Today is the 100th year for International Women's Day to be observed. In places like Russia and China, it's a very big day, with events and promises all around the country. Women hold up half the sky, the Chinese say. Not many people know that rural women in China have one of the highest, if not the highest, suicide rate in the world. Poverty, sexism, spouse abuse, and men's (over)drinking of strong rice alcohol are all factors. I know of one village that has put an end to this violence -- of men against women, of woman against self. One thing that helped was putting very drunk men into a locked room where they could sober up peacefully. It worked. The last I've heard, there have been no suicides, or attempts. A lot less alcoholism. And more respect, appreciation, harmony.
Photo: A girl and a kind of toy at a museum, Pittsburgh Text: The story discussed is from the book CHINA VOICES, which I co-edited
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