Washington, D.C. – The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) today applauded President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden for naming Lynn Rosenthal as White House Advisor on Violence Against Women {VAW}/ A champion in the movement against domestic and sexual violence for three decades, Rosenthal led NNEDV from 2000 to 2006

Prior to her service at NNEDV, Rosenthal directed the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence. There, she developed groundbreaking service models for rural and legal services. She also created the state’s first comprehensive plan to help survivors find housing. Rosenthal most recently served as the executive director of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

She played a major advocacy role in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2000 and 2005 and has assisted states and local communities with its implementation.

Rosenthal has also worked closely with corporate partners to bring millions of dollars to local communities to respond to domestic violence. She has also partnered with The Allstate Foundation to develop a national initiative to promote economic empowerment for survivors of violence.

By choosing Lynn, the administration is choosing to make a real difference in the lives of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors.”

The above is from NNEDV press release.

Joe Biden the VICE pres. announced this pick and position--a signal by the Obama that this is not a President-worthy subject.
How easy would it have been for Obama and his LOVE of the camera to make this announcement himself and bring on the press attention it deserves! Bet you've not even heard bout this on any major news outlet!
Still....
We at FemiSex are big-time clapping about the appointment, but would also LOVE to hear that Rosenthal will shift focus from helping victims overcome DV to prevention. Her past work has focused heavily on victim aid. I worry her appointment signals that the WH want to stay the course--treat the disease, not prevent it.
We need a forward-looking program that hits at the underlying causes of this Violence Against Women disease, rather than simply treating victims.
When 50% of teens think that Rhinna had it coming, there has never been a better time to focus forward.

When Chris Brown can escape jail time for viciously beating a women, there is considerable work to be done.
Hit a woman, go to jail; rape a woman go to jail.

Currently only 6% of rapists spend even a single day in jail! WE HAVE WORK to do in convincing the public that violence against women is not a plea bargin offense that earns you probation and community service...same as you'd likely get for kicking your dog. (FemiSex woud like to see felony changes become standard for animal cruelty as well, but that's another blog post!)

Ending VAW would entail a national campaign against sexism and misogyny, right down to public service campaign of zero tolerance of media and comedian sexism and misogyny! When woman and girls are viewed as 2nd class citizens—little more than sluts and bitches on prime time TV and in national media publications and outlets, or as Salon.com says: “fuckable Stepford wives,”-- violence against females will continue at abhorrent rates. The latest DOJ stats show DV against women has climbed 42% in the period between 2005 and 2007. Rape is up 25%.

The media has FAILED to cover this. The White House, in announcing this appointment did not stress the soaring rates of violence happening now, against females (DV against males by intimate partners—male and female—went down during this same time period) or get at the root cause of such violence. The WH is mum on the pervasive sexism of our culture that encourages society to view women as less than--objects to be punished when they cause distress to the patriarchal status quo, or if dude is just in a bad mood.

And while this is a new position created by the WH, it IS in keeping with the WH theme of helping only those women who are physical or economic victims of violence. The WH has no intention of stopping the more “civilized” sexism aimed at women who are gaining power. Lynn would be very brave to tackle the root causes of VAW in a hard-hitting way, to move away from providing resources and move towards changing public attitudes about women in society. I worry such bravery would not be rewarded by Barack and Joe. Sexism put Barack where he is and he may need it again in 2012 if any women tries for the crown. Snowe or Collins are you listening?

Of course that brings us to a main difference in 4th WAVE Feminism—4th wavers want to combat the roots of sexism, prevent the disease—not only putting an end to DV and Rape, but also ending verbal violence against Type A women and cultural debasement of women as a whole; we want to prevent the diease; 3rd wavers are stuck on treating the victims, not on moving society towards ZERO Tolerance of SEXISM!
(Unlike obesity and the eat right and exercise mantras we all know, there has been no national campaign to get us to respect women as equal to men!)
3rd Wavers still want a Daddy in the White House and tolerate sexism quite nicely when used against THAT woman.

So we Wish Lynn Rosenthal well!!!!, and we hope she will 4th WAVE IT! HiT Hard at the cultural roots of sexism and agitate for zero tolerance to sexism in media. This is a very very very important cause of VAW. Lynn has the opportunity to make a few waves. We are sending her a surfboard and a fitted girl wetsuit! Got get em, Lynn!
I want my daughter to never be hit or raped more than I want her to get economic assistance or therapy after the fact!
We are what our culture accepts.