“Please Help Make the Statement” #1in4domesticabuse

By Mickie Zada

Thank God, thank the media, thank each woman who has posted it. #Metoo has become the symbol, a visual statement, that sexual harassment is an epidemic. Most importantly, that it’s high time the subject moves into the spotlight of exposure. #Metoo has made it OK to talk about a taboo topic…sexual harassment.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC.org), in the United States:

· 43.3% heterosexual women reported sexual violence other than rape during their lifetimes

· One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives

· Nearly one in 10 women has been raped by an intimate partner in her lifetime

· In eight out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew the person who sexually assaulted them

But, until Harvey Weinstein, the subject of sexual harassment and abuse was very rarely headline news.
Everyone knew about it…no one talked about it, even when it was well known.

It’s time that domestic violence is also brought out of the closet, the bedroom, the “home”, into the spotlight of reality, open discussion, more safety for victims and survivors.

Alanna Vagianos, Women’s Editor for The Huffington Post wrote a tremendous article (http://bit.ly/2jc1N8x) stating:

· The number of American troops killed in Afghanistan and Iraq between 2001 and 2012 was 6,488. The number of American women who were murdered by current or ex male partners during that time was 11,766. That’s nearly double the amount of casualties lost during war.

· 3 The number of women murdered every day by a current or former male partner in the U.S.

· 38,028,000 The number of women who have experienced physical intimate partner violence in their lifetimes.

· 4,774,000 The number of women in the U.S. who experience physical violence by an intimate partner every year.

· 1,509 The number of women murdered by men they knew in 2011. Of the 1,509 women, 926were killed by an intimate partner and 264 of those were killed by an intimate partner during an argument.

· 98 The percentage of financial abuse that occurs in all domestic violence cases. The number one reason domestic violence survivors stay or return to the abusive relationship is because the abuser controls their money supply, leaving them with no financial resources to break free.

· 70x The amount of times more likely a woman is to be murdered in the few weeks after leaving her abusive partner than at any other time in the relationship.

· 1 in 4 The number of women who will be victims of severe violence by an intimate partner in their lifetimes.

1 in 4 women will be victims of severe violence by an intimate partner in their lifetimes.

1 in 4!!!
And still, domestic abuse, domestic violence, are topics we allow to be hidden away. Not talked about. Not addressed even when we know it’s happening. Not making it OK for women to come forward to accuse their partners, spouses, boyfriends.

#1in4domesticabuse is our battle cry!

#1in4domesticabuse will do for women suffering as victims or survivors of domestic abuse what #Metoo has done to bring sexual harassment to the forefront, to top of mind.

It starts the conversation!

#1in4domesticabuse does not necessarily mean that you have personally suffered domestic violence. It’s intended as a visual statement that we support accepting that domestic violence is an epidemic…and it’s been hidden in the shadows, in the bedrooms, and in our homes, for long enough.

I am not Alyssa Milano, the actress who started the #Metoo campaign. I don’t have a twitter account…yet.

Please help bring domestic abuse to the forefront like sexual harassment.

Harvey Weinstein reportedly has abused lots of women. Your husband or boyfriend has just abused you…maybe a former spouse or partner…and he’s not famous.

Your abuse won’t be headline news. Your family and friends don’t want to talk about your abuse, even though they know what’s going on. They don’t want to get involved.

You literally risked your life getting out of your abusive relationship ( 70x The amount of times more likely a woman is to be murdered in the few weeks after leaving her abusive partner than at any other time in the relationship). Make it count.

Create a safe and happy life. To the extent you’re comfortable, share your story. Talk to women you know are struggling with surviving abuse. The best revenge is to live well.

And, encourage everyone you know to post #1in4domesticabuse.

It’s time for this conversation to be popular: Abuse is real and we don’t have to live with it!