photo by Michael Vadon
The American division of Graduate Women International (GWI) may find itself in the odd position of channeling Donald Trump.
“On this International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women (VAW), Graduate Women International (GWI) voices concern and raises awareness about the ongoing battle women internationally face against physical, sexual, and psychological violence every day,” reads an advance press release from GWI for November 25, 2016. “GWI calls for implementation of stronger legislation that will protect women from all forms of violence. Women across the globe are subjected to violence in many different forms including forced marriage, domestic abuse, female genital mutilation (FGM), human trafficking and rape. Gender based violence increases the possibility of women and girls living a life in poverty. Of huge concern is the large percentage of women experiencing violence or harassment who decide not to report the crime or seek help. GWI encourages legislative language changes and Member States to take actions that help women feel more comfortable and confident about coming forward and reporting their attacks. By working together, and with enough political will, governments and people in positions of influence can educate women that there is no negative stigma to reporting violence.”
As it happens, the head of GWI, Geeta Desai, is also head of Women Graduates-USA.
Meanwhile, back in the USA, public schools are experiencing an immigration surge from countries with policies that are antithetical to GWI’s goals, and no indication that their families have foresworn those programs.
“Donald Trump’s ascension to the presidency means that he will have a chance to implement the ‘extreme vetting’ of immigrants he proposed during the campaign,” Jason Richwine writes in an article posted on the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) site. “In a speech at Youngstown, Ohio, back in August, Trump suggested that immigrants would be evaluated not only for their possible connections to terrorism, but also for their commitment to First World values.”
“The new policy would be timely. As I noted a couple of months ago, no one will be surprised that social views in traditional societies differ from those in the post-industrial West, but the degree of divergence can be striking. Immigration is surging from countries where that divergence is especially large.”
For example, the American Community Survey found that 11 percent of American’s believe it is sometimes permissible for a man to beat his wife. Nevertheless, shocking though that stat may be, it compares to 65 percent of Iraqis and 63 percent of Nigerians.
