Power: the capacity or ability to direct or influence the course of events.
Violence: the exercise of physical force or intimidation by the exhibition of such force
Power and violence go hand in hand in creating the reality of victimization and vulnerability.
The challenge we face is confronting the truth that these are the tools.
This combination of oppressive forces can be identified as key issues in child abuse, intimate sexual violence, human trafficking, gender inequality and anywhere one person is degraded to less by another person.
We are interested in social change. That means that we must confront the reality that power and violence are at the core of what makes these issues so prevalent. Failing to address this underlying issue will only lead to failure to change individual lives. We must address violence throughout the continuum of social change especially as it relates to women and children.
Appreciating the underlying root cause of hopelessness allows us to impact the most vulnerable. This is an important strategy in designing long-term solutions to impacting the victimized and vulnerable.