Sharing Our Stories of Survival


Book Description

Sharing Our Stories of Survival is a comprehensive treatment of the socio-legal issues that arise in the context of violence against native women--written by social scientists, writers, poets, and survivors of violence.




I Dare to Say


Book Description

Featuring the real-life experiences of contemporary African women who tell of atrocities, pain, motherhood, marriage, love, and courage in their daily life, this gripping collection brings greater awareness to a continuing struggle. Denied a voice by their own culture for centuries, these women speak out for the first time, sharing poignant tales of abuse and womanhood robbed, revealing their methods of survival, and divulging their dreams for themselves and their children. A girl describes hiding under a blanket from the Lord's Resistance Army in search of child brides; a woman speaks of her family abuse and rejection followed by the deaths of her child and partner only to learn later that the father of her child was already married with eight children and had AIDS. Dramatic, sometimes heartbreaking, often inspiring, this is the first book to truly show what it means to be a 21st-century African woman.




Telling Our Stories in Ways that Make Us Stronger


Book Description

In this graceful, strong, and groundbreaking book, Barbara Wingard and Jane Lester relate stories of their lives and work as two Indigenous Australian women. These stories offer hopeful and practical ideas in relation to a wide range of issues facing Indigenous Australian families including grief, diabetes, family violence, homelessness, and developing culturally-appropriate services. This book offers stories that will inspire and sustain.




Hope Heals


Book Description

When all seems lost, where can you find hope? Katherine and Jay Wolf married right after college and sought adventure far from home in Los Angeles, CA. As they pursued their dreams--she as a model and he as a lawyer--they planted their lives in the city and their church community. Their son, James, came along unexpectedly in the fall of 2007, and just six months later, everything changed in a moment for this young family. On April 21, 2008, as James slept in the other room, Katherine collapsed, suffering a massive brain stem stroke without warning. Miraculously, Jay came home in time and called for help. Katherine was immediately rushed into brain surgery, though her chance of survival was slim. As the sun rose the next morning, the surgeon proclaimed that Katherine had survived the removal of part of her brain, though her future recovery was uncertain. Yet in that moment, there was a spark of hope. Through forty days on life support in the ICU and nearly two years in full-time brain rehab, that small spark of hope was fanned into flame. Hope Heals documents Katherine and Jay's journey as they struggled to regain Katherine's quality of life and as she relearned to talk, eat, and walk. As Katherine returned home with a severely disabled body but a completely renewed purpose, she and Jay committed to celebrating this gift of a second chance by embracing life fully, even though that life looked very different than they could have ever imagined. As you uncover Katherine and Jay's remarkable story, you'll be encouraged to: Find lasting hope in the midst of struggle Embrace the unexpected Welcome God's miracles into your everyday life In the midst of continuing hardships, both in body and mind, Katherine and Jay found what we all long to find: a hope that heals the most broken place--our souls. Let Hope Heals be your guide along the way. Praise for Hope Heals: "As I read this book, tears streamed from my eyes even as joy flooded my heart. Jay and Katherine are a raw yet refreshing testimony to the unshakable trustworthiness of God amidst the unimaginable trials of life. This book reminds all of us where hope can be found in a world where none of us know what the next day holds." --David Platt, author of the New York Times bestseller Radical and president of the International Mission Board "Hope Heals is a beautiful, true story that illustrates the love and protection God has for us even in the darkest times of our lives. Katherine and Jay's dedication to each other and the Lord through their most devastating season is inspiring. This book will help your heart believe that He sees, He knows, He cares, and He is still working miracles today!" --Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries




The Essence of Resilience


Book Description

When trauma enters the lives of the unsuspecting, it steals from their very soul. It not only robs them of peace and joy, it can take years and decades from their lives while they desperately try to fill the hole in their heart, pretending that their soul isn't leaking out of it. No one is ever prepared for trauma and no one is ever left unchanged by traumatic events. In the face of such adversity, what allows one person to find the gift in their wound and another to suffer endlessly? Enter Tanya Lauer and Kathleen Parrish, professional counselors at the internationally renowned residential treatment center, Cottonwood Tucson. With over 40 years combined experience helping people survive trauma and find the "gift in their wound," Lauer and Parrish offer The Essence of Resilience—an urgent and vital answer to this all-too-common marauder. Topical tools for healing include: Story, Relationships, Trust, Compassion, Gratitude, Animals and Pets, Nature, Humor, and Spirituality. Through stories, compassion and understanding, they guide readers straight to the heart of resilience—that place where we learn to heal and thrive.







8 Degrees of Yes


Book Description

This book is my story, perception, experiences, and manifestation based on my willingness to forgive and no longer define myself as a victim of circumstances. God gives that which is good when we seek to follow the good path. It is verified in the Psalm of David: Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yes, the Lord will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway. (Psalm 85:10-13) We all have domination over our choice to live life at a higher frequency. The fundamental elements of transformation are perception, experiences, and manifestation. Our view of life shapes our desire to live our life to the fullest. Perception shapes our degree of saying yes to life. Reflection allows us to recognize, forgive, and let go to shift our present view of life to a higher vibration. The higher vibration creates a higher degree of desire to live and let life unfold. Life events are lessons or blessings that shape our journey. Storytelling is adding the sequence and details to our experiences to understand. Sharing those stories with others builds collective hope to change unjust conditions or become a better person. Transformation is seen in the manifestation of our life structures. We see shifts in our financial, egoistic, livelihood, health, spiritual beliefs, world views, community, and relationships. We grow stronger in who we are and become beneficial to the community by giving the gift that our soul came to give. We say yes to life at a higher level and create more happiness and fulfillment in our lives. This is transformation and this is the 8 Degrees of Yes!




Resistance and Survival


Book Description

In her analysis of some of the most interesting and important childrenÕs literature from Central America and the Caribbean, Ann Gonz‡lez uses postcolonial narrative theory to expose and decode what marginalized peoples say when they tell stories to their childrenÑand how the interpretations children give these stories today differ from the ways they have read them in the past. Gonz‡lez reads against the grain, deconstructing and critiquing dominant discourses to reveal consistent narrative patterns throughout the region that have helped children maneuver in a world dominated by powerful figuresÑfrom parents to agents of social control, political repression, and global takeover. Many of these stories are in some way lessons in resistance and survival in a world where Òthe toughest kid on the block,Ó often an outsider, demands that a group of children Òplay or pay,Ó on his terms. Gonz‡lez demonstrates that where traditional strategies have proposed the model of the ÒtricksterÓ or the Òparadoxically astute fool,Ó to mock the pretensions of the would-be oppressor, new trends indicate that the regionÕs childrenÑand those who write for themÑshow increasing interest in playing the game on their own terms, getting to know the Other, embracing difference, and redefining their identity and role within the new global culture. Resistance and Survival emphasizes the hope underlying this contemporary childrenÕs literature for a world in which all voices can be heard and valuedÑthe hope of an authentic happy ending.







Violence Against Women in the US


Book Description

Analyzing what is known about violence against women, this book centers on the contrast between the U.S.’s historic focus on a criminal legal framework and the human rights lens used globally by feminist activists. Distilling the existing evidence base and literature on violence against women in the United States, this book includes an overview of forms of violence, the prevalence of violence, contexts in which violence occurs, and debates about intervention and prevention. It engages with how human rights frameworks define violence against women as a cause and consequence of women’s inequality, and explores how race, ethnicity, class, citizenship status, and sexual orientation shape experiences of victimization, perpetration, and institutional responses. Chapters synthesize prevalence methods and data, key feminist concepts, impacts and aftermath of violence, what is known about perpetrators, the history of anti-violence activism, violence against women on college campuses and in the media, and how the criminal legal systems respond. Contested issues, such as prostitution and pornography, and the extent to which commercial sex can be understood as a form of, and/or context for, violence against women, are also explored. The book closes with a final chapter offering directions for adopting a human rights approach to ending violence against women in the United States. By offering an analysis of how violence against women has come to be named in activist, policy, and academic arenas, Violence Against Women in the US is an essential resource for students, scholars, and practitioners.