Nickels for Change

Hi all, this is Rebekah and I am blogging with one of my good friends today, Cassie. We are both really interested in what you all have to say about this. We would like to see some change in the world. And that’s why we have started Nickels for Change.

We go to an science and engineering school, chock full of boys who perpetuate rape culture. Rape jokes and euphemisms abound. And no one seems to find a problem with it. Except for us. Going to college has been a real eye-opening experience. Maybe it’s because our high school was mostly liberal or small and secluded, but high school was a nicer place. Rape jokes just didn’t happen. Not so in college. And we’re tired of being brought down by all the negative crap in this rape-defending, victim-blaming patriarchy.

Nickels for Change is about using these negative situations and attitudes and making something positive come out of them. Every time we hear something sexist, rape-defending, victim-blaming, or flat-out misogynistic (and sometimes just plain prejudice), a nickel goes into Our Jars. We plan on doing this for a year. At the end of the year, the money will go to a charity that works towards ending violence.

But that’s not all. During this year, we will be writing to all the media outlets who perpetuate these ideas. We want them to know that we are not okay with what they are doing and that we want it to stop. We also want to bring awareness to just how often this happens, by following up these letters with another letter, at the end of the year, letting all the same media outlets know how much money they all raised toward our cause. We’re hoping shaming them with money and irony can get their attention and make them change their policies. And while two letters may get their attention, more letters would be an even better attention grabber and motivation for change. Please, if you’re as tired and as angry over these issues as we are, join us in our cause. If you are interested please e-mail us at sabrinnie621@aol.com (Rebekah) or musenapper@gmail.com (Cassie). Support is always welcome and we can also offer a template for these letters if you want or need.