Literature does more than tell a story—it shapes perspectives , reflects values, and influences behavior. Through character portrayals and authorial tone, readers encounter not just fictional narratives, but mirrors of morality, culture, and identity . In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” , this didactic function of literature —its ability to teach and transform—is fully realized. Walker not only delivers a narrative of family, heritage, and personal growth, but also challenges readers to reflect on their own values and the behaviors that stem from them . 💡 What We Learn Through Characters’ Attitudes Characters in literature often carry attitudes that act as emotional cues or moral compasses. In “Everyday Use,” we meet Mama, Maggie, and Dee (later Wangero) who each embody conflicting perspectives on identity, culture, and self-worth . Mama, the narrator, is grounded, physically strong, and emotionally resilient—a woman who knows hardship and is proud of practical wisdom and survival ...
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Issues Statement on April Fool’s Day: Rape and Sexual Pranks Are Not Jokes
In a recent statement, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has urged the public to treat April Fool’s Day with respect and sensitivity, emphasizing that rape and sexual pranks are not jokes.

The CHR’s statement comes in the wake of similar advisories from other organizations. For instance, the Department of Health (DOH) has also reminded the public to avoid jokes on health and death.
Facts about Rape and Sexual Pranks
The CHR’s statement is backed by alarming statistics and facts about rape and sexual assault:
- Prevalence: 1 in 5 women and 1 in 14 men experience sexual violence during their lifetime.
- Perpetrators: The majority of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim.
- Non-Resistance: Often, victims of rape do not physically resist. Freezing when confronted with a sexual attack has been recognized as a common physiological and psychological response.
- False Reports: False rape reports are rare. Rapes are hugely under-reported due to lack of trust in the justice system or fear of not being believed.
- Clothing: What a woman wears cannot provoke a man to rape her. No type of clothing is an invitation for sex or implies consent.
The CHR hopes that this reminder will encourage everyone to treat April Fool’s Day with the respect and sensitivity it deserves, ensuring that all pranks and jokes are in good taste and do not harm or degrade anyone.
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