Dancing for change

One Billion Rising seeks to end violence against women

Last month, former OKC police officer Daniel Holtzclaw was found guilty of multiple sex crimes against black women. He was handed a 263-year sentence. Though longtime activist and social worker Mia Pearl Leighty was overjoyed at the verdict and sentence, she recognized this as a rare win in a world where justice for women is often scarce. This Valentine’s Day, Leighty and her friend Rebekah Logan hope to draw attention to global female oppression. Eschewing force, the duo believes the key to female liberation lays in dance.

Started by Eve Ensler, author of “The Vagina Monologues,” One Billion Rising (OBR) is a global dance movement aimed at ending violence towards women. Leighty and Logan are organizing this year’s OBR Tulsa event, which will take place on Valentine’s day at Guthrie Green.

In recent years, 207 countries have participated in this day of dance, poetry, music, and education. This year, “One Billion Rising: Rise for Revolution,” will escalate the previous year’s demands for action. Central to the movement is the statistic that one out of every three women, or roughly one billion, will be violated in their lifetime. “One billion women violated is an atrocity,” Leighty told me. “One billion women dancing is a revolution.”

Though the horrors that women face worldwide—including rape, sex trafficking, domestic violence, child marriage, and female castration—are indeed horrific, Leighty stresses that this is a positive movement. “There is a lot of darkness around the issue,” Leighty said, “but the idea is to celebrate the power of women and girls.” Leighty sees dance as a way to transform pain into power. The growing number of Tulsans who participate in OBR each year agree. 

When Leighty first started the event, it was a small affair with friends and participants from Family and Children’s Services’ Women In Recovery group. Each year has seen an exponential growth of attendees. Leighty says this growth in interest mirrors global trends, though countries like Saudi Arabia could draw, “just five women…who are brave enough to dance in the streets.”

In addition to ending sexual violence, OBR hopes to empower women and cast a light on unequal representation in government. 

OBR was started, in part, as a response to former Missouri representative Todd Akin’s infamous assertion that pregnancy is rare in cases of “legitimate rape.” For many, Akin’s remarks were the smoking gun at the heart of an electorate out of touch with women’s issues. Where race and sexual assault on women intersect, Daniel Holtzclaw’s all-white jury is itself—regardless of its clear-eyed decision to convict—indicative of unequal representation. 

Another area of focus for OBR is the incarceration of women. Oklahoma imprisons more women than any other state. All of the proceeds from OBR Tulsa will go to Women In Recovery, an outpatient alternative to incarceration for non-violent, female drug offenders. Their programs are aimed at rehabilitation and ending the cycle of incarceration. Leighty told me that current participants and alumni of Women In Recovery will be present to dance and share their stories.

Though based around issues affecting women, OBR Tulsa stresses that this event is for women, girls, and the men that love them. “Women cannot dismantle the patriarchal system [alone],” Leighty told me, “we can only do that when men stand up against racism, sexism and misogyny.” With one out of every seven men being violated in their lifetime, sexual assault is a concern for both sexes. 

At this year’s OBR, Oklahoma advocacy group Sally’s List will be present to discuss their desire to promote progressive female public leaders. 

Leighty encourages OBR attendees to wear red or pink, bring instruments to play, and come ready to dance and learn. Those wishing to join in the choreographed dance can learn the dance ahead of time at the Fly Loft (117 N. Main.) Rehearsals will be held on February 9th at 6:15 pm, and February 13th at 11:00 am. 

One Billion Rising: Rise for Revolution
Sunday, Feb. 14, noon-4 p.m.
Guthrie Green
OneBillionRising.org

For more from Mitch, read his interview with the founders of Rojava Solidarity Oklahoma.