I'm sure you have seen all of the beautiful photos gracing your social media with these hashtags
Sometimes we need to take a step back and look deeper. I've been seeing these "challenges" pop up constantly, along with the BLM movement to post a black square, the Facebook avatar. To me, it seems the bottom line ends up being a "distraction"
If it's to pull us away from the true meaning, or a cover up in our feeds from what is more important, well that's obviously for us each to make our own decisions.
So with the latest "black and white" challenge, I hesitated before I joined in. I wanted to do some research.
This is Pınar Gültekin.⠀
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She was reported missing in Turkey's Aegean province of Muğla on July 16th and found dead after being brutally murdered five days later. A man has been detained in relation to her killing. Pinar was 27 years old and as of latest updates this morning her case is being described as premeditated murder.
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Turkey has one of the highest rates of femicide in the world. People in Turkey regularly see black and white images of women on their news screen who have been violently murdered.⠀
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The black and white challenge circulating right now?⠀
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It is at least partly from/in response to Pinar's death as a way for Turkish women to raise their voices against these atrocities, stand in solidarity with those lost and draw attention to this.
To show that they TOO could be the next black and white photo flashed on the news or printed in the paper.
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This is more - way more - than just an opportunity to post a nice black and white photo of yourself and encourage other women to do the same. It's about more than just women supporting women. ⠀
The exact origins of challenges like this can be very hard to find. Activism that uses social media in this way is not simple. Many other issues have encouraged things like the posting of black and white photos for varying issues for years. What is known from this particular challenge is THIS is the meaning to bring awareness of the reoccurring murders happening- And has been basically lost.
When we know better we do better. Sometimes taking a few minutes to pause and question the origin of such “challenges” can open your eyes to the TRUE reason or perhaps the fact that it is nothing more than a distraction
As I always say - question everything