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One of your comments brought to my attention the subject of “sex workers” or another term is “prostitution.”

I recently read an article in the July/August 2008 issue of “Sexual Assault Report” based on the book by Jody Raphael “Listening to Olivia: Violence, Poverty, and Prostitution. The article says that the public fails to recognize the huge toll prostitution takes on the women involved. Few voices favoring legalization of prostitution are actually from those working in the sex trades. Women in prostitution must perform in isolated situations in which they are subject to physical and verbal abuse, causing many to rely on alcohol or drugs to cope with the danger as well as pain and humiliation. This calls attention to violence against women in all its manifestations and venues.

The article also states that we need a publicly financed campaign to give teen girls information about the prostitution industry and its recruitment strategies and how to seek help to get out.

In the service that I do that involves violence to each other, there are recurring themes in the literature that I encourage you to ponder: Males are entitled. Women and children are the property of the entitled.

The Sexual Assault Nurse (SANE) program and Center for Protective Environment (COPE) of Otero and Lincoln County New Mexico are sponsoring a viewing of the world premiere documentary “Dating Violence” on September 7. Go to the Southern New Mexico Wellness Alliance Facebook page for details.

Teen dating violence is a serious public health problem. I was recently made aware of a new music video by Eminem featuring Rihanna. The song is titled: “Love the Way you Lie.” It can be viewed on U-tube. I really like the music–the tune is very catchy. There are important messages in the video and music. I would like to speak to specific lyrics that bring up current issues that promote violence. Rihanna sings “Just gonna stand there and watch me burn. That”s alright because I like the way it hurts. Just gonna stand there and watch me cry. That”s alright because I like the way you lie.” Eminem sings: “She hates me and I love it. You ever love somebody so much…I love you too much to walk away. If she ever tries to leave again I”m gonna tie her to the bed and set this house on fire.

The audience for this music can be vulnerable to messages that can be interpreted that violence is okay. I will be posting ”personal rights” in the website under the “prevention” tab. These “personal rights” reflect a “healthy” lifestyle.

The seven most effective methods of contraception over one year”s use (Hatcher, Robert A. 2005. Contraceptive Technology (18th rev. ed). New York: Ardent Media, Inc)

Abstinence (perfect users) 100%, Intra-uterine device-hormonal (perfect users) 99.9 %, Implant (such as Implanon) 99.96%, Male Vasectomy 99.9%, Female Tubal Ligation 99.5%, Copper Intra-Uterine device 99.4%, Shot such as Depo Provera 99.7%

Least safe behaviors (risk of death in one year) starting with the least safe behavior: motorcycling (1 in 1,000), smoking and taking birth control pills less than 35 years old (1 in 5,000), driving a car (1 in 6,000), giving birth (1, in 10,000), tubal ligation (1 in 39,000), non-smoker less than 35 years old taking birth control pills (1 in 200,000), vasectomy (1 in 1,000,000)

There have been several comments about how you have liked the website and blog. For those interested, my web designer is Rivers Web Strategies. You can find them on Facebook.