The words used to describe the body, the harm, and the resistance all shape how women feel about themselves and how they are seen. If the term “sexual violence” is pushed into euphemism, the conventional structures for understanding and naming that violence shift. A woman’s personal narrative of “survivor,” “advocate,” or simply “woman who was harmed”, for instance, becomes harder to anchor. Over time, the erosion of precise terms weakens individual agency and collective recognition.
In the Bible, for instance, Adam’s naming of creation in Genesis 2:19 is more than a simple act of cataloguing the elements of nature. It is an assertion of authority and recognition, an act that binds language to identity. Across traditions, from creation myths to ancestral rituals, naming has carried the weight of power, belonging, and existence itself. This concept underscores the universal truth that naming is an act of power.
Cover Image Courtesy: Thought Catalog // Unsplash Derek Walcott’s “Love after Love” masterfully explores the inner journey of self-discovery, where patience, compassion, and slow revelation converge to awaken the self. The poem begins with a gentle cadence of patience, compassion, and empathy, as the narrator tenderly assures the other, “The time will come.” This reassuring phrase precedes an intimate invitation…
Cover Image Courtesy: Alvin Balemesa // Unsplash The recent explosive growth of the global beauty industry reflects society’s intensifying obsession with beauty. Surging from $100 billion in 2021 to over $1.1 trillion in revenue between 2022 and 2023, the industry generated $528.59 billion in 2022 and $579.20 billion in 2023, with projections indicating continued expansion to $648.60 billion in 2024…