Stature poor and head sagging low, Chad Davis shamed and shackled stood and testified in court about how he maliciously attacked and threatened his wife with her life last December. His excuse to the judge was that his mind was fogged with a broken heart, a busted ego, and too much alcohol. This is the case for most attackers but though his statement might seem sincere his words are all but true. Approximately, 25% of domestic violence victims, mostly being women, claim to have been assaulted or raped by an intimate partner. 1 This was the case for
Domestic violence ravages through the streets of inter cities and small rural towns, it does not stop with religious families, certain races, sexual orientations, or rich individuals, and it defiantly didn’t stop on its way through
In a national survey, 25% of women reported having been assaulted or raped by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime.4 This percentage suggests that any 1/4 friends of yours could be in an abusive relationship, or it could even you. The majority of women murdered by domestic violence by their partner usually happened during the relationship or in the process of leaving the abusive relationship. This now not only means that the women are being abused or miss treated but as they are trying to leave it becomes almost in possible to do so.
There are many resources available in the Walla Walla community that are primarily free to the public and thus girls or women being attacked by their partner could either call for help or shelter. This issue should not go on unnoticed since having two colleges and many members of the community in between, there is bound to be a large group of women desperate for help. Maybe these women can not go and request help or find help because their partner keeps a close leash on them. The links posted have various resources in the
Although there are so many resources available there still seems to be a large gap. This could be any number of things. Is there anything that you suggest we could do to improve this community in assisting others who are affected by domestic violence?
1. allagher, Joanne, Margaret Hobart, and Kelly Starr, eds. COVERING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. June-July 2002.
15 comments:
Wow, I had no idea that it was so common. But you're right, there are no excuses and these women need to utilize the resources available to them. Good post.
wow. domestic violence is a serious problem, and not often talked about, so its refreshing to hear this topic being acknowledged and solutions suggested.
suggestions we can do to improve assisting others who have been affected by domestic violence? i don't think there is anything more than just really putting these suggestions into practice, encouraging woman to speak up about violence, and making known of legit shelters and places that do want to help and offer their support.
good luck with your project.
good post.
I was one of those unseen victims, I was raped in my home while my children were just outside the door. It is a frightening thing.
To who ever posted anonymous~
I'm so sorry for your hurt and pain caused by that traumatic experience.I'm not an expert on issues like this one, but i am a Christian and I know that God is with you through those times, even if it doesn't seem like it!If you would like i could pray for you and your children. Also as i mentioned in the blog there are many places here in walla walla that give support and help during those tough time. My heart goes out to you and I will be praying.
I think that domestic violence is something that is often glossed over in WW/CP. We don't want to make our community look bad so we just don't talk about it. I think that this is a very poor way to approach the problem. We need to be sure that those in this type of situation can get adequate help.
AMEN BOTHER/SISTER!
The danger to the women is not understood by most people. Having a cousin who was murdered by her ex-husband, and a friend whose husband put her in the hospital, it is still hard to comprehend not being able to walk away because of the fear of repercussions.
It is really hard to comprehend how a person can stay in an abusive relationship until you become one of the statistics...speaking from experience, it can be a gradual process, and even the strongest women aren't immuned.
As for helping stop DV, in addition to the resources of places to go to flee abusive, having prevention programs in place and taught in school I think will help. DV is usually generational and is taught. If we try to break that cycle by teaching kids alternative ways to postively express themselves and proper coping skills, we could change lives.
Jess,
This blog really holds a lot of evidence that this is, clearly, a problem that should be dealt with. We as a society should make a larger effort to increase the awareness of the resources that are available to those who have been effected by it. I feel inspired! Great job.
-Chelle
While searching websites over the last couple of days for my own blog, I found a website that stated this.
In 2004-2005, according to the 2005 National Crime Victimization Study, 64,080 women were raped. According to medical reports, the incidence of pregnancy for one-time unprotected sexual intercourse is 5%.
By applying the 5% pregnancy rate to 64,080 women, RAINN estimates that there were up to 3,204 pregnancies as a result of rape.
This statistic shocked me and I couldn't even believe it. Even though some of these women that you have talked about were raped by someone they knew or even their most intimate partners this is still considered rape and me personally, I don't think that I could honestly say that I would want to have a child who was a product of rape. Especially by someone who I knew. Walla Walla has a great YWCA program here in town that deals with this cases often, but it seems to me that most women let these situations go unseen and unknown.
25% is higher than I would have guessed...realizing that 1/4 of women have experienced that makes you stop and think.
I worked at a domestic violence shelter last summer (doing childcare for the women) and it made me realize how much more real and dangerous it can be. One mom had had her infant baby murdered by the man she was living with, because it wasn't his child. There really are many women out there who need help.
what are we teaching our men? That it is sissy to show emotions? I think that at times the men who abuse these women have so much emotions bottled up inside because of being taught that it is sissy to show emotions such as crying. we need to teach our boys that it is ok to cry and also that it is not cool to beat upon someone weaker than yourself. to do so is cowardly
I think that domestic violence is a hard problem to face in our community where religion is a big part of it. I know that more often it is females that deal with this social problem, but in some cases men feel it too, and it's hard for them to report it because of shame. I think the whole situation is one of the saddest more if there are children involved.
I never knew that this kind of abuse was so common, especially in a small town like Walla Walla. It is good to hear that this town has fairly adequate resources to help combat this problem. Unfortunately as you've said, the problem is reaching the women that need the help but are unable to stand up for themselves and get it.
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