International Working Women’s Day: Rihanna Rung the Bell
International Working Women’s Day (IWD) comes exactly a month after the domestic violence complaint filed by R&B sensation Rihanna against her boyfriend and superstar Chris Brown on February 8th 2009.
International Working Woman’s Day (IWD) is marked on March 8th every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. Started as a political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries (primarily Russia and the countries of former Soviet bloc). In some celebrations, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love to the women around them in a way somewhat similar to Mother’s Day and St.Valentine’s Day mixed together. In others, however, the political and human rights theme as designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.
I’ve been going through the numerous blogs circling what definitely must be the biggest story in the Music Industry this year. Believe me, what I’ve come across is far from just startling. Many of my male friends seem to be on the same page as I am and are not just ashamed but moreso saddened and disappointed by Brown’s actions. It is alleged he punched, bit and even strangled Rihanna and a picture floating about on the internet shows a very badly bruised Rihanna, with split lips and contusions all over her face. Going back to the blogs: what surprised me was some of the posts by many of Chris Brown’s female fans who came up with various excuses meant to vindicate his miscellaneous behaviour: Rihanna has a short temper and provoked Chris, women should realise that if they hit or try and fight men they are going to fight back, inter alia. Whether or not one (man or woman) is provoked, violence should never be an option as to resolving an issue.
What I found truly relevant after pondering over such responses, was that these were the same women who were being abused at home, victims or victims to be and not jus victims like Rihanna, but the victims who have ultimately decided to live in abuse, live with domestic violence. Rihanna deserves a standing ovation for showing courage and reporting the matter to the police. I believe she could become a great Ambassador of the campaign against domestic violence and even Ring The Bell, bring awareness to the matter and influence those silently suffering to come out in the open and free themselves. In fact I think I’ll ask my boss to contact our New York Office and have them get in touch with Def Jam and Rihanna’s representatives.
Jay-Z, Neyo, Kanye West, Paul Wall and John Legend have all spoken up on the issue, and though they didn’t crucify Chris Brown, for lack of full details on the incident, they did say that harming a woman was inexcusable and have been there for Rihanna during this tumultuous time. This should be a lesson for the rest of you men out there.
Tagged domestic violence
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