Evaluate and Reevaluate the culture and society in which you live

Everyone's responsibility to evaluate, and reevaluate, the culture and society in which we live --

'Hey bitch' someone yelled out a car window. It's what I've come to expect | Natalie Sharif | Comment is free | theguardian.com: " . . . The constant criticism, intimidation and manipulation wore away at my sense of self and my ability to trust my own perceptions. I was afraid of what I was becoming. Only with the help of friends was I able to realize the effects of his emotional and verbal abuse. As a global community, everyone – regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or personal beliefs – has the responsibility to reevaluate the culture and society in which we reside. We so easily use or accept slurs and stereotypes and then allow ourselves (often unconsciously) to believe them to be true. No matter how strong we are, we must acknowledge that the things we see, hear, and say on a regular basis do have an effect on us. I never expected to be in a relationship that was so damaging. "I am strong", I thought. I am a college educated woman who was raised knowing how to stand up for myself. But abuse does not come with a flashing neon sign and, through the years, we become complacent with our surroundings. To be honest, I wanted to shout expletives at those guys in the car. I want my ex to feel what it is like to be stripped of his sense of self, to wake up one morning and not even know who he is. But in a universal context, how would this behavior be beneficial to those who are not able to walk away? It isn't. All I – and all anyone else – can do is stand firmly against everyday belittlement. We no longer have the option to sit idly by. Ignoring the present will only allow the abuse, violence, and inequity to persist and intensify." (read more at the link above)

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