Transitioning Times

In today’s culture and society, there seems to be a reoccurring question that comes up regarding victims/survivors of domestic violence. The question I’m referring to is “Why does she stay in an abusive relationship”? Or “Why doesn’t she just leave”? From an outsiders’ perspective, it probably looks like the easiest solution to the issues the woman is currently facing. Just leave, and it’ll all be over with, but we as advocates for domestic violence know far better than that. The society we live in has a lack of knowledge about the true dangers that come with actually leaving an abusive relationship. According to domesticabuseshelter.org, about 4,000 women die each year due to domestic violence. Of the total domestic violence homicides, about 75% of the victims were killed as they attempted to leave the relationship or after the relationship had ended. People stay in abusive relationships for many reasons. Some of those reasons include but are not limited to; fear, lack of finan...

I wish I didn't have to write blogs like this.  I wish those people who think domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking are not accepted by society were right.  Alas, this is not the case. In our training of new staff and volunteers, we watch films by Jean Kilbourne , and Sut Jhally , including Killing Us Softly and Dreamworlds 3 .  These films focus on the role that violence against women plays in advertising and music videos.  This awareness has bred outrage and outcry from feminists about the images and messages from the media.  In the recent past, there was loud descent from the feminist blogosphere about rape culture, specifically about the song of last summer, Blurred Lines .  I thought maybe this reaction would cause record labels and artists to consider more thoughtfully the messages they are promoting, not because of any dedication to social justice, but in light of commercial sales figures.  I was wrong.  In fact, ...