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Wfcair Wm of âl Community Do y<M ii Emi\s5ijdÎQ)mJ/
ecognizing that domestic violence is a
omestic violence. When you hear One of...
form of oppression and the function of
the words, what do you see? A mid­
oppression is to keep certain groups of
dle-age woman with a black eye? A E Q U A L I T Y
people down is the beginning to stop­
child cowering in the corner holding a teddy 7. the state of being equal; likeness“ in magni ping violence in our community.
It’s a hard reality to face, but at times, for some
bear? A drunken man yelling at his wife while tude or dimension, value, qualities, degree,
us, the only way we feel good about ourselves is
their teenage son listens from his bedroom? and the like; the state of being neither superi if of we
can act more powerful, superior to, or in con­
or
nor
inferior;
as
the
equality
of
men:
an
Do you see that same teenager later grab­
trol of another who we perceive as less than. Or,
equality of righ ts.
perhaps some of us have simply come to believe
bing his girlfriend’s arm? Or do you see a
that we are inherently less than, that violence is
man pointing his finger and threatening to *
normal, or somehow we’ve done something to
deport his wife? Or a caregiver leaving an eld­
cause another person’s abusive behavior and, so,
erly man all day in his wheelchair to look out Or one of...
we just quietly endure ongoing abuse.
Domestic violence occurs in all socio-economic,
the window? Or a woman calling her female O P P R E S S I O N
cultural and ethnic backgrounds. For many people,
intimate partner names?
there are barriers to receiving services to end
Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors 7. to weigh heavily on the mind, spirits, or
abuse. All of us who live in Jefferson County
already face the rural challenges of a below-stan-
perpetrated by one person in an intimate rela­ senses of; to lie heavily on; to burden.
dard economy, long distance commutes, and geo­
tionship against another with the goal of exert­ 2. to keep down by the cruel or unjust use of graphic
isolation from basic resources. But people
power or authority; to burden with harsh,
ing power and control. U.S. Bureau of
in our community who encounter other forms of
rigorous
impositions;
to
tyrannize
over.
Statistics reports show that of all domestic vio­ 3. (a) to crush; to trample down; (b) to over­ oppression based on their age, race, background
physical or mental ability, and/or sexual orienta­
lence incidents, the majority of crimes are
power.
tion, can be even more vulnerable to intimate
committed by a man against a woman, and
partner violence because pre-existing stereotypes
women are 5 to 8 times more likely than
and judgements about their particular group
often hinder us from offering appropriate
men to be victimized by an intimate
VIOLATING
services and hinder those groups from
partner. These statistics, however, do
CONFIDENTIALITY
reaching out to us. We can help by rais­
Do you talk about the
not examine the larger context of
ing our awareness about how we end
victim(s) without the ex'
MINIMIZING
why this gender inequality exists
up contributing to oppression and
pressed consent of the
THE ABUSE
victim?
NORMALIZING
by committing even more to creat­
nor do they address the reality
Do you recognize that
VICTIMIZATION
ing equality.
violence occurs on a
that when violence happens in
continuum of power & control
Do you believe the
The answer to ending
behaviors, from the verbal
use of power and control
the home, as a community,
domestic violence is a coordinat­
i.e. jokes, name calling, threats )1
tactics is okay in
ed community response; there
we all suffer. If we truly
to the physical (i.e. pushing,
relationships?
is no single organization or fam­
grabbing, hitting)?
believe that people are
ily or church that can create
equal, then we will encour­
IGNORING VICTIM
BLAMING THE VICTIM
solutions for such a wide-spread
NEED
FOR
SAFETY
Not holding the offender
age all people to act in ways
social issue. Through interven­
accountable
Do you validate the
tion and professional help, the
that are loving and equal,
victim’s sense of danger?
Do you catch yourself
community can hold the offend­
Do you help the victim
saying things like “she
rather than in ways that are
NOT
er accountable for criminal
plan for safety?
provoked it,” “it was a
RESPECTING
hurtful and unequal.
crime of passion,”
behavior and ensure safety and
VICTIM AUTONOMY
hm w® jwj«: <sf
dte m O llL IM ? /
-modified, from A. Cosgrove
1992, DV Project, Inc.
Do you make decisions for the
victim(s) without discussing
options or empowering them
to make their own choices?
accessible services for victims.
We have the choice to end vio­
lence, but it takes a lot of hard work:
thorough self-examination and honesty
are essential to our efforts. So, the next time
you hear the words “domestic violence,” will
you see yourself as part of our community and
remember you are as responsible as the next per­
son for stopping domestic violence?
or “he was out
of control”?,