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Healing
Grief, emotional wellness, surviving and what comes after.
In-depth Story: Human Trafficking Victim Advocate Jomel A. Sheds Light on Trafficking Epidemic, Prevention and Myths About the Crime
For six-and-a-half years, Jomel A. worked in the Office of the State Attorney in South Florida advocating for victims of domestic violence and other offenses, and loved what she did.
A Fighter’s Story: Feeling Whole Again After a Life Filled With Abuse
Memory Thandiwe Ndebele is a 32-year-old humble and bubbly woman. Just meeting her, you can tell she is a warm and big-hearted person. Nothing about her personality shows the dreadful situations she has had to face. Her second name, Thandiwe, meaning “Beloved” in Ndebele – one of Zimbabwe’s native languages – is very ironic to me after all she has been through. She is definitel
Combating Modern Slavery
I recently watched the Al Jazeera documentary “Nepal’s Slave Girls” which looked at the culture surrounding domestic slavery. Slavery is officially abolished in Nepal, but the practice still continues. Young girls are forced to work in the homes of people to whom their parents, often poor farmers, owe debts. Many of these kamlaris are from the Tharu tribe, which is indigenous t
Hate Crimes are Everyone's Problem
Hate crimes have been an unfortunate aspect of communities throughout history and continue to plague us today. A hate crime involves a crime that is threatened or committed against a person because of a certain characteristic (race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, etc.). The offender is motivated because he or she holds negative attitudes against a certain community of
Upskirting Should be Illegal Everywhere
It seems like there are countless ways that women are sexually harassed, with perpetrators coming up with sneakier ways of achieving their ends. For example, the disturbing trend known as upskirting. It's a pretty self-explanatory term. It involves taking a picture up a woman’s skirt or dress using a phone or hidden camera. Even girls as young as 10 have experienced this based
Tackling Sexual Harassment In The Workplace
Over the last few months, several allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct have come forward regarding people like Harvey Weinstein, Ben Affleck, President George H. W. Bush, Louis C. K., James Franco, Matt Lauer, Kevin Spacey, and others. In response, the #MeToo movement was born that united women around the world in stating that this abuse of power is not just present
How Scammers May Be Targeting Your Loved One
According to the American Journal of Public Health, about 5.4 percent of elderly people are scammed each year, though the crime is likely underreported. It's sad that there are people who take advantage of the vulnerability of elderly people who are at the point in their lives where financial recovery is difficult, if not impossible. Part of the vulnerability results from lonel
These Eyes
They're brown and ordinary, but if you pay close attention you'll see much more. Behind every gaze is a story. Deep in my soul is a dominant emotion. An emotion that can only be revealed through my eyes. Look into these eyes and they will inform you. They reflect my soul. They will tell you so much about me in this moment - more than I had hoped to reveal. Though my lips deceiv
Financial Abuse: Key Red Flags You Should be Concerned About
Dana* was married to Eric* and had a daughter with him. Eric and his mother would scrutinize Dana’s finances to the extent of examining her food purchases and trying to figure out whether or not she had gotten the most affordable options. As a result, she would visit several supermarkets to find the cheapest prices for everything she needed to buy. Eric made all the financial d
Caregiver Abuse - How to Deal With Mistreatment When Caring for a Loved One
In previous column posts, I discussed elder abuse as well as the burnout that caregivers may experience that might lead them to be neglectful or abusive. In this post, I want to discuss the abuse that caregivers can experience by those who depend on them for care. Caregiving can be a rewarding yet complex relationship filled with a wide range of emotions. Because of its demandi
Elder Abuse
This year the World Health Organization estimated that by 2050, the global population of people aged 60 years and older will more than double to 2 billion from 2015’s 900 million. The elderly are seen as sources of wisdom. Although they are often treated with care and respect, this is not always the case. As vulnerable members of our society, they can unfortunately be targets o
Caregiver Burnout - Signs You May Be Missing
Linda Maureen Raye was a woman who had been struggling to make ends meet and was homeless. Her mother, Yolanda Lorretta Farrell, had been living in a nursing home as she was unable to feed or clothe herself. Linda convinced Yolanda and the home that she could take on the sole responsibility of caring for her mother. Soon, she bought a one-bedroom apartment with her mother’s Soc