Written Out: How Sexuality is Used to Attack Women's Organizing (2005)
Originally published in 2000, Written Out: How Sexuality is Used to Attack Women’s Organizing uses a human rights lens to describe a phenomenon that many human rights defenders and other activists face in all regions: “sexuality-baiting,” or the practice of discrediting and controlling people, organizations and political agendas through strategic use of allegations related to sexuality. Written Out has been updated to include an analysis of the current political climate and recent experiences of sexuality-baiting directed at women because of their political work, who they are, or who they are seen to be.
In this revised report, which includes a section on baiting within the United Nations, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) again show how attacks on women’s sexualities threaten all women’s basic human rights to bodily integrity, to expression and to association—as well as undermine essential values of equality and dignity.
Written and researched by Cynthia Rothschild. Edited and with contributions by Scott Long and Susana T. Fried. International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and Center for Women's Global Leadership, 2005;
188 pages. ISBN 0-9711412-3-1. US$15
Table
of Contents
Preface to 2005 Edition
Introduction
I. "How Can There Be Names for What Does Not Exist?"
The Target: Women’s Organizing, Women’s Bodies
Sexual Rights
Basics of Baiting: Internationalizing Intolerance
The Effects: Internalizing Fear
II. Women Make Cookies: Discrediting of Women Leaders
III. “We Would Have a Hard Time Going Home”: Fear of Sexuality in the International Sphere
Beijing: The Rights Wing Takes on Human Rights
Fear of Gender, Fear of Sexuality, Fear of Justice
“Do they have their eyes shut?” Recent Stories of Sexuality- Baiting Within the UN
IV. Standing Up, Talking Back: The Impact on Local Organizing
Costa Rica: “We really believed we were free”
Costa Rica Update 2005
India: “What is the need to show it?”
India Update 2005
Poland: “An unexpected side effect of democracy”
Poland Update 2005
Namibia: “The more out we are, the more public support we get”
Namibia Update 2005
V. Conclusion and Recommendations
International Law and the Targeting of Women’s Sexuality
Recommendations for the International Community, States and Civil Society
Acknowledgements
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