(Wo)Men Speak Out™
25 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 15 years ago -(Wo)Men Speak Out is an organization dedicated to eradicating rape, sexual assault and gender violence. We seek to educate both men and women, cultivating healthy relationships and gender equity.
The (Wo)Men Speak Out BLOG is a collaboration of survivors, advocates and writers who share our mission.
We welcome your comments: [email protected]
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Episodes
OUR NEW BLOG SITE!
August 30, 2009 06:00Please follow us at our new blog site: http://womenspeakout.wordpress.com/ We look forward to seeing you there :-)
WSO on National Public Radio!
March 10, 2009 03:36Here is an interview of Chris and Ophelia on the NPR radio show Sound Focus.
Playback Theatre
February 23, 2009 20:27Ophelia and I had the opportunity to spend our pre-Valentine Day show watching, or rather participating, in Playback Theatre. What is Playback? It's been around a long time, and it's like no other theatre you probably have been to. In Playback, members of the audience are invited to come up to the stage and tell a story. The theme that night was Valentines Day. So people came up and told their stories. Some were happy, some sad, some angry, and some were inspirational. The awesome thing abo...
Only One
January 07, 2009 20:13It can be difficult sharing your story of abuse with others. I held onto my secret for over 20 years. The sad thing about holding onto secrets is that it makes you feel like you can't be you. I hate secrets. I had so many and I felt this scraping on my soul for having harbored them. I know that we all have our secrets, it's just part of living I guess. The erosion of ourselves comes when we feel as if we need to cling so tightly to them. I speak about my abuse publicly, in front of dif...
When You Get There
December 20, 2008 17:58When you get there, it will not look like healing. There, where exactly is that? There, where are we going? There, she says, as if it exists on a map. THIS WAY TO INCEST HEALING. RAPE GOES AWAY THIS EXIT. There, there, as in, to the place of new Earth. You have never been here before, away from the evil of your so called elders, unenmeshed from the black-widow-spun-incest-web. This is healing. It is barren at first. You will look out over the land and think to yourself, why am I here, where...
Holidays Past, Present, and Future: From Turbulence to Calm
December 13, 2008 16:42I am feeling like saying say hello for the Holidays. Hello!! The Holidays this year are pretty darn Merry in my home. This year feels as if a corner has been turned. I have had moments of deep calm and clarity. Partly I believe due to the fact that I have been exercising regularly for quite some time, and getting enough sleep, sex, and food. I have been getting way too much caffeine, but some things never change! I definitely feel energized for the holidays. I've been listening to The Reinde...
Parent With Presence: Simply Essential for School Success
October 16, 2008 14:14We all want our children to be successful in school. Children need to know that they are loved, safe, and sacred to us. There are many ways to demonstrate this to them. Words are one thing, but action is key. One simple way I want to discuss is volunteering your time in your child’s classroom.Children spend their days at school, and we at home or at work. When we let them go into the world, we have to be absolutely committed to remaining a PRESCENCE in their lives even as we are physically ...
Advocate event posting
October 09, 2008 22:03Interview with author of Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor’s Story http://www.beyondthetears.com Lynn C. Tolson, author of Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor’s Story, will be interviewed on October 11, 2008 6-7 PM ET. Listen live at http://www. wcbm.com or with the hosts at http://www. WomanTalkLive.com Lynn will discuss her memoir in October, which is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you cannot listen live, wait for the archive which will be at http://www.womantalklive.co...
NEW BANNERS!
September 18, 2008 06:13As requested, here are the new logo banners for you to link back to from your sites. Copy and paste the below listed code of your choice. Thank you for all that you do!!
10 Year Old Girl Dies
September 18, 2008 02:11As an Advocate I have studied and been witness to the experience of survivors of violence on numerous levels. That said, I am still affected by what I hear and see. I feel it is imperitive that we, as a global community be aware of not only abuse in our own backyards but that of our sisters and brothers around the globe. The incidence of violence is no longer an epidemic. It is in fact, pandemic. It is time to open our ears, our eyes, our hearts....our consciousness. There is no black and w...
Help Pass Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act
September 15, 2008 21:17Help Pass Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act Hundreds of thousands of children are victims of sexual abuse each year. Due to the sheer lack of resources, law enforcement is unable to follow up on the majority of leads they have. The PROTECT Our Children Act will: Authorize over $320 million over the next five years in desperately needed funding for law enforcement to investigate child exploitation. Mandate that child rescue be a top priority for law enforcement receiving federal fu...
What Barack Obama Means For the Fatherless
September 03, 2008 16:25What Barack Obama Means to the FatherlessBy: Sarah Elise Stauffer (View Profile)A good survior friend of mine and I were waxing on this and he asked me to write a little about it, so my dear lovely here you go(You are a wonderful man and father! Remember that!):We took our kids to see Obama at a rally a couple of weeks ago. It was electric, amazing, and very powerful to do with our kids. We believe in teaching them to honor that they HAVE A VOICE, TO USE THAT VOICE, AND EFFECT CHANGE, TO BE...
Svava and Ophelia in Seattle
August 22, 2008 04:32This is my friend Svava. She's one of the many amazing superstar advocates who have made it their mission to advocate for survivors of abuse worldwide. Originally from Iceland, Svava is spreading her wings in the United States. I truly believe that only by joining forces and working together will we make the biggest impact. Together, we are making a difference. To learn more about Svava and her organization, visit her website: Click here
Letting Go of Toxic Friends
August 01, 2008 15:51This is a picture of one of my beautiful non toxic friends, Mariclaire. I just got out of one of these relationships-I put up with ridiculous bullshit for 2 years. I do not want anyone else to put themselves through that to try and savesomeone from themselves. People have to want to heal, period. I feel this is a very important issue, especially for survivors. Much Love, SES Detoxifying Toxic Friendships as seen on Divine Caroline dot com. Detoxing is not just for rehabbed celebutantes, ...
What Did It Feel Like
July 24, 2008 01:57What did it feel like As you walked away From me Your daughter? What does that feel like, Walking away from your child? How does the air move around your body? What shoes does one wear to do this? Did you tread gingerly, The dusty ground making crunching sounds? Did the perhaps ground slip out from under you, Quaking under your feet with the knowledge of what you were about to do? Or did you run, Fast and hard and awayso as not to feel My heart Two years from my birth, Brea...
7 Foods That Fight Anxiety
July 20, 2008 03:257 Foods That Fight Anxiety Bills arriving in heaps? Gas prices sky-rocketing? Summer love turned sour? Regardless of the cause, there's a counter-intuitiveness to the goodies we turn to for comfort. Take the classic-curling up with a pint of ice cream. It's a total backfire. Why? Sweets are insidious: After the initial rush, the body's insulin response kicks in, causing a sudden blood sugar drop that triggers the release of stress hormones. Soon you're feeling more jangled than you were be...
Dreaming Mother
July 08, 2008 14:30In my dream last night, my son, who is 7, was playing the in the surf. On a beach with white sand. I kept walking out to him, brushing his blonde hair back from his eyes, the warm breeze blowing all around us, asking,"Are you doing okay? Do you need Mama for anything?" He said he was ok, just playing, and I kept walking back about 10 feet to the edge of the water. Suddenly, the lights went out as it were, the sun literally went out. It was dark, pitch black, parents were screaming. I stood u...
Strawberry Epiphany
July 04, 2008 15:30when they sleep, it's like hearing a piano play melodic velvet notes. it's as if soft moss is tracing it's way over your skin. or like a drink of the coldest water at your thirstiest. seeing them eat strawberries and that sight becomes art, becomes an epiphany, a swan song. see them gaze at the redness of it, this makes strawberries suddenly holy. holy is the sacred, many people claim to know the way, many of them men. but men, stop your ego from talking, sit by my side for a moment in time...
Calling all women in the Littleton area!
June 12, 2008 17:11GFB Rock! If you live in the CO area, get your butt out to this seminar. Do it! What: Attend a free, live seminar of the Girls Fight Back program in Denver, Colorado. This 90-minute seminar will be taped at Comcast Studios, and we are looking for 100 women to be our live studio audience. Learn how to stay safe, trust your intuition, and of course… kick some booty! (Note: This is an introductory seminar, not a full-blown self-defense class. No need to wear any special clothing, as you will on...
A message from Mike: Calling all male survivors!
May 30, 2008 16:03Here is the flyer for our 18th annual male survivor weekend at Kirkridge. If you want a more distant adventure (or know someone who might) you can get information about this summer's workshops in Switzerland on our Web site: www.nextstepcounseling.org All the best, Mike KIRKRIDGE RETREAT AND STUDY CENTER Leaping Upon the Mountains: A Men's Abuse Recovery Weekend MIKE LEW AND THOM HARRIGAN Aug 15-17 7:00 Fri dinner through Sun lunch Cost $380 ($190 deposit) This weekend workshop is ...
Awakenings
May 16, 2008 15:43I have been doing much blossoming lately. I thought I would share some of what I have been partaking in and as always, use what moves you, discard the rest. Tips on Soulful Living: Running, I know not all of us are runners in this great big world, but it does something to me I can barely describe. I have been getting up at 6 a.m. and running 4 miles. I get to hear the birdsong, feel the cool sunrise breeze, and smell the honeysuckle, roses, wisteria, and other flowers that sit reaching f...
MALESURVIVOR'S 21ST WEEKEND OF RECOVERY
April 30, 2008 18:47SPACES AND SCHOLARSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE! ATLANTA WEEKEND OF RECOVERY-LEVEL I Male Survivor has a great scenic facility to host us (The Center for New Beginnings in Dahlonega, GA, one hour north of Atlanta), and NOW they need more participants to take advantage of this great opportunity for healing! If you are a male survivor of sexual abuse, provide services to male survivors, or are a partner or ally of male survivors, please help us spread the word now about this retreat. Registration wi...
YOU ARE INVITED TO A FREE TELESEMINAR WITH AUTHOR & ADVOCATE LYNN C. TOLSON
April 18, 2008 15:28Our friend and fellow Advocate, Lynn Tolson is hosting a teleseminar that is open to the public. Please feel free to join the discussion and forward on to those who may be interested. Thanks to Lynn for her continued hard work! Details are as follows: YOU ARE INVITED TO A FREE TELESEMINAR WITH AUTHOR & ADVOCATE LYNN C. TOLSON The National Association of Baby Boomer Women is the #1 site for baby boomer women on major search engines, as mentioned in Time and AARP magazine. The NABBW http://...
Domestic violence victims to get same-day help
April 18, 2008 15:26Apr 17, 2008 03:38 PM THE CANADIAN PRESS Victims of domestic violence in Ontario will get same-day support to help them and their children escape abusive spouses under a new program funded by the province, Attorney General Chris Bentley said today. The government is spending $1.7 million to have victims contacted within 24 hours of being informed that charges have been laid, which Bentley said will grant them access to the services they need more quickly. "The very clear message is that if...