Domestic Violence Awareness spreads across campus
Nache Rennick
Issue date: 10/22/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Female pop sensation Rihanna, 21, was brutally beaten by her R&B superstar boyfriend, Chris Brown, 20, after reading a three-paged long text message from an ex-girlfriend in his cell phone. The couple began to argue, and Brown then tried to force his girlfriend out of the Lamborghini, slamming her head into the passenger side window.
According to the police report, Rihanna "turned to face Brown and he punched her in the left eye with his right hand. He then drove away in the vehicle and continued to punch her in the face with his right hand while steering the vehicle with his left hand."
And as if punching her wasn't enough, the police report also said that he had bitten her ear and fingers, and put her in a headlock, almost causing her to lose consciousness.
Eventually, the statement said, Rihanna, "began screaming for help and Brown exitted the vehicle and walked away. A resident in the neighborhood heard Robyn F.'s (Rihanna's) plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F. was issued a domestic violence emergency protective order." Brown turned himself in later that evening.
Rumors circulate only three weeks after the arrest of Brown that Rihanna and Brown are possibly getting back together. In light of this situation, People's Magazine interviews psychologist and author Lenore Walker on the reasons why some women return to abusive relationships. "The man is saying he's sorry, he didn't mean it, that it'll never happen again," says Walker. "It's the loving behavior that reinforces a woman to stay, because they believe the violent act isn't a true reflection of their man."
Unfortunately, Rihanna and Chris Brown's story is not an isolated case. Sadly, people all over the country are being taken advantage of, attacked, and even killed by the people they love most; however, the number of reported domestic violence cases has significantly decreased over the past several years. According to statistics provided by the National Crime Victimization Survey, an estimated 715,440 cases of domestic violence were reported in 2006. This is approximately 15% less than the 838,570 reported in 1996.
According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 144 people in Pennsylvania lost their lives due to domestic violence in 2008, which was a 19% increase from 2007. Of those 144 people, 110 were victims and 34 were perpetrators who committed suicide.
The counties with the highest number of fatalities as a result of domestic violence were Allegheny and Philadelphia counties, which both had 18 each, followed by York and Delaware counties, each with 10.
Almost half of the victims who were killed last year due to domestic violence were between the ages of 30 and 49.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, or if you just want to help others who suffer from domestic abuse, do know that there are many organizations that can help. Pennsylvania is actually the home of the nation's first state domestic violence coalition, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV), which was founded in 1976.
The PCADV is a private nonprofit organization working at the state and national levels to eliminate domestic violence, enhance safety for families and communities, secure justice for victims, and create lasting systems and social change here in Pennsylvania.
The PCADV provides many services to victims of domestic violence, such as 24-hour emergency hotlines, shelter, counseling, legal advocacy and representation, healthcare-based advocacy, children's programs, transitional housing and many other free and confidential services.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). This is a time where domestic violence services across the country not only raise awareness about domestic violence, but also mourn those who have died of domestic abuse and celebrate the lives of those who have survived and triumphed.
During October, domestic violence services work hard to alert the public to services and interventions that can help battered women and their children, encourage community responsibility for prevention of domestic violence, and increase global awareness that domestic violence is a human rights violation and is linked to other forms of violence and oppression.
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