Social Media & Women Truckers - Part Two

Social Media & Women TruckersPart Two

Let’s Review

It’s not all about youIndividuals can be more relevant than organizationsSimple Basic Tools is all you need to participate in Social MediaListenLearn ShareEngageReciprocate

How Easy is That?!

SOCIAL MEDIA HAS PROVIDED A PLACE WHERE OUTRAGE CAN BE SHARED

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN TRUCKINGAbandoned StudentsAcquaintance RapeRetaliation for reporting abusePsychological Warfare PTSDFailure of Industry Women to speak upFailure of Industry Men to Educate

themselves on frequency of VAWShunning victims from IndustryDomestic Violence & Trucking

What sort of awareness do you have of these issues?

DENIAL IS A RIVER IN EGYPT

Denial is perhaps the biggest challenge for the issue of violence against women in and around the trucking industry.

Fear of not being accepted, Fear of being perceived as WEAK are reasons why Men & Women delay in reporting “incidents”

Lack of accountability and retaliation from in-house support & organizations has created a climate conducive to conceal bad behavior.

Predators engage themselves to trusted individuals around their targets to cover their misdeeds & to create self-doubt in their victims.

A Vicious Cycle

Contributing Factors

Targeted Recruitment

Misleading Ads

Isolated Training

No Harassment Training

No OversightPoor Software

Hostile Workplace

Denial & Retaliation

Lack of in-house support

Misleading recruitment ads that affect the perception of Women Truckers

Depicting “Party Trucker Girl” image without separating vast difference between training carrier climate, private fleet and/or experienced fleet climate and being an Independent Owner-Operator.

Implying to new recruits a general lack of seriousness in the process to become truck drivers affects Women because they tend to have their guard down in order to “fit in” not realizing… “New Women are GUILTY until proven innocent when entering trucking.”

Women who have been introduced to the notion of trucking from domestic violence shelters or other distressed living situations are in no mental frame of mind to recognize potential volatile situations that occur from the method in which truck drivers are trained.

Truck driver training requires an intense, highly intimate living and training environment.

Suitable truck driver trainers who are willing to train females are in short supply , yet recruitment continues to be directed to encourage new Women to enter the industry.

Retaliation for reporting abuse exacerbates the situation and can lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The only similar training atmosphere to trucking is military service yet the support is no where near as organized. The Armed Forces has been challenged with many of the same issues faced by Women Truckers

Contributing Factors

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN TRUCKING

Human Trafficking

Domestic Violence

Abandoning Female Students

Violence in and around Trucking directed at Women gives the message that Women are disposable.

This has created a climate where witnesses hesitate to take action.

Inaction breeds a climate where offenders take charge

A proactive approach is needed to reclaim the deteriorating misogynistic attitudes that are affecting Men & Women in our society as a whole.

Much of the improper conduct occurs in isolated areas and truck stops.

SAFETY FIRSTCurrently there is no organization to track, prevent, reduce and eliminate violence against women in the trucking industry. Organizations established to encourage recruitment should not be a watchdog because they have interfered in the past to cover up abuse.

Truck Stops & Travel Plazas need to be educated on the prevalent issue of violence against women in the trucking industry because a large portion of the conduct occurs on their property.

At the very least the travel plaza industry should provide a safe haven until appropriate shelter can be located, post emergency information in women’s restrooms & keep a list of phone numbers for assistance to those seeking help.

Certain Carrier names will emerge as repeat offenders

Are Women Disposable?

NFL

•The NFL Players Association has joined the Justice Dept. to raise awareness of Violence against Women

Celebrities

•More than 100 celebrities have “Joined the List” a campaign to educate the public & teens that it is unacceptable to abuse Women

Truckers Against Trafficking

•“Truckers against Trafficking” seeks to educate truck drivers that child sex trafficking is regularly conducted at truck stops and in trucking lanes

US Women Veterans

•U.S. Veterans Administration has begun to study unique PTSD that affects Women Veterans and address the issues rather than ignore it.

Awareness & Education RATHER than cover up

Dept. Of Justice

•U.S. Dept. of Justice – Violence against Women has launched virtual resources for violence against women in workplace issues

Men Can Stop Rape

•Organizations like “Men Can Stop Rape” challenge the influence men’s violence has on our society. Offering workshops and training, these groups seek to educate the public that this conduct is not acceptable

Date Safe Project

•The “Date Safe Project “ provides Real Solutions to tough conversations for teens and military mixed genders

Dept. Homeland Security

•U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security - Blue Campaign is organized around the "three Ps" of Human Trafficking : Prevention, Protection, & Prosecution.

The Emperor has NO CLOTHES! Once upon a time there was an emperor, who thought so much of new clothes that he spent all his money in order to obtain them; his only ambition was to be always well dressed. He did not care for his soldiers.

The only thing he thought about was how he looked. ~ 1837 Hans Christian Andersen

Who are your Advisors? Do you employ focus groups, data surveys,

marketing research, lead generation sources?

What do you do with the information they gather?

Social media allows you to collect data from the source, FOR FREE!

CHALLENGE YOURSELF to hear new ideas, address problems and find cost effective solutions.

LISTENING ONLY to your inner circle of advisers & ignoring the truth will leave you EXPOSED in social media

Make sure you understand how complex this can be

Virtual Revolution on Twitter #IranElection

The role of Twitter, You Tube and Facebook in the Iran Elections of 2009 launched an empowerment of individuals to take action to speak out on injustice.

News traveled faster than mainstream press about voting irregularities & violence. A wave of virtual activism developed , avatars went green worldwide to show unity, locations

were changed to Tehran Iran shut internet service down due to the disruptionThe unrest dominated social media for a week

The event became a symbol for virtual activism.

Trying to Control the Message

Palm Oil was the issue but censorship was the death blow to an online PR Disaster that began March 17th 2010.

The Greenpeace V. Nestle event is an example of: “How Not to Use Social Media “

WEAPONS: You Tube, Facebook, Twitter , Socially Active IndividualsStock plummeted in 4 short days.Nestlé has agreed to a new policy to identify and exclude companies

from its supply chain that own or manage 'high risk plantations or farms linked to deforestation'.

Individuals taking action is what is going on in social media

When the Earthquake in Haiti Occurred, the presence of the Red Cross , combined with the State Department Involvement in Social Media helped to mobilize a record breaking $32 million donation drive through a texting campaign

Defensive paranoid companies who cannot see the big picture of what is ahead are not leaders in social media and this is becoming abundantly clear to those who are embracing a more ethical corporate environment.

Social Media For Social Good#Teamwork

Charitable organizations have reached out to social media truckers for a variety of logistics issues

Moving donated dog food to shelter pets .

Locating equipment to move donated diapers.

“Retweeting” the 10 ways to help online for a organization in Japan which helps children of trauma.

Who is Listening to Social Media Truckers?

Virginia Rest Area closures prompted truckers on twitter to take action by networking to Virginia voters and the Travel & RV Community.

VDOT media communications reached out to social media truckers through Allen & Donna Smith of “Ask the Trucker” which opened a dialogue.

The Virginia parking issue became a political football. Since that time the 2 hour parking signs have been removed and rest areas have

reopened using inmate labor.Crimes against truckers and safe parking issues continue to be

an issue, “Jason’s Law” remains stalled in committee but we have made good headway using social media.

US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood’s offices has created a trucking list , our chatter is being heard

Twitter Triumph’s for little guys

Sprint responding & following up after tweeting about equipment problems from their products

Delta airlines responding when bereavement flight information was being publically discussed & customer service phone center issues.

Being sent gift cards from Orange Julius when they eavesdropped to hear, I think they are YUMMY!

Many Organizations monitor keywords and take immediate action in social media

Being RecognizedSocial Media Truckers are being Recognized for what the BRING!

For the Birds?

A documentary about Twitter, directed by Tan Siok Siok (@sioksiok) is coming soon which will encompass the amazing ways social media is being used.

“The World of Anipals”

And so much MORE…..

Truckers are the Eyes and Ears

Social Media truckers are an asset when they take a few moments on their breaks to share Facebook links & “Retweet” Amber Alerts, “Lost N Missing”, “Can You Identify Me” and by reporting suspicious activity at truck stops which supports the “Truckers against Trafficking” campaign to stop child trafficking.

What about the Trucking Industry ?

The Trucking Industry needs to WAKE UP & Smell the Organic

Coffee

Corporate Social Responsibility consists of 4 basic principles:Economic, Legal, Ethical, Philanthropic

MAN UP! NOT COVER UP!

Opportunity is Knocking

Social Media provides a way to network before attending conventions to learn about emerging technologies

Using hash tags gives the ability to participate in a virtual networking manner

Observing how an organization handles social media helps others form an opinion on how well they understand the concept of “TRANSPARENCY”

R. - Reaching Out E. - Encouraging Others A. - Achieving Personal Success L. - Leadership

The trucking industry must take responsibility for truck driver training carriers who have a history of churning an enormous number of

students as a matter of standard operating procedure.

In this chaotic climate predators & inept leadership are destroying lives

If your organization would like more information on any of these

issues please contact: Desiree Wood (760) 975-6868

TruckerDesiree@gmail.com

Become a fan of “Real Women Truckers” on Facebook & Follow us on Twitter @WomenTruckers @TruckerDesiree … & @TruckinDogKarma Too!

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