While there are many sexual predators in our country, girls and women are a lot more sheltered by our laws and societal standards when it comes to sex crimes. The recent eight year old girl that was violated by several older boys was a recent reminder of this. It’s the type of headline that you skim over several times not wanting to read due to it’s extremely vile nature. But after it being in the headlines for several days, there’s no way that you can ignore it indefinitely.

What created this horrendous situation? What created parents that were ashamed after their daughter was a victim and raped? There are so many things that go on in different countries and in the world that we are ignorant to. Even if we claim to know of it, we don’t really “know it”.

I myself am not too familiar with Liberia or some of the other war torn countries that help to produce the hostility and suffering that it does, but obviuosly when they begin to infiltrate into our world you can’t help but acknowledge it. I think most are clueless when it comes to these types of realities. I am however aware that while women in our country are still climbing ladders, there are women in other countries that haven’t even grabbed onto one. I’m also aware that even in this country sexual assaults that may not be as extreme in nature, go under-reported due to the same feelings of fear, shame and guilt. It’s not a problem in just one particular country, it’s a problem in all of them.

Even these issues that feel so far away exist and eventually will creep into our own back yards and communities. As the world becomes more globalized, different countries experiences, problems and ways of life will be mixed into our own and it will be more and more difficult to continue to ignore them.