Women’s Center hosts Domestic Violence Awareness Week
February 7, 2010
The purple ribbon is the official ribbon of the domestic violence cause.
The Florida State University Women’s Center is hosting a week-long series of events for Domestic Violence Awareness Week from Feb. 8-11.
Nicole Hilson, director of the Women’s Center, said that raising awareness about relationship violence at public events will encourage abuse victims to seek help.
“I think it will reach out to a lot of women who aren’t saying anything,” said Hilson.
Domestic violence occurs when one partner in a relationship tries to gain control over the other through various abusive behaviors. In an attempt to lessen the impact of domestic violence at FSU, the Women’s Center is partnering with other organizations for the week of events.
On Monday, the FSU Police Department will hold a Rape Aggression Defense Class held at 7 p.m. This one-hour version of the self-defense class the station usually offers (the regular course is 12 hours) covers the basics of defending against rape aggression and domestic violence.
Ghia Kelly, a speaker from The Refuge House, a local organization that provides shelter for victims of domestic violence, will present at the Women’s Center at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The topics focus on how cycles of abuse can be perpetuated and warning signs of abusive relationships. She will also provide advice on how to help people who are victims of abuse.
The Clothesline Project is another event that will help raise awareness during the week. On Wednesday at 7 p.m., participants will decorate T-shirts to display in public places to raise awareness of domestic violence.
“Awareness is important because it happens to a lot of people,” said John Dougherty, a volunteer at the Women’s Center. “It happens to kids, women, and men, so it’s not just a one-sided issue.”
The week concludes with a Healing Night, hosted by the writer, speaker and self-help columnist Vickie Spray. This event will provide a safe space for those who have suffered from domestic violence to express their emotions through art and writing. It will be in room 311A of the Oglesby Union on Thursday at 7 p.m.
All events are free and open to the public.
“I think that there’s a unanimous consensus (…) that relationship violence, in general, can go unsaid on a college campus,” said Hilson. “A lot more of the student body is suffering from it than you might realize.”
In the United States, around one in four women report having been in an abusive relationship at least once in their lives. Abuse can take many forms. Battery is easier to spot than more subtle emotional and verbal abuse. These types of psychological abuse involve hurtful remarks and manipulation, which can affect the victim’s self esteem. Although the majority of reported cases concern female victims and male abusers, incidents of domestic violence with male victims make up around 16 percent of reported cases of spousal abuse and 14 percent of relationship violence cases in the U.S. Many more instances of abuse against men may be unreported. “People have to understand that it transcends beyond just women and children,” said Laurel Friedlander, another Women’s Center volunteer.
Raising awareness and encouraging people to seek help could potentially prevent a great deal of suffering. Victims of domestic violence, especially if physical abuse is involved, will often suffer injuries of varying severity. Victims’ health can also suffer in the long term.
Contact the Women’s Center for more information on Domestic Violence Awareness Week.
Tags: Domestic Violence, Women's Center
