Comments on: Ann Jones Blogs “16 Days of Activism” from West Africa http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/ the blog of the international rescue committee Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:23:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: John http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2171 John Mon, 12 May 2008 22:18:04 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2171 I feel your work is very good, because you have done something with your life to help others in expressing themselves. It gives a voice to the women in desperate situations where they need it the most. I feel your work is very good, because you have done something with your life to help others in expressing themselves. It gives a voice to the women in desperate situations where they need it the most.

]]> By: Aaron http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2170 Aaron Mon, 12 May 2008 22:15:56 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2170 I think your work with women of impoverished countries is very important. The suffering of women in under developed areas needs to be brought to the attention of the public so that they can began to get support form the rest of the world. I think your work with women of impoverished countries is very important. The suffering of women in under developed areas needs to be brought to the attention of the public so that they can began to get support form the rest of the world.

]]> By: Lauren Spears http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2169 Lauren Spears Mon, 12 May 2008 16:31:16 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2169 Ann, you work is absolutely amazing. Those women have been mistreated and victimized by violence for probably their entire lives. It is such a miracle that you have shown up in their lives. They now have an opportunity to speak out and describe to the world their obstacles and their feelings that have been suppressed for so long. I think that your project is the perfect tool for those women. They can branch out, express their needs, and demand their rights. Ann, I hope that your project can be successful, and helpful to women everywhere. P.S: Keep up the good work! Ann, you work is absolutely amazing. Those women have been mistreated and victimized by violence for probably their entire lives. It is such a miracle that you have shown up in their lives. They now have an opportunity to speak out and describe to the world their obstacles and their feelings that have been suppressed for so long.
I think that your project is the perfect tool for those women. They can branch out, express their needs, and demand their rights. Ann, I hope that your project can be successful, and helpful to women everywhere.

P.S: Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Marty http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2168 Marty Mon, 12 May 2008 07:19:36 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2168 How amazing to dedicate your life to something like this! I think this is a very important project. These voices need to be heard, documented, and preserved so we can recognise and help women in need around the world. Violence is an ugly thing - in all of its forms - and no country is completely free from it. Projects like this help bring attention to the problem and spread awareness that, yes, this is an issue we should be concerned about! Thank you for all of your work! How amazing to dedicate your life to something like this!

I think this is a very important project. These voices need to be heard, documented, and preserved so we can recognise and help women in need around the world. Violence is an ugly thing - in all of its forms - and no country is completely free from it. Projects like this help bring attention to the problem and spread awareness that, yes, this is an issue we should be concerned about!

Thank you for all of your work!

]]> By: Thomas J. Niemeier http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2167 Thomas J. Niemeier Sun, 11 May 2008 22:34:40 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2167 Ann Jones is doing something really special for the world, contributing in a way that most aren't willing to. She is helping to bring women out of the shadows in third world countries. I applaud her efforts. Ann Jones is doing something really special for the world, contributing in a way that most aren’t willing to. She is helping to bring women out of the shadows in third world countries. I applaud her efforts.

]]> By: Chaney http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2166 Chaney Sun, 11 May 2008 21:38:13 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2166 It is quite certain that the humanitarian situation in West Africa, as in other parts of Africa, is truely lamentable. You have continued to restore hope in these individuals who are deperately in need. By devoting your life to this cause, you have increased awareness and overall have allowed the peoples' voices to be heard. You have provided access to safety and sustainable change for millions of people who lives have been shattered by violence and opression. For once, these individuals can tell their stories. It is quite certain that the humanitarian situation in West Africa, as in other parts of Africa, is truely lamentable. You have continued to restore hope in these individuals who are deperately in need. By devoting your life to this cause, you have increased awareness and overall have allowed the peoples’ voices to be heard. You have provided access to safety and sustainable change for millions of people who lives have been shattered by violence and opression. For once, these individuals can tell their stories.

]]> By: Manav Sachdeva http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2165 Manav Sachdeva Fri, 04 Jan 2008 04:44:15 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2165 I hope it ends before I die...and is reduced to only a criminal and not a societal problem as is now, in all human societies in each nation. I hope it ends before I die…and is reduced to only a criminal and not a societal problem as is now, in all human societies in each nation.

]]> By: Mequanent G. Mullu http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2162 Mequanent G. Mullu Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:36:32 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2162 Dear Ann, One of the greatest innovation of the 21st century. You connected the voiceless women to the world. I can feel the impact. This is more than action speaks strategy...keep this priceless work of yours. Bravo International Resccue Committee! One of the unique chemistry of IRC has always been it is beneficiary-oreinted and close to its clients programming intervention. Empowerement of the beneficiaries is one of the core principle of IRC. When I was in Kakuma Camp IRC was a talking point by different agencies and community memembers simply because refugees are key players in program management and decicion making process-they have an equal say like their counterparts. This time round you went beyond...giving women an opportunity to use digital camera to tell their pain staking stories as mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. Keep on your good work IRC and congra Ann taking the lead to end violence against women. Mequanent G. Mull from Louisville, KY USA Dear Ann,

One of the greatest innovation of the 21st century. You connected the voiceless women to the world. I can feel the impact. This is more than action speaks strategy…keep this priceless work of yours.

Bravo International Resccue Committee! One of the unique chemistry of IRC has always been it is beneficiary-oreinted and close to its clients programming intervention. Empowerement of the beneficiaries is one of the core principle of IRC. When I was in Kakuma Camp IRC was a talking point by different agencies and community memembers simply because refugees are key players in program management and decicion making process-they have an equal say like their counterparts. This time round you went beyond…giving women an opportunity to use digital camera to tell their pain staking stories as mothers, wives, sisters and daughters.

Keep on your good work IRC and congra Ann taking the lead to end violence against women.

Mequanent G. Mull from Louisville, KY USA

]]> By: Women in war zones document their own lives with digital cameras « Have a Good Life http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2164 Women in war zones document their own lives with digital cameras « Have a Good Life Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:24:08 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2164 [...] Rescue Committee is working with writer, photographer and long-time women’s advocate Ann Jones to give women in war zones an opportunity to document their own lives with digital cameras and make [...] [...] Rescue Committee is working with writer, photographer and long-time women’s advocate Ann Jones to give women in war zones an opportunity to document their own lives with digital cameras and make [...]

]]> By: Dr. Pamela Lotenberg http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2163 Dr. Pamela Lotenberg Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:10:28 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/11/22/ann-jones-working-to-overcome-violence-against-women/#comment-2163 Hi Ann. I’ve been reading your blog. I’m a psychotherapist in NYC (USA) and want to comment on one issue. First, it was great to hear the women you’ve recently been writing about reflect on ways to stop the violence that mothers-in -law encourage against their daughters-in-law; in particular, by not doing the same when they become mothers-in-law. I think it is important to remember that there is a very unconscious process that is likely to take effect when these women become mothers-in-law (despite their wishes to the contrary), which may cause them to perpetuate the same cycle of encouraging violence against their daughters-in-law. Unless women become aware or keen to the tendency for this cycle to continue due to unconscious forces, the repetition will likely take place. That’s the case throughout history and individual histories as a result of trauma. This unconscious process is commonly based on the idea that it’s better to become like the aggressor than to remain the victim. And unless women recognize the unconscious pull to reenact the aggression that was inflicted on them, they may inadvertently go the route that feels more automatic (ie, pushed from the unconscious) and become the aggressor, despite stated wishes to the contrary. I hear a budding awareness of this dynamic emerging in your stories. However, a more intensive understanding of the unconscious pull to repeat is needed to assure that it doesn’t. I know this language may not be the culturally appropriate language to use to describe this process, but I wanted to convey the idea. I would be happy to share/discuss this more if that is of interest to you or your readers, since I am very interested and hopeful in securing a safer future for women around the world and believe a more traditional psychoanalytic lens can potentially help at times. Hi Ann. I’ve been reading your blog. I’m a psychotherapist in NYC (USA) and want to comment on one issue.

First, it was great to hear the women you’ve recently been writing about reflect on ways to stop the violence that mothers-in -law encourage against their daughters-in-law; in particular, by not doing the same when they become mothers-in-law.

I think it is important to remember that there is a very unconscious process that is likely to take effect when these women become mothers-in-law (despite their wishes to the contrary), which may cause them to perpetuate the same cycle of encouraging violence against their daughters-in-law. Unless women become aware or keen to the tendency for this cycle to continue due to unconscious forces, the repetition will likely take place. That’s the case throughout history and individual histories as a result of trauma.

This unconscious process is commonly based on the idea that it’s better to become like the aggressor than to remain the victim.

And unless women recognize the unconscious pull to reenact the aggression that was inflicted on them, they may inadvertently go the route that feels more automatic (ie, pushed from the unconscious) and become the aggressor, despite stated wishes to the contrary.

I hear a budding awareness of this dynamic emerging in your stories. However, a more intensive understanding of the unconscious pull to repeat is needed to assure that it doesn’t.

I know this language may not be the culturally appropriate language to use to describe this process, but I wanted to convey the idea.

I would be happy to share/discuss this more if that is of interest to you or your readers, since I am very interested and hopeful in securing a safer future for women around the world and believe a more traditional psychoanalytic lens can potentially help at times.

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