Rape, Todd Akin and the Paintings of Artemisia Gentileschi

Soon after my twin brother and I turned 14, my mother told us the following: “Treat women the way you would want someone to treat your sister and mother.” The youngest of five children, my twin brother, three older siblings and I admired our widowed mother for her courage and tenacity. In the post 1948 Upper Bakaa Palestinian neighborhood of West Jerusalem, Katrina Halaby, widowed at 38, was father, mother, bread winner, teacher, confidant, and a great role model for her children. At a time when Women’s Rights was hardly a topic of concern, she was a strong advocate for Women’s Rights and human rights. She taught by example, and her wisdom and admonishments have had an indelible impact on my life.Many years later and thousands of miles removed from my place natale, I find myself drawing on her wisdom and the aforementioned quotation.