Carrying The Weight and Nail Varnish Saviors?

You may have noticed in the news yesterday that a young woman from Columbia has rightly so had a lot of attention for her university final art project. Emma Sulkowicz raped by a fellow student in her own bed is speaking out through art.

As part of an endurance performance art piece she will be carrying her dorm room mattress around with her (everywhere) until she no longer shares the same college as her rapist. The mattress being a small symbolism for the weight she has to carry daily since her trust was broken. I found this such a powerful piece I had to share it with you. First hear what Emma has to say about the project.

 

I find this to be such a brave and empowering piece of both protest and art. Heartbreakingly Emma reported the rape to her college and was left unheard despite the fact that 2 other people had put forward complaints of sexual harassment from the same person. At what point will the college protect it's students? Leaving this act unpunished just means that this person will continue to see nothing wrong with their actions and by ignoring them that makes the college just as bad. Sulkowicz work will hopefully raise awareness of the acts of ignorance in our society to the prolific rape culture that still exists. It will be interesting to follow her work to see how many people help her along the way and for how long she really is left 'carrying the weight'.


Something else that has come to my attention in the media recently is the launch of an anti rape nail varnish. This has caused mass controversy all over twitter and to be honest I have really mixed feelings about it myself. The product was designed by four American male students who devised a nail varnish that enables the wearer to put their painted finger into any drink and be able to detect if there is a date rape drug present. So many women are angered by this and feel the point is being missed that we shouldn't have to protect ourselves from rape, people just shouldn't rape. I completely agree and one woman really summed it up with this comment.

"Do you really, seriously think women can avoid getting raped? Do you think that we haven't been trying hard enough? Is that it?... Why is it easier to wear rape whistles, rape polish, fucking electric bras, text all our whereabouts, don't drink, cover ourselves in armor."

It does seem that this nail varnish can be quickly pushed into the wrong category. Sadly date rape statistics are extremely high especially in college life in the USA. With a scary crazy of date raping women, filming it and passing it around that started a few years ago maybe we do need a product like this on the market. However it doesn't account for the many men that are also raped but then we could argue that all products ha their downfall.

Last but not least for those who haven't heard this poem yet, you need to!


What do you think of Sulkowicz performance piece? Do we need anti rape nail varnish?

Comments

  1. I saw the video for Carry The Weight last night. It's such a brave and emotional performance. I hope it results in an outcome! x

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    1. Me too the college cant go on ignoring these things x

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  2. I think the carry the weight video is really inspiring, I really hope they take not and listen to her. The nail polish is to me just glazing over a much more serious issue. Great post hun x

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    1. Thank you for reading :) and I really hope they listen to her too such a fascinating project for her to do x

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  3. I love the poem, i do hope that people take note and listen.

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    1. The more we raise awareness hopefully the more people will listen x

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