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 Violence Against Women Candlelight Vigil  National Center for Missing and Exploited Children  We Are One Stop the Prejudice  Freespeech Blue Ribbon Campaign |
W.I.S.E. - Women's Issues and Social Empowerment, was initially conceived as an idea that had developed over a significant period of time... It remained in this conceptual limbo - without shape, structure or substance - until May/June 1996... The instigator of this site had been surfing the Internet and had the good fortune to accidentally stumble upon some resource pages at Vicnet during March/April 1996. Being a survivor of Domestic Abuse, she'd managed to complete her final year of secondary school, an Associate Diploma in Community Development, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Community Development - a feat which her abuser said she would never accomplish... Possessing both the actual experience of what it felt like to be trapped in a violent relationship as well as a sound understanding of the theoretical bases on the issue of violence against women, she proceeded to investigate Vicnet's resources on Domestic Violence... To her surprise, she found that they were seeking more information in this area... Seizing the opportunity to realise what had only been an unsubstantiated idea until now, work began on the authoring of some pages... Originally the site was to be named "Black and Blue" in order to indicate that the majority of content would be focused on Domestic Violence Issues. The original colors used on these pages were, therefore, deliberately chosen in conjunction with the site name to reflect the bruises/injuries that women receive at the hands of their violent partners... Concerned that "Black and Blue" conveyed negative connotations, the site was re-named "W.I.S.E." in order to impart a positive spirit towards the material which would be presented. The pages have since been altered from the 'trademark' blue background to cream for better viewing/reading capability. Having a small number of pages ready to be uploaded, Vicnet was approached with anticipation and trepidation... A brief proposal/description of the site was explained, then the waiting began... It seemed like an eternity but was, in reality, less than a week before Vicnet contacted W.I.S.E. to confirm their interest. All necessary paperwork was completed and returned; the site had been approved; a directory had been created, and, finally, "W.I.S.E." made its way into the world and onto the World Wide Web in the second week of July 1996. Due to changes at Vicnet, W.I.S.E. was moved to its current location in mid September 1997. Without the assistance and co-operation of the Infoxchange staff, W.I.S.E. would surely have faded away like a dying star in cyberspace... |
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What W.I.S.E. wants to reflect is that community development/feminist values are an integral aspect to the empowerment of ALL people, in ALL communities but in particular, battered women - hence the motto, "...Give a person a fish and feed them for a day... Teach a person how to fish and feed them for a life-time...". Metaphorically speaking, teaching someone 'how to fish' is effecting self/social empowerment. This can be achieved by many and varied actions. One such aspect which assists in the empowerment of women is through education; that is, the dissemination of accurate and insightful articles. To state the obvious, women have been subjugated throughout history by an oppressive patriarchal system which has dictated how we ought to live, think and behave - it is hoped that the articles included on W.I.S.E. reflect the challenge which community development/feminism and their principles offer as an alternative so that we can exercise our right to make informed (albeit limited) choices. While not all of the articles contained on these pages have been officially approved for viewing on the internet by their respective authors, they were chosen because they were deemed to contain vital and relevant information which would be socially empowering to women. It is obvious that "W.I.S.E." is fulfilling its obligations to the community. It is a private, non-profit site which is also updated on a regular monthly basis with new articles/links being added. Finally, "W.I.S.E." strongly advocates that ALL women should be able to access this material - for their own personal sense of empowerment and self-esteem, as well as advancing the status of women world-wide. This information needs to be readily accessible to all, not just limited to the students and teachers of tertiary institutions where the bulk of these articles are cloistered away in the annals of academic journals and libraries. Put simply, the aim of W.I.S.E. is to increase women's awareness and understanding of issues that affect us, and, in so doing, broaden our horizons by knowing that we have some choice in the way we live our lives...  Feedback"I am an average house wife in San Jose, California, but your thoughts bring a richness to my brain and give me a jump start for thought. I especially appreciated your open ended approach. Your article on "The Impact of I.V.F. Technologies, It's Links With Pre-Natal Screening and the Social Consequences for Women" was enlightening. I was just getting my feet wet on my first venture into the Internet when I encountered your thought-provoking articles. My brain went into overdrive thinking about the issues you addressed. The article was not pedantic or preachy, just thought provoking with thorough research. I will continue to ponder your thoughts and read more from your web site. I want to find the articles you based the article on and read them too. Then I will read some more and solidify my own opinion. It is empowering to have this resource which seems in tune with my feelings about life. Thank you for taking the time to present this site. If you effect others as much as you effected me you are doing a profound service to people all over the world." - Gioia Ingram I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know that your articles on Reproductive Technology and Women were an immense help to me. I am currently working on an essay regarding the ethics of reproductive assistance, and I was having trouble finding feminist views on the subject, other than what I had in my textbook. Your article was my saving grace. Thank you. - Lisa Di Valentino My local newspaper (Gillette News Record, Gillette, Wyoming USA) recently ran an article on emoticons. Said they came from your web site. By line was The News Record Staff. "Here are some examples taken from the Women's Issues and Social Empowerment web site designed and maintained by Christine Szikla." I did find your page thru a web browser. Yours was the first one on the list. Thanks for answering. @})->->--x12 - George Abas I'm a 22 year old Wimmin. I grew up in a house with a nasty drunk dad and I had a boyfriend that never treated me right and was always trying to control me and tell me shut up and never let me realize my true potential... he didn't want me to assert my femininity. I found a new boyfriend now and even though I hate him too I don't think I'm really ready to be without a man in my life. I have a lot of problems because of things that men did to me. Anyway I went off to college and met some really great wommins who turned me on to a lot radical femminst retoric. They all had short cropped hair and they taught me how to not shave my legs and armpits and be dirty... So it was great to see something positive on the WWW. Mainly your site. Everything else is just sexist shit and I hate that. - name supplied but with-held E-Mail Protocol and Procedure
FAVNET (Feminists Against Violence Network) is a women-run, moderated list dedicated to ending domestic violence and violence against women through networking and direct action in a feminist environment. Counselors, legal advocates, survivors, feminists, and profeminist women and men who seek to redress violence against women are welcome. To subscribe, send the message SUBSCRIBE FAVNET <your e-mail address> to MAJORDOMO@OTD.COM FIVERS (Feminists against Intimate Violence through Empowerment, Energizing, Education, Exchange Resources, Resistance, Research AND Support) focuses on all aspects of intimate abuse and examines the phenomenon from a feminist perspective. The acronym FIVERS represents the diverse needs of the list members, who are women and men from many countries. Some are survivors; all are dedicated to building a peaceful, just, and non-violent world. To subscribe, send the message SUBSCRIBE FIVERS to MAJORDOMO@ATHENS.NET
WHAM! Online, sponsored by Women's Health Action and Mobilization, is a list to keep feminist activists in reproductive rights and women's health up to date on the latest in news, actions, and resources. The list officially started on Jan. 22, 1995, the 22nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the USA. To subscribe, send the message SUBSCRIBE WHAM <Your Name> to LISTPROC@LISTPROC.NET WOMEN-CLINICDEFENSE is a list for information, discussion, and analysis of "the escalating war against women, particularly regarding reproductive rights and abortion access." Anyone fighting the Right is welcome to participate; abortion providers, clinic workers, and pro-choice escorts and defenders are especially encouraged to join. To subscribe, send the message SUBSCRIBE WOMEN-CLINICDEFENSE <your e-mail address> to MAJORDOMO@IGC.APC.ORG
Copyright (c) W.I.S.E. - Women's Issues and Social Empowerment, 1998. Updated: Thursday, 2 April 1998 |