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Ending Violence Against Women
Dr. Robin is at V to the Tenth, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of V-Day, an event created by The Vagina Monologues's Eve Ensler to help end violence against women. Dr. Robin talks with student Elan Stahl and Stephen Glaude, the executive director of Men Can Stop Rape, about the work they're doing to help empower women.
Elan is a high school senior who writes a monthly column for her local newspaper in Cross River, New York, the Lewisboro Ledger. As a junior, she says she and two friends were suspended from school for using the word "vagina" during a performance of The Vagina Monologues. When Eve heard the story, Elan says Eve expressed her support of their actions in a public statement. "[Eve said], 'You can't censor literature, you can't censor passion or your feelings, you can't censor a woman's body parts,'" Elan says. Stephen is the executive director of Men Can Stop Rape, a national organization that mobilizes young men to find and use their strength to create a culture free of violence. Stephen says he works extensively with individuals and communities to end systemic violence against women by empowering young men, who are victimized themselves. "We have to create some courage around this issue, and we also have to create some champions around this issue," he says.
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