Dehumanization is violence

Like everyone else, we were sickened, shocked, and horrified to learn about a social media account on which a small group of local men sexualized, violated, and victimized women and girls from the community.

There are no strong enough words, and certainly not ones we can print, to describe the abhorrence of these virtual sex crimes.

Many questions come to mind, but the first is how to support the victims.

Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takéhnhas Community Services (KSCS) has shared resources, including talking circles hosted by the organization, intake services, hotlines, and counselling services, but of course it can be difficult to reach everyone who may need help.

Victims deserve privacy and unwavering support. Different people hurt by this situation might be experiencing it differently, and that means listening to victims and hearing their needs without judgment is paramount as well.

We hope resources continue to be readily available for those who may not want services now, but may want help down the line. That includes people who maybe weren’t directly victimized in this situation, but whose own trauma has been triggered as a result. These people deserve support as well.

Besides that, it’s important to examine how such sickness could emerge and how we can take steps to make sure something like this doesn’t happen ever again in the community.

That’s easier said than done. It goes without saying we still live in a society where the objectification of women is so commonplace that a lot of men probably don’t even notice it a lot of the time. This objectification is the opposite of Kanien’kehá:ka values, which place great importance on the reverence of women not only as people within a collective, but also as the community’s leaders.

Strengthening cultural learning and practices contributes to a good path and a good mind, and has the power to help teach the community’s youth how to process and understand the harmful messaging that inundates them. After all, much of the media surrounding us is driven less by reflections on how to live a good life than it is about creating an illusion that a good life is defined by what we can buy, or even just algorithms feeding minds garbage for the sake of keeping eyeballs glued to the screen.

There are other attitudes, too, that contribute to the dehumanization of women. How often have we seen parents throw kneejerk support behind the misbehaviour of boys who need to learn about taking responsibility, instead teaching them how to nourish their own ego? You can’t blame parents for loving their children, but unconditional love and justifying selfish, harmful actions on their behalf are two different things.

For that matter, the glorification of violence sends the completely wrong message to youth about what strength is. Strength isn’t about flexing your muscle, putting people down, or getting minutes in the penalty box.

Real strength, like physical strength, does come through repetition, through the work you put in daily, but it is defined by restraint, empathy, self-reflection, and a readiness to challenge problematic behaviour, all of which come harder than just lashing out in anger.

What was perpetrated last week could only happen because of sickness - sick minds, sick values, sick motivations, all operating under the influence of a sick society. Those responsible for the account obviously set out for the most outrageous, hurtful, misogynistic conduct they could muster from behind a computer screen.

If the goal of those behind the account was to provoke a reaction, there is power in not giving them the reaction they were looking for. (And it goes without saying there is no excuse for anyone to be saving, viewing, sharing, or abetting in any way these images, a disgusting crime in itself.)

We won’t get on our high horse about the desire for retribution, not at all. A parent’s pain and urge to protect their child is something to behold. Although this account was a form of violence, we will say we don’t believe violence is the answer when it comes to confronting the roots of the problem that made this situation possible.

However, when the Peacekeepers go on social media and warn people that vigilante justice will not be tolerated, it highlights their special responsibility to provide a swift and effective avenue for systemic justice. Specific charges for this crime must be laid, and the community must be kept apprised.

It also highlights that the Peacekeepers’ officers must behave beyond reproach at all times, including in their private associations.

If this social media account was all about lashing out at the community and society in general, it is begging for a reaction, not unlike a terrorist attack or a threat to commit one. A community member who now stands accused of firing plastic bullets at community members protesting in front of his house also allegedly terrorized the hospital; he is accused of phoning in multiple mass shooting threats.

It pains us that the community’s righteous demonstration of grief and outrage outside a private residence was met with even more violence, and we’re relieved it appears everyone is okay following a confrontation that has led to that man being charged with violent crimes against multiple community members.

Everybody in this community should feel safe - safe to express themselves by posting images of themselves on social media without being violated, safe to let their views be known, safe to protest peacefully, safe to raise their children in a community that puts the wellbeing of its people at the centre of public and private life.

It’s painful to know this is far from the first time those who have perpetrated sex crimes, including against children, have planted their feet in Kahnawake. What’s the solution?

Banishment is one idea that often comes up, but of course the scary truth today is this crime could have been perpetrated from anywhere in the world.

No matter the approach to ensure this never happens again, it must include a critical, continual examination of the values and supports with which children are growing up. And when someone is victimized, the whole community owes it to them to focus on hearing them and offering appropriate support.

TED Staff