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Domestic

Does Anti-Rape Clothing Really Work?

by faeze mohammadi December 8, 2025

Colossal structures of xenophobia are often built with small, colorful bricks of “concern.” The claim of producing and selling “anti-rape” underwear in Europe is precisely one such brick. With a deceptive and compassionate appearance, it attempts to solidify the foundations of sinister narratives and destructive policies. The truth, however, offers a different and instructive story about this myth.

Contrary to the viral imagery, this claim has no basis in the current reality of Europe. The core of this rumor traces back to a conceptual, never-commercialized project in the United States called “AR Wear” about a decade ago—a product that faced widespread criticism from activists in the field of sexual violence even in its homeland. Critics argued that such products place the burden of crime prevention on the potential victim instead of the perpetrator and absolve society of responsibility. Therefore, what is portrayed on social media today as an “innovative European initiative” is actually a rejected, old American idea that never progressed beyond the prototype stage.

But why is this old myth being revived and spread with such intensity in Europe today? The answer lies in the current political context. Far-right and xenophobic groups in Europe, with particular skill, leverage this rumor as a media-based “urban legend” to advance a grand narrative. This narrative attempts to reduce the complex, multi-factorial phenomenon of sexual violence to a dangerous oversimplification: “Migrant = Rapist.” This narrative construction pursues a dual objective: first, to create fear and disgust in the host society towards the foreign “other,” and second, to hide and divert attention from unpleasant internal statistics showing that the vast majority of rapes are committed by individuals from within the same society, often by acquaintances of the victim.

Official EU statistics also confirm this manipulation. The increase in the number of reported rapes in recent years is primarily not due to an increase in crime occurrence, but is the product of two positive factors: increased public awareness of victims’ rights and encouragement for them to report, and the reform of laws for more accurate recording of these crimes. Therefore, the statistics presented by far-right currents, which directly link increased violence to waves of migration, lack a solid scientific and statistical basis.

In conclusion, the saga of the “anti-rape underwear” rumor in Europe gives us a clear lesson in today’s media: no virus is without purpose. This rumor is a narrative-building tool for specific political factions that seek to distort the reality of sexual violence by inciting fear and the instinct for self-preservation, steering society towards accepting exclusionary and inhumane policies. Confronting such content not only requires checking the source and history but also necessitates analyzing the hidden motives behind its spread.

phys

December 8, 2025 0 comment

Community

Put Yourself First

by faeze mohammadi October 3, 2025

A new personal report from a female economist in The Guardian is shedding light on the systemic gender inequalities that create a work-life balance crisis, particularly after motherhood. The analysis calls for a fundamental redefinition of success and a transformation of the existing rules in both the workplace and the home.

The report highlights that unequal distribution of domestic labor persists even in families where the woman is the primary breadwinner. Its core message is a powerful call to action: women must stop sacrificing personal desires to meet social expectations and instead, prioritize their own needs.

Ten Practical Strategies for a Fairer Deal

The economist outlines ten actionable strategies for women to create a more balanced and fulfilling life:

Redefine Success Based on Personal Values: Move beyond traditional, often exhausting, metrics of success. Define what a successful life means to you, based on your own values and priorities.
Negotiate for a Fairer Division of Household Labor: The unfair split of domestic chores is a major hurdle. Initiating conversations to redistribute these responsibilities more equitably with partners is a critical step.
Outsource Household Tasks Where Possible: If financially feasible, delegating certain housework can significantly reduce the mental and physical load carried by women.
End the Culture of Self-Sacrifice: Many women instinctively prioritize the needs of others over their own. Actively choosing to stop this pattern is vital for individual well-being.
Work to Transform Workplace Rules: Instead of solely adapting to existing, often rigid, corporate structures, advocate for change within your organization to create more flexible and inclusive environments.
Build Confidence and a Management Self-Image: Global research indicates women often have a lower management self-image than men. Actively building this confidence is key to career advancement.
Balance Multiple Roles Effectively: Working women often juggle multiple fronts—career, home, and childcare. Developing personal strategies to manage these competing roles is essential.
Acknowledge the Value of Home Management: While housework is often unpaid and undervalued, it holds significant economic worth and should be recognized as a skilled management role.
Increase Social Participation and Skill Development: Engaging in work outside the home enhances professional skills and can also improve management capabilities within the family sphere.
Build Strong Support Networks: Collaborating with other women to create professional and personal networks provides a crucial support system for navigating common challenges.

In conclusion, the report from The Guardian emphasizes that the central message for modern women is to break free from traditional frameworks and have the courage to change the rules that have shaped their lives for decades. Achieving a better deal requires a systemic shift, starting with the decision to put oneself first.

Guardian

October 3, 2025 0 comment

Community

The Men Enduring Domestic Violence

by faeze mohammadi September 27, 2025

When people think of domestic violence, the focus is often on women and children as victims. However, a growing and often overlooked reality is that men are also exposed to this type of abuse, suffering in silence due to deep-seated social stigma and legal systems that rarely recognize their plight.

The Tunisian Association for Family Development conveyed to the BBC the account of a man who was a victim of domestic violence for two years. Using the pseudonym Walid, this victim spoke about the attacks he experienced from his former wife.

“She used to intentionally hit me in the face to leave clear marks,” Walid stated. He noted that his wife would “provoke him and pick fights over the smallest excuses.” Walid said he tried to avoid responding to her attacks and often preferred to sleep outside the home to avoid daily confrontations.

Despite the ongoing violence, Walid lived with his wife for two years due to a deep emotional attachment to their daughter. After their divorce in 2014, he was denied access to his daughter, even though a court order granted him visitation and companionship rights. Walid explained that his ex-wife did not adhere to the ruling, forcing him to file three complaints against her.

A Widespread but Hidden Phenomenon

Research across the Arab world confirms that Walid’s experience is not isolated. A 2022 study at the University of Mostaganem in Algeria, titled “Working Women’s Perceptions of Wife Violence Against Husbands,” found that violence against men by their wives exists, even if it seems strange in societies often described as patriarchal.

“Studies on domestic violence have shown that about 40% of men in Arab countries have been subjected to violence by their wives in recent years,” the study reported.

This violence against men reaches the level of psychological abuse, such as deprivation from seeing children, refusal of marital relations, or even being kicked out of the home, sometimes leading to imprisonment over alimony issues. The study explains that violence against husbands is widespread but remains hidden in Algerian society due to a patriarchal social structure that limits reporting.

Underlying Causes and Dangerous Patterns

Dr. Walid Hindi, an Egyptian mental health consultant, emphasizes that violence is not limited to women; men are also exposed to it in various forms, including physical, psychological, and sexual. He suggests that some women, influenced by misconceptions about power struggles and imposing control, may resort to violent behavior, which can be exacerbated by high levels of anger or the use of drugs and sedatives.

According to Tawfiq Al-Ayari, head of the Tunisian Association for Family Development, about one in ten women commits violence against her husband. He explains that the actual ratios are likely much higher, as the association receives many complaints directly related to this violence. The reasons often stem from laws that, while advanced in defending women’s rights, can sometimes be exploited, placing men who complain at risk of serious legal prosecution due to loopholes in legal cases.

Many cases reported to the association involve men threatened with prison for inability to pay alimony, accumulating overdue amounts. In such situations, the man finds himself in a position of weakness, vulnerable to various pressures and violence, facing a choice between surrender and acceptance or confrontation with imprisonment.

Breaking the Silence for Solutions

Al-Ayari stresses that while violence against women is a more widespread global phenomenon, violence against men often remains an unspoken issue because men, especially in Arab society, typically refrain from disclosing abuse by their wives for reasons related to personal dignity.

Dr. Hindi proposes several solutions to reduce domestic violence, including the necessity of choosing a life partner correctly and disseminating positive family values through educational curricula from childhood. He also calls for expanding pre-marriage counseling offices and strengthening the role of dispute resolution centers staffed by social workers, psychologists, and religious figures.

The Tunisian Association believes that a review of laws that are “old and obsolete,” particularly those related to custody, alimony, and other family aspects, is urgently needed to better align with current realities.

Disturbing Figures Highlight Urgency

The scale of the suffering is also evident beyond the Arab world. In the UK, recent data reveals the severity of the situation for male victims. According to a report by Mankind Initiative, a charity supporting male victims of domestic violence, Office for National Statistics data shows that 6.5% of male victims (compared to 2.8% of female victims) had suicidal thoughts due to partner abuse in 2022/2023. Furthermore, between April 2020 and March 2023, 40 men were killed in domestic violence crimes perpetrated by current or former partners.

Away from the silence and social stigma that surrounds this suffering, the statistics highlight a pressing need to increase support and awareness for domestic violence against men and to develop effective protection mechanisms that ensure their psychological and physical safety.

bbc

September 27, 2025 0 comment

Australia and Oceania

Silent Crisis: Elderly Women Killed

by faeze mohammadi January 29, 2025

Australia is grappling with a growing, yet largely ignored, crisis of domestic violence against women aged 55 and above, with increasing numbers of older women being murdered by their partners and children.

Australia is facing a disturbing and largely underreported crisis of domestic violence against older women, with experts calling it a “silent crisis” due to the growing number of deaths that go unnoticed in the media compared to younger victims.

Older women, particularly those aged 55 and above, are increasingly falling victim to domestic violence, and many of these victims are killed by their own family members, especially their children.

In a troubling trend, it has been revealed that in the 10 years leading to mid-2023, at least 61 mothers were killed by their children in Australia.

This highlights an alarming shift in family violence dynamics, with sons, in particular, being responsible for the deaths of their mothers.

These deaths are often overlooked or receive far less public attention than the murders of younger women, contributing to a sense of invisibility for the elderly victims of domestic violence.Experts argue that the scale of the crisis is growing, yet there is a significant lack of awareness and public discourse on the issue.

The deaths of older women, while tragic, are often not given the same level of attention as those of younger women, leading to a failure in addressing the specific risks that older women face within the family unit. Many older women who experience violence are also less likely to report it or seek help due to fear of being dismissed or not being taken seriously.

This “silent crisis” is compounded by the unique challenges faced by older women, including social isolation, economic dependency, and a lack of tailored support services. Research suggests that these women may not have the same access to resources and protection as younger victims, which further exacerbates their vulnerability.

The growing number of elderly women killed by family members calls for urgent reforms in both public awareness and the support systems available to them. Advocates stress the need for a more comprehensive approach to domestic violence that specifically addresses the needs of older women, ensuring they have the support and protection they deserve.

As the death toll continues to rise, the need for greater intervention and policy changes to protect older women from domestic violence has never been more urgent.

Guardian

January 29, 2025 0 comment