Hello All! I Apologize for my absence, I am still figuring these modern technologies out. But here is what I have been up to.
Women in Prison
Hello All,
Today, I was searching the magical box that I have now learned is called a computer, to see that there are about to be one million women around the world incarcerated. Still, the idea that there are a million women even on this earth is a hard pill to swallow. But that one million women are being held captive by law makes my heart ache. One might speculate that this rising number of women in prison is due to the rising global population, yet that is unfortunately not the case. Since the year 2000, “female imprisonment has increased by 60%, nearly three times the rate of men” (The Guardian). This is due to many factors, such as poverty, discrimination, and violence that surround many women on a daily basis. Thankfully, the United Nations is recognising the issue and is now on a mission to help these women. Not only in their lives outside prison but also inside prison. The Guardian has covered many circumstances where women in prison are stripped of their liberty and rights. Prison allows for an environment where women can experience suffering and pain. This only increases the likelihood that they will return to prison. The United Nations has created a justice agreement that ensures women worldwide have access to a more equal justice system. I am truly warmed by the United Nations’ endeavor. It is the first agreement like this in history to protect incarcerated women. Women, even if they have disobeyed the law, deserve to be treated humanely. Women make up only 7% of the imprisoned population. Unfortunately, in the past, their rights have been neglected because they were overlooked. But no longer! Women will now have rights even if they are being punished for their actions. In my time, if a woman even looked at a man the wrong way, it would be socially justifiable for that man to physically assault her or even take her life. If a woman of my time were to commit a crime, she would often be exiled, with no hope of returning to her family, friends, or life, or executed. The strides this world has taken are powerful and beautiful to me. Although why did it take us 2000 years?
Gen Z Men
Hello all,
While there have been great strides in the generations that have followed mine, it is undeniable that more work remains to be done. 31 percent of Gen Z men believe women should OBEY their husbands. That is, a third of men believe that women should be obedient. The definition of obedience is to submit to another’s will. That is the belief that women’s opinions are not valid. Their prospects and choices should be controlled. Generation Z is the generation that is becoming new adults. They are entering the working world, starting families. They are the newest generation supposed to further evolve the world, not devolve it. Another third of men believe that husbands should have the final word over their wives. Meaning that their wives’ intelligence is below them. Has it not been shown time and time again through history that women are just as valuable as men? Women are the ones who create life, and they are still thought to be less valuable than men. Twenty-one percent of Gen Z men believe that women should never initiate sex. This prospect completely disregards the fact that women can also enjoy sex, and heightens the concept that sex is just for men. This was an ideal that was prominent in ancient Greece. It created an environment where sexual assault was normalized, accepted, and even encouraged. I thought there was an evolution to these primitive ideals that marginalized women. But I guess there is a group of men referred to as the “Manosphere” who wish the past to come to the present. The Guardian article I read suggests that the pain these men feel may be real. The idea that they were promised a house, a job, and a wife is no longer as plausible as it once was. Yet this is due to inflation of the housing market as the rich get richer. The fear that they are experiencing may be real, as their lives seem to be harder than those of their fathers or grandfathers, but why is the blame put on women? Why is their solution to marginalize women to make themselves feel better? Maybe the amount of growth I had previously thought happened is an illusion, and misogyny is just as rampant as it once was.
Women in Central Asia Fighting for Equality
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/political-science/articles/10.3389/fpos.2025.1694298/full
Hello all,
My last post urged me to do some more research on women around the world. This led me to some positive strides of the women’s equality movement in Central Asia. This article focused on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for their primary research. The first finding that I found interesting was that in “Uzbekistan, the proportion of women in the local parliament increased to 30.8%” (Frontiers). This is a great increase, yet it is from virtually no previous parliamentary office. The article then details the circumstances these women face. These countries are both in a post-Soviet period as well as strict muslim governance. Islam is often expressed in a way that reinforces the idea that men are dominant and women are submissive in these places. Both of these factors created a legal, social, and theological environment that enforces gender roles. A note: I choose to make this blog a safe space for people of all religions and backgrounds. As someone who practices a religion that is outside of the norm of where I am, I understand how actions can be blamed solely on religion when that is not the case. Islam is a beautiful religion that has been, unfortunately, used by powerful people to suppress women at times. Especially in these places, it has been used to enforce social hierarchies that diminish the voices of women. That being said, women in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are seen making reforms to Islam to support gender equality. The article researches how women are doing so. They found a rise in gender equality activists in Central Asia, who are greatly aided by social media. This allows for cross-cultural alliances that only build on an already growing feminist movement. I found this article hopeful. Because even women are born into structures that are designed to oppress them, they are still able to make strides in the gender equality movement. It is truly beautiful how women can organize and create power. I can see Artemis behind them, guiding them with strength and vigilance. It makes me want to go back home, to the ancient times, and bring my sisters, friends, and family together to organize against the systems that have oppressed us.
The Olympics!
https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/alysa-liu-champion-who-cant-stop-smiling
Hello all,
The other night, Thea and I decided to watch the Olympics. A tradition that originated in my time and place! I remember, as a child, my father taking me to the Olympic Games. I remember sitting in the pews and watching men, and sometimes even women, showcase their physical talents. Something that I had never witnessed before was the knives on ice. I watched as these dancers embodied magic and grace as they glided across the ice. I was in awe of their beauty. I especially enjoyed watching Alyssia Liu glide across the ice. Her smile brightened the entire arena. I could not help but marvel at her performance. I then decided to look up more about her. She is a performer who performs for herself! Which makes her all the more admirable. She was in the Winter Olympics four years ago at only sixteen, but abruptly quit because she no longer felt the love for the sport she once did. I can not imagine the pressure on such a young woman. But this year she decided to compete again and won gold. The most coveted award. Allyssa decided when and how she would skate. She listened to herself and, in doing so, created beautiful art. When watching her, you can see her joy radiate from her body. I am so grateful I was able to witness this treasure in action.
The Gods Wrath is Upon Us
Hello all.
I have stumbled upon a troubling article. The Earth is warming. I have heard about this here and there. About how animals are losing their homes, and how there are more extreme weather events. When I first heard this, it was blatantly obvious that the Gods are punishing us. We have stopped worshiping them, so they have fallen into anger. While I still believe this is partially true, Thea explained to me that the gas we burn to power all our magical objects creates a gas barrier that disrupts the environment. Maybe the Gods are punishing us for all of the magic we use? Maybe they are upset that the animals are not being respected? I don’t believe I will ever fully understand. But in my research, I have found this shocking article. Humans, in some places, will soon find it dangerous to go outside? By 2050. How absurd. There must be a stop to this. Being outside is an integral part of life, I could never live without nature. It has been increasingly difficult for me to live in this city as it is, but I still find ways to be outside every day. Even more alarming is that it disproportionately affects lower-income areas. This is saddening as the production of this gas is primarily created by large corporations whose people live in higher-income areas. I am, if nothing but disturbed.
The Confused ancient Greek woman 
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