Abdullah Bonuhayah Blog

"Color of violence" comes as an essential intervention in the war against women of color. Part two of this book titled Forms of Violence it has 14cahpters. This part comes after the first part has made us understand the violence targeted towards women; the part makes it important to address the forms in which violence is perpetrated towards women specifically focusing on the way such kind of violence is propagated by the state. Forms of violence disclosed to as the kind of violence netted towards women that are quite often disregarded when it comes to scholarships and traditional activism. Law Enforcement Violence against Women of Color; by Andrea Ritchie’s conflicts the idea that the criminal justice system can protect women effectively. Four Generations in Resistance, by Dana Erekat, addresses the impact that military violence meted against North African women. Aishah Simmons’s “The War Against Black Women, and the Making of NO!,” traces all the eleven years it took her to...

In Spike Lee’s 1986 film, “She’s Gotta Have It”, a revolutionary representation of sex is showcased on the big screen. The film follows the life of an up and coming artist in Brooklyn, Nola Darling. Nola was, and still is, a refreshing depiction of black womanhood in movies. She is nonchalant and easy-going, confident and as sexually liberated as a woman could be in the mid-eighties. Despite being filled with bubbling talent, Nola maintains an ordinary lifestyle, surrounded by friends, family and her three lovers. The final characteristic has to be the most memorable aspect of the film, as the concept of non-monogamous or polyamorous relationships are rarely explored on the mainstream media. Instead, heroes and heroines are expected to be encapsulated within the tight restraints of monogamous, heteronormative romance. For the major part of the film, though, Nola’s decision to have relationships with different men is not outwardly questioned or judged. However, as the film comes to its...

Consent is permitting something to happen. When it comes to sexual activities such as oral sex, vaginal penetration or genital touching, consent applies when a person allows or says “YES” to another proceed with the activity. Consent to have sex is reversible. Both parties can say NO at any point of the activity and respect the decisions, withdrawal of consent (Dougherty, 2013) . As per the law, sex is legal as long as both parties give consent and are legally and mentally able to give the consent. The age for sexual consent varies from state to state, ranges from 16 to 18 years.   In District of Columbia a 14 year old can give consent, having sex with an individual of 13 years or below is considered rape. Consent to have sex should be free and not coerced. Consent is invalid if a person is subjected to activities that affect their emotional, physical, psychological, reputational and financial well-being, threatened or intimidated. If any of the mentioned activity or behavior is...

I remember of an incident in 2013 when a by stander recorded and posted online a video of a sexual encounter only to realize later that it was an assault. The fact that people never wanted to help the victim is a clear indication that society embraces rape culture. In a rape culture, rape is a fact of life and is considered inevitable. Sexual violence is normalized with societal belief promoting sexual aggression by male against women.  Social media platforms such as advertisement, music performances, language, imagery and laws depict sexual violence against women as normal.  Rape and other forms of sexual assault are ignored and mostly turned into jokes. In this kind of culture, the rights and safety of women are not topics for consideration. The norms adopted in a rape culture validate the behavior of men being pursuers who possess an attitude that women are their sexual conquests. This implies that manhood is legitimate while women are seen as objects to b ...