Women Aware Inc. celebrated its 30th anniversary yesterday evening with the program “Moving Beyond Abuse,” featuring writer and feminist activist Gloria Steinem as its key speaker.
“When we began planning our anniversary celebration, we looked for a speaker whose commitment to the empowerment of vulnerable women and children was as strong as our own,” said Phyllis Adams, executive director for the organization. “Gloria Steinem immediately came to mind. She is one of the most important voices for women in our time.”
Hundreds came to the Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple on Livingston Avenue to support the organization, learn more about domestic violence and hear Steinem speak.
Steinem, 75, has traveled throughout the world lecturing and organizing on issues of equality. She also co-founded Ms. Magazine in 1972, an American feminist magazine still published today.
Since 1979, the Middlesex County based non-profit organization has helped thousands of battered women and children by offering free services such as a 24-hour hotline, emergency sheltering, counseling and legal advocacy, according to a press release.
“This is the heart of the women’s movement because violence against women is the symptom of a system that wrongly says half of humanity is more important than the other half,” Steinem said. “This is the frontlines.”
She said through the origins of the term “domestic violence,” gender roles instilled by society are the root of the problem.
“There wasn’t even really a word ‘domestic violence’ before. It was just called life. It was really in the late ’60s, early ’70s where the term was being recognized,” Steinem said.
Prior to her speech, she met privately with V.I.P. guests who paid $100 instead of the standard $60 ticket fee to see her ahead of time.
V.I.P. guest Gerrie Bamira, executive director at the Jewish Federation of Middlesex County, said she was very excited to meet Steinem.
“I’m a child of the ’60s, and I ‘grew up’ with Gloria. I’ve been inspired by her and I’ve always wanted to meet her,” Bamira said.
Throughout the evening, speakers shared personal stories and facts about domestic violence to make the audience more aware of the issue.
The organization’s Fundraising Committee Chair Diane Palmer said today’s increasing unemployment rate also increases the number of women and children who are victimized.
In New Jersey, when a woman’s partner is employed, the rate of violence is 4.7 percent. But when there is a period of unemployment it jumps to 12 percent, Palmer said.
Board of Trustees President Arthur Roedel was one of the handful of men in attendance at the event and said he was bothered by the lack of males who were involved with the issue.
“The trouble with domestic violence is it’s never ever going to be solved … unless men are involved in the process too. It’s just that simple,” Roedel said. “Domestic violence is not a women’s issue, it is a humanitarian issue.”
He is also disturbed by the mass ignorance the public has about this concern.
“It bothers me that something like that can occur with such regularity and people could just dismiss it,” Roedel said.
The organization’s Statistics Researcher Gina Plotino said one out of three people experiences or knows someone who experienced domestic violence.
Leora Cohen, a volunteer for the organization, said domestic violence is an issue prevalent in all communities and therefore should be addressed by all people.
“The best way to start developing change is spreading awareness and raising consciousness about it,” said Cohen, a School of Arts and Sciences junior.
Organization board member EllaMae Mitchell was once a victim of domestic violence and said the best way to combat domestic violence is to educate young women about the characteristics of a good relationship and a bad relationship.
Mitchell was unable to say how long she was under abuse because she did not realize her situation until someone had taught her.
“Women Aware taught me that I’m not alone, [and gave me] courage to have a mind of my own,” she said.
Activist addresses domestic violence
Published: Thursday, October 29, 2009
Updated: Thursday, October 29, 2009
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