Day 12- Gleidys

Today's a little different because our profile is not a Northwestern student, but today you have the privilege of meeting my sweet sister, Gleidys. I met Gleidys when I was probably 16 and went down to Venezuela for the first time. Our church has a long standing partnership with a church in Valencia, Venezuela and I've gone down twice. Gleidys and I formed a wonderful bond, and have been sisters ever since. She messaged me that she too decided to participate in Dressember. Passion is contagious- even across continents.

"My name is Gleidys Escalona. I'm from Venezuela.

I used to ignore the topic of human trafficking like many of us, until my American sis, Kelsey, went to India. When she came back we were talking on skype and she told me what this whole "human trafficking" thing was about. Sometime after our conversation I started to see some posts on Facebook about human trafficking and her pictures with what said " I STAND FOR FREEDOM" so, I got interested about this whole thing. When I knew that she and her friends were participating in this movement called "Dressember" I wanted to know more about it. So I looked it up and when I got the answer, it really touched my heart. For some days I was thinking about how I could help them and support this cause if I live so far away from Iowa. So, I decided to keep praying for every single person that is going through human trafficking and wear a dress to let everyone know I support freedom. Maybe in my country we don't have this movement, but, who says that one person can't make the difference? Even though I'm miles away from Iowa, I'm part of those who care about this, and support it. Don't give up, keep fighting for those who are victims of human trafficking. I am confident that someday everyone will have the freedom we are fighting for today. And the most important thing, they will be free in Christ. We can have a better world, we just have to decide to make the difference caring for those no one else cares for."

Yesterday, Dressember shared these facts: 65-90% of women sold for sex are victims of incest, 80% are victims of rape, 70-90% have a trafficker selling her as a commodity and keeping all or most of the money, 72% have considered suicide, 68% suffer from PTSD (2x higher than a solider in a war zone!) and on average, a women who is sold for sex will die within 7 years after entering prostitution. This is not okay.

Day 11- Sarah

Since December 1st I have found myself continually walking around campus and seeing more and more people in ties or dresses. Seriously guys, I've been blown away. I secretly think to myself, "Do you just like dressing up or are you participating in Dressember?" Well I had this with Sarah, but since I know her I just asked if she was participating in Dressember...and her response, "Heck yes!" I'm so blessed to attend a college where I walk around and am astounded by the number of people who care and who are challenging themselves to make a difference! We may just be a small college in Northwest Iowa, but we've sure got a lot of people with big hearts who are passionate about justice. The other day I was actually reading about the Eric Garner case and read several articles on trafficking and felt defeated. I was tired of fighting when injustice seems to pop up in another place just after I feel like progress is being made. I was saddened at the world we live in and was scared by the thought of the world my children may one day grow up in. But at the same time I was incredibly encouraged as I thought about the people I see each day walking around campus in a dress or tie. I was encouraged that these people are braving the cold to make a statement and to stand up for the oppressed. In my position as 'Justice Matters Leader' I have the unique opportunity to see people rise up and take a stand against injustice. So while I was defeated, tired, sad, and scared...I was also HOPEFUL. You see, I have this hope that our generation will rise up and end slavery in our lifetime and even more, I have hope in my blessed Savior who LOVES justice (Isaiah 61:8) and promises to fight for us (Exodus 14:14). 

So today- meet Sarah. 

"I often feel like there is no way that I can actually help the women subject to sex trafficking seeing as I am a college student and not out there physically helping them, but wearing dresses for all of December in the Mid-West winter is really making a statement. We are suffering the cold, which is nothing compared to the suffering of the women who are victims to sex trafficking."

"No one can do everything, but everyone can do something."

Fact: Victims of sex trafficking often do not self-identify as victims due to multiple factors such as mistrust, self-blame, and years of abuse. 

Day 10- Madelaine

"Hello! I'm Madelaine Miller and a junior nursing student. I plan on participating in Dressember by wearing one dress for the entire month of December. When I heard about this cause I was super stoked to join in because we always hear about different causes to help people out and it can be overwhelming when trying to figure out where to start making an impact. Well putting on a dress seems like a pretty simple first step."

There are so many injustices in today's world, and there are so many organizations that fight these injustices that I, too, don't know where to start. Dressember gives people of any age and in any place, the opportunity to seek justice. Many people may argue Dressember doesn't accomplish much- but until we're a generation that's aware, injustice will not end. Until we stand up and say, "Gender inequality is NOT okay. Slavery is NOT okay." we'll continue to see injustice in our broken world. We're making a change, and our voices are being heard. 

Day 9- Mica

Welcome to day 9 of Dressember. As of today, 2,510 registered Dressember advocates have raised $170,144! That's enough to cover 9 IJM lawyers' salaries for a year or to fund 38 IJM rescue missions! Together, we're making a difference in the lives of many! And today you get to meet someone near and dear to my heart- Mica Graves. 

"Hey, my name is Mica. I am participating in Dressember because I am passionate about justice and I believe in being a voice for the voiceless.  I am a senior Psychology and Sociology major at Northwestern, and it was through various classes and conversations that I became passionate about empowering women and women’s rights. Once I learned about sex trafficking and whom it targets, my heart was changed. Dressember is a way for me to advocate for these women who cannot for themselves. I do not love wearing dresses, but it has already been humbling to make myself each day this month. I hope that by putting on a dress each day, I think of the women I am wearing it for daily. For me it is about raising awareness and starting conversations on campus and everywhere about this injustice. Even in the first week, I have been humbled and encouraged by the conversations that have already happened and the awareness that has been raised. This world is a broken place, and if we don’t start to make a difference who will? For me, and everyone else participating, it is bigger than a dress. It is for the women and children who do not have a choice. It is about being their voice."

Day 8- Monique.

Day 8 and Monique says she's only wearing a dress a couple times each week, but thus far she's been a rockstar! 

"My name is Monique Lehman and I am participating in Dressember.  I plan on wearing dresses at least a couple times a week.  I want to participate in this unique movement to advocate for all the women who have ever been exploited for their femininity.  I want to help raise awareness for the 30 million slaves who are so easily forgotten about in our comfortable lives.  To me, the dress symbolizes an attitude of cherishing the precious freedom I have as a woman and a reminder that not every woman is so lucky.  Dressember serves as an opportunity to bring the injustice of worldwide trafficking and exploitation to the forefront of our minds so that we can first, live in gratitude that we can freely celebrate our femininity, secondly, bring deeper awareness to our communities, and finally, to fund-raise in efforts of rescuing victims of slavery.  After all, we are all deeply loved children of God. "



Fact: Out of the estimated 20-30 million enslaved today, only 1-2% are ever rescued. - A21 Campaign