I’m really not sure what to write about today for this, but I really want to participate because it is such an important issue.I haven’t personally been a victim of any sort of sexual violence, and have never talked to anyone has who has been about their experiences.

I only know that crimes like rape scare me to death. And I don’t understand it. I don’t understand why so many men are so violent, in general, and especially towards women.

I’m especially horrified by the type of violence many women, mostly in non-western countries, have to experience regularly.

These include: female genital mutilation - which is just so horrible to even think about on even a superficial level; dowry murder - 15,000 dowry deaths estimated to take place each year in India; honour killings - where members of a woman’s own family kills her because she was a victim of rape and much more.

In many cases the violence seems to reflect a general lack of men even considering women to be real people, but instead just a piece of property they can do what they want with. Or mutilating women’s bodies so that they either become somewhat helpless (as in foot binding) or unable to experience normal pleasurable feelings. Or they involve women’s virginity or the possible lack of it.

So what causes this horrible behavior in men and what can be done about it?

It seems to take place all over the world - or at least has in the past - so it is hard to blame it on any particular religion or culture.

One possible cause - which may not be a popular one - is that men (not all, but most) are just naturally violent and aggressive. Can they change? I think so - I certainly hope so. I have no idea how.

Or maybe we are just still too primitive a species. Violent and aggressive behaviors are maybe part of our evolutionary past that we still need to confront, learn about and move beyond.

Or maybe in general, we are just a violent species. Maybe if there is intelligent life in the universe somewhere they are avoiding us because we are so primitive and violent. I wouldn’t blame them if that is the case.

And still, women all over the world are sufferering due to violence perpetrated against them everyday.