and indigenous women throughout the world. The chapter discusses how readers can be advocates and actively engage in decolonizing and dismantling systems of oppression to protect future generations and to allow indigenous communities to heal and revitalize.

Rural Girls’ Educational Empowerment in Urbanizing China

Secondary schooling may empower rural girls migrating to the cities in China to control resources, improve family well-being intergenerationally, and become leaders in their communities. Majority Han and minority Mongolian girls live in very different socioeconomic and policy environments, are affected by different schooling, have inherited different gendered cultural norms, and expect to thrive in different socioeconomic and political futures. Interviews exploring their aspirations and agency show that senior secondary schooling enables both Mongolian and Han girls to act forcefully on their own behalf but differences by ethnicity and socioeconomic location. Mongolian girls benefit from Mongolian traditions of valuing women more highly by developing greater independence compared to Han girls, who lack confidence compelled by Confucian patriarchal traditions. Mongolian girls foresee professional futures, although they worry about Mongolian language limitations; Han girls aspire to finding and keeping simple stable work. Implications for diverse educational and economic policies for the two regions are drawn.

Women and Climate Change

This chapter aims to contribute to discussions concerning the global oppression of women by highlighting the ways in which the status of women intersects with climate change throughout the world. Empirical research shows that women’s representation in political organizations and their incorporation into decision-making processes are associated with lower contributions to climate change and overall improvements in sustainability across nations. These findings suggest that the status of women has a substantive bearing on the environmental and ecological future of the planet. Other research shows that women’s role as primary producers of food for the household results in a disproportionate burden of climate change for women, who leverage myriad strategies to adapt to changing conditions. In reviewing past qualitative and quantitative findings on climate change and women, the chapters focuses on the West African nation of Ghana, arguing that development and environmental policies would benefit from greater sensitivity to the ways in which climate change shapes women’s social, political, and economic opportunities. In doing so, the chapter utilizes ecofeminist theories to highlight critical links to achieving greater gender equality across social, political, economic, and environmental lines.

Peacebuilding and Gender Inclusivity

The work of women’s groups and organizations in conflict zones is underestimated and underresourced, yet these groups continue to be a voice of the marginalized. By examining the case of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, this chapter seeks to demonstrate how women’s role in peacebuilding is pivotal and should not be trivialized. Women have proven to be more nonviolent, they have differentiated needs in conflict, and they are more successful at utilizing out-of-the-box methods. When official top-down approaches fail women, civil society organizations step in to fill the gaps. Whereas formal negotiation tactics often seem to be fruitless, out-of-the-box tools are created to develop connections and safe spaces to share, listen, and build empathy. These steps should not be overlooked; instead, they underscore that women’s inclusion in peace processes is imperative.

Global Violence of Women in Cults

This chapter focuses on the experiences of women in high demand groups, also known as “cults.” Despite the chapter’s regional focus on North America, particularly the United States, this is a transnational phenomenon with satellite communities throughout the world. The chapter provides a brief history of cults in the United States and highlights the various abuses to which women are subjected, from psychological abuses such as medical neglect, loss of reproductive rights, separation from children, and attachment trauma to physical and sexual violence. The chapter also discusses legal obstacles to remedying these human rights violations, provides resources for assistance, and makes suggestions for advocacy.