On Monday I had the opportunity to attend the Man Up conference at Dash Gallery in NYC. Man Up's Co-Founder and Executive Director, Jimmie Briggs MC'd the event and introduced us to the campaign's Young Leaders to Stop Violence Against Women.


Jimmie Briggs

Among the young leaders on the panel were:

Asia Minor - Hip hop choreographer and actress.

Marcus Gignon - Social activist who advocates for indigenous rights.



Chris Kazi Rolle - Social entrepreneur and creator of The Hip Hop Project.

Norma Ramos - Public interest attorney and social justice activist. She is also an eco-feminist who links the worldwide inequality and destruction of women to the destruction of the environment.



Erika P. - Social activist who uses sports and play to encourage and help build self-esteem in young girls. (ZING!)

Also in attendance was Karen Robinson Cloete, co-founder and managing director of Man Up, and Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey, founder and CEO of the J Dilla Foundation, a non-profit organization established in memory of her son, the late (and great), music producer, James "Jay Dee aka J Dilla" Yancey.


Karen Robinson Cloete


Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey

Overall, the event was uplifting and positive. However, I did take issue with some of the remarks from a panelist who seemed to be idealizing womanhood for the sake of advocating for non-violence. Comments such as "Women are creators of life" struck a nerve, since it's my personal belief that not all women are/should be/have to be "creators of life." I think this type of rhetoric reinforces oppressive and repressive cultural memes, and, as some may argue, is subversively violent.

Another panelist discussed prostitution, stating that she "envisions a world free of prostitution" and that "prostitution is violence against women." Indeed, prostitution can lead to women being abused and even killed. But some may argue from a pro-sex worker perspective that women and men can find agency through prostitution.  Certainly, if systems weren't set up for bodies (particularity female bodies) to be consumed, prostitution wouldn't have to exist.  Yet, sex-positive feminists might take issue with this stance and insist that said speaker also acknowledge the nuances of an age-old profession that, for some women (and men), is the best choice.

Along these same lines, I was hoping that the panelists would have acknowledged LGBT communities, especially in the context of domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA). I understand that Man Up is an organization that specifically focuses on fighting against violence toward women, but it seems like we're ignoring so many victims who too need allies in the fight against DV and SA.  Who defines what a "woman" is, anyway? Can a cis woman, womyn, or transgendered woman be "the woman" we're fighting for as well? In my book, yes.

With that said, again, I think Man Up is doing amazing work locally and globally. We need more organizations fighting the good fight. We also need these same organizations to fight for all victims of DV and SA, because in the end, we have to be in the fight together. Which reminds me of a little quote I came across yesterday on Twitter:

"I Am Because We Are; and Since We Are, Therefore, I Am." (via @drgoddess)

Seems appropriate.




Dope artwork.