Domestic violence for the adovcate
The pandemic was extra hard for you. Whether it forced you to become a baker, or forced you out of a job, it was even more difficult for families who got forced into full-time captivity indoors; the comfort of public safety nets can be all that families experiencing violence at home have.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is a great time to think about what advocates are doing everyday to become a strong voice to those who are struggling. Being an advocate does not require a dramatic performance, it just needs you to care a little. It can be through donation, valuable volunteer work, education, or a support system for someone going through a bad time. In the US alone, a woman is assaulted every 9 seconds, what does that mean for the rest of the world?
For survivors, most people can’t comprehend their experience, myself included. I can’t comprehend how leaving a dangerous environment is just not worth the consequences. Add in seeded layers of fear and years of trauma. Safety planning for survivors is understanding the alternative to every situation while simultaneously pretending to forget the “can’t” in every situation. But they start to try because that’s all they can do to build a better life somewhere else.
And then there’s you, the advocate. But is your advocacy performative? That’s not cute, let’s make you a sexy advocate with simple steps: Amplify the voices of those who deserve justice. Don’t silence them.
Men who incite violence get the reputation they do because of the crap they can’t seem to stop themselves from doing. Whether it's street harassing, or at-home shaming, male gazing is the curse women battle on the daily. So go ahead and honour your grey space of ignorance; it’s ok to learn something new everyday — just remember that someone’s existence is not practice for your debate skills. (Also see: just Google that shit)
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is a great time to think about what advocates are doing everyday to become a strong voice to those who are struggling. Being an advocate does not require a dramatic performance, it just needs you to care a little. It can be through donation, valuable volunteer work, education, or a support system for someone going through a bad time. In the US alone, a woman is assaulted every 9 seconds, what does that mean for the rest of the world?
For survivors, most people can’t comprehend their experience, myself included. I can’t comprehend how leaving a dangerous environment is just not worth the consequences. Add in seeded layers of fear and years of trauma. Safety planning for survivors is understanding the alternative to every situation while simultaneously pretending to forget the “can’t” in every situation. But they start to try because that’s all they can do to build a better life somewhere else.
And then there’s you, the advocate. But is your advocacy performative? That’s not cute, let’s make you a sexy advocate with simple steps: Amplify the voices of those who deserve justice. Don’t silence them.
Men who incite violence get the reputation they do because of the crap they can’t seem to stop themselves from doing. Whether it's street harassing, or at-home shaming, male gazing is the curse women battle on the daily. So go ahead and honour your grey space of ignorance; it’s ok to learn something new everyday — just remember that someone’s existence is not practice for your debate skills. (Also see: just Google that shit)
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