by: Ruthann Mckenzie
"...we call it domestic violence as if it is a domesticated cat. It is the most vicious form of violence there is, because not only the physical scars are left, the psychological scars that are left" - VP Joe Biden
Each morning he made the lunches. Each night after work he cooked the dinners. Each Saturday morning, they went as a family to church. On the outside they were adorable together. They received nothing but compliments on the love they seemed to share. Yet on the inside she feared for her life. She was forcing a square peg and she knew it, but she stayed. She loved him. He loved her....Besides, she hit him too, he'd provoke, but she'd retaliate. She deserved what came during their fights. The baby was protected by the womb. Never mind, the umbilical cord wrapping around the fetus neck three time unbeknownst to her. Never mind the extreme stress and pressure it placed on the unborn child. That was the least of her concern.
This is not where the story begins though. She came into this world that was already broken. Her first incident with domestic violence was at the age of three. The very first man she'd ever known to love had no real regards for the woman who carried her. She can still recall that night hearing her parents fight. She can still recall seeing how broken her mother was and not knowing what to do. She was three. How would she know as an adult she would go through the same or have her child experience such tragedies?
I am Janay Rice. I am the countless women and men who have experienced fear in relationships. Although I've left my abusers, yes multiple abusers, I'm no better than the next person. I have no greater worth than anyone else. We are all equal because we were created equal. We only share a common thread through the scarlet strain of violence. I am her. I also do not want to acknowledge it as being so serious. Yet, it is that serious.
With each story I read, with each news story I try to avoid listening to, I see my own story replaying. Writing this is not easy. It is a trauma that some of us endure in the warped view of love, not realizing love never will hurt. Perhaps I'm writing this from my heightened sense of sensitivity towards the situation. Nonetheless, more of us need to shine light on something painful in hopes to bring meaningful change. That change does not have to be legislation. It can be education to those who are ignorant to the facts. Most of all, it could be compassion and love to those who stay in the situation or who choose to leave.
Here are a few facts in regards to domestic violence are as follows:
- World wide, one in three women experience a form of domestic abuse.
- Domestic abuse can include verbal, sexual, economic, emotional, and uses denial, blame, control, and isolation to manipulate the victim.
- One in five men world wide also experience a form of domestic abuse. (This isn't just affecting women.)
- Women are more likely to be victims of sexual and domestic abuse at the hands of a partner.
- One in six women in America have been stalked.
- One in five women have been raped.
- One in four women in the US has been physically assaulted.
These are just a few of the many statistics for domestic and sexual violence. Some of the negative impacts of domestic and sexual violence includes; being fearful, one or more PTSD symptom, concern for safety, missing work, needing legal services, needing medical services, needing housing services. I must admit, just watching the news broadcast play over again has evoked some symptoms of my post traumatic stress disorder (or PTSD).
Most of this happens prior to ones 25th birthday! The saddest thing is I have lived these experiences prior to my 25th birthday. The younger crowd experiences this and then have a warped idea of what is normal and how to enter into a healthy living relationship.
We cannot be naive and believe that violence will end magically. However speaking out and empowering all victims to realize they are victors is a start. Breaking the stigma and ignorance is a start. If this encourages one woman to know they are not alone, it was worth sharing my pain. If it leads one more to being compassionate and not victimizing someone already mentally and verbally attacked, then it was worth reliving. You can be a light. You can break free. There is hope and freedom in Christ and that can never be taken away. It is possible to receive help from others and it is possible to give a helping hand to those who need it most.
