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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Domestic violence - an epidemic within the pandemic

14 replies

ArabellaScott · 23/03/2021 09:29

BBC front page.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56491643

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EmbarrassingAdmissions · 23/03/2021 10:33

It's enraging and distressing.

Refuge said 72% of these were from women who said they were experiencing violence and abuse, and nearly a fifth said their abuser had threatened to kill them.

It said many calls were from women who were being terrorised in their own homes, and who were afraid to seek treatment for their injuries in case they overburdened hospital staff.

ArabellaScott · 23/03/2021 12:01

It is. Also depressing that the collective response seems to be a shrug, effectively.

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ISaySteadyOn · 23/03/2021 13:51

I am bumping this as it is important and has already sunk way down the FWR board.

persistentwoman · 23/03/2021 13:55

The statistics are appalling. I note that numerous public schools are at the centre of storms where girls and ex students are calling out the behaviour of boys in the schools.
How do we change the narrative when so many women's voices are ignored?

ArabellaScott · 23/03/2021 13:57

How do we change the narrative when so many women's voices are ignored?

I do not know. Sometimes I think women being ignored, derided, insulted and threatened seems so pervasive it's virtually invisible within the public sphere.

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persistentwoman · 23/03/2021 14:00

The levels of disrespect for women are off the scale. I suppose when so many government and other organisations feel empowered to remove the language and rights of women, we shouldn't be surprised that so many men feel confident that they won't be challenged when abusing, assaulting and harming women.

ArabellaScott · 23/03/2021 14:18

Invisible women, again.

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EmbarrassingAdmissions · 23/03/2021 16:11

@persistentwoman

The levels of disrespect for women are off the scale. I suppose when so many government and other organisations feel empowered to remove the language and rights of women, we shouldn't be surprised that so many men feel confident that they won't be challenged when abusing, assaulting and harming women.
It was quite interesting recently that somebody on Twitter gave an account of when she intervened to stop a man assaulting his girlfriend on the Tube. Another man intervened when she (the intervener) was sent flying - it seemed he hadn't got involved before because of the usual complexities and uncertainties involved in a 'domestic' even on a Tube. It was more acceptable to take action when the violence spread out to another party.

I struggle with this. I tend to intervene indirectly by asking out of the blue questions - I know that I've sometimes been told not to get involved or seem to address issues directly because it will be worse for the woman later and she may well feel the need to support her abuser in public.

But - it's not enough to recognise this as a 'wicked' problem.

ArabellaScott · 23/03/2021 16:25

Okay, content warning, this is really upsetting to watch, violence (although it's all acted). Experiment from Sweden:

protectionfromabuse.org/should-you-intervene-if-you-witness-domestic-violence-yes-and-no/

'For the average citizen, unless the victim is in danger of suffering serious injury or death, I recommend you at least contact the authorities. Whatever you do, carefully consider your safety and that of the victim'

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ArabellaScott · 23/03/2021 16:26

Practical suggestions for anyone who witnesses abuse/violence:

breakthesilencedv.org/nine-ways-intervene-you-witness-abuse/

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risefromyourgrave · 23/03/2021 16:56

@ArabellaScott

Okay, content warning, this is really upsetting to watch, violence (although it's all acted). Experiment from Sweden:

protectionfromabuse.org/should-you-intervene-if-you-witness-domestic-violence-yes-and-no/

'For the average citizen, unless the victim is in danger of suffering serious injury or death, I recommend you at least contact the authorities. Whatever you do, carefully consider your safety and that of the victim'

That video is just awful, only 1 person out of 56(?) said something?!
ArabellaScott · 23/03/2021 17:19

I think it was 53, but yes. Unbearable.

My only hope is that some of the others said nothing but contacted the authorities. That wasn't made clear.

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Mumofgirlswholiketoplaywithmud · 23/03/2021 17:34

Refuge said 72% of these were from women who said they were experiencing violence and abuse, and nearly a fifth said their abuser had threatened to kill them.

It's frightening. This has happened to someone I know well, at the time they externally seemed like an everyday happy couple.

MaryHappyWin · 23/03/2021 18:42

Domestic violence is evil. I think wife beaters should be locked up.

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