Violence is a weapon of sexism that maintains inequality between the sexes and that keeps women from living their lives to the fullest. Violence against women then becomes a matter of social justice. On a societal level, we need to create more safe spaces for women to turn to when they are abused and to enforce more rigidly the existing laws that make it a crime to harass, stalk, beat, rape, main and kill women. On Valentine's Day and beyond, we need to create a culture in which violence is not glorified, but discouraged, and where peaceful conflict resolution is practiced. Most importantly, we need to work toward women's equality.
Love can only flourish when it is given freely and consensually by self-determining individuals.
Susanne Dietzel is a City College professor and director of the Women's Resource Center.