Unsilencing Survivors

12/28/2010

Anonymous Youth Voices Network Member

What do Julian Assange, Ben Roethlisberger, the Duke lacrosse team, Lawrence Taylor, Kobe Bryant and R. Kelly all have in common?

They have been accused of rape.

The media inundates us with stories of celebrities who are accused of raping women. Yet instead of focusing on the men who are accused of rape, the media hones in on the women. They ask what was she wearing? Was she leading him on? What is her past sexual history? Was she acquainted with him? Was it rape or regret? What does she gain from accusing him of rape? Is she lying? Regardless of the validity of the woman's claim that she was raped, a message is sent to women everywhere that if they come forward after being raped, people will question them.

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Categories: Voices

News: Week of 12/20/2010

12/24/2010

In the Headlines
Connecticut advocates, using a state grant, are crafting a high-tech tool to help victims of teen violence find support, and educate their peers through cell phones. The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence partnered in recent months with two other state nonprofit groups to gather opinions and input from teens across the state about how and where to deliver the messages of prevention, raise awareness and offer resources for victims. The focus groups and survey consensus were not a surprise to those who work with teens: if you want to get teens' attention, use their phones.

Legal Matters
President Obama signs federal legislation to victims of domestic violence. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) released a statement after President Obama signed into law Dodd's Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) reauthorization bill, which will strengthen federal efforts to identify, treat, and prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation's children. This bill also reauthorizes the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), which helps states prevent domestic violence and provides services to victims of domestic violence and their families.

Opinions
Jenna Wortham writes about privacy in the world of social networking and dating for the New York Times. "…The demands of a digital lifestyle have set a larger cultural transition into motion. But there is something of a covert resistance afoot, the fringes of which I can see on the Facebook page of my 13-year-old niece. She and her friends use only cute screen names to identify themselves, and the only profile pictures they post are rendered nearly unrecognizable by cartoon hearts and sparkles. Maybe it's a start."

Events
New York high school focuses workshops on technology abuse and dating violence. Glen Cove High School in Long Island recently hosted the class's annual Freshman Youth Summit featuring workshops on topics selected by the students themselves. These diverse teen-aimed presentations focused on five different topics: substance abuse, cyber-bullying, teen dating violence, STI's, and suicide.

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Categories: News

It’s Not So Complicated

12/20/2010

Stephanie Nilva, Executive Director

I recently had the honor of being invited by the White House to a roundtable discussion on teen dating violence along with about 30 additional experts focused on relationship abuse among youth.  It was an extraordinary opportunity to learn from other groups and speak about Day One's experience and knowledge about the needs of teenagers in the presence of federal agency representatives from the Department of Education, Health and Human Services, National Institute of Health and others.

Convened by Lynn Rosenthal, the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women (and let me point out, there is currently a White House Advisor on Violence Against Women!) the meeting drew researchers, hotline specialists and advocates from across the country.  The discussion ranged from defining the scope of the problem to determining why attitudes reinforcing dating violence still persist, and continued on to identify next steps in addressing the problem.  Perhaps most importantly, young advocates, survivors of dating abuse and parents affected by the issue were present in the room and were given generous time to share their perspectives.

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Categories: Voices

Program and Development Associate on Steppin' Out Radio

12/18/2010

Program and Development Associate Jean Sung sat down with the folks of Steppin' Out radio to talk about the impact of dating violence on the lives of young people.

Listen to the interview: "Invisible Injuries" on Steppin' Out radio.

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Categories: Day One in the Media

News: Week of 12/13/2010

12/17/2010

In the Headlines

Facebook recognizes potential to help and hurt victims and survivors of dating abuse. West Virginia advocates for domestic-violence victims say social media sites can help as well as hurt those who suffer from abuse. Facebook recently asked the National Network to End Domestic Violence to serve on the social media site's year-old Safety Advisory Board, which focuses on domestic-violence victims, cyber-stalking and teen dating violence.

Opinions
Actress Mariska Hargitay blogs on the Huffington Post about dating violence. "Become the person in your community -- perhaps the first, hopefully the first among many -- who knows the signs of domestic and intimate partner violence, who knows how to respond to a victim with compassion and wisdom, and who knows how participate in creating a society where perpetrators will not be allowed to abuse with impunity and without consequence. of dating violence. "Become the person in your community -- perhaps the first, hopefully the first among many -- who knows the signs of domestic and intimate partner violence, who knows how to respond to a victim with compassion and wisdom, and who knows how participate in creating a society where perpetrators will not be allowed to abuse with impunity and without consequence."

Events
Local Florida law enforcement officials campaign against domestic violence. Hialeah police are stepping up a campaign against domestic violence after several cases have rattled the city this year. Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and the city's top cop recently addressed the issue and urged victims to report domestic violence to police.

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Categories: News

You Can't "Just Leave"

12/14/2010

Katie Niekrash, Youth Voices Network

From the ages of 16 to 18, I was in an emotionally and physically abusive relationship.  It was an experience that has stayed with me ever since, and part of how I continue to cope with what I went through is by being actively involved in ending the cycle of violence. 

I often speak at high schools and conferences regarding my experience, which is part of my work with the Youth Voices Network.  It can be difficult to retell my story so many times, as the struggles and emotions of that time can come right back. But the most difficult part of those forums and talks is not me telling my story. It is, instead, when the discussion turns to what someone should do if they know their friend is being abused.

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Categories: Voices

News: Week of 12/6/2010

12/10/2010

In the Headlines
New York high school students raise awareness of dating abuse.  In partnership with the domestic violence group Hope's Door in Westchester, the Students Terminating Abusive Relationships Project (Project STAR) will visit seven county high schools. The project aims to teach youth about healthy relationships so they can differentiate between romance and violence, a difficult distinction to make in one's teen years.

Legal Matters
Federal legislation introduced to protect students against campus sexual violence. Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va) and a group of bipartisan cosponsors introduced H.R. 6461, the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (Campus SaVE Act) to strengthen the policies regarding incidents of violence between intimate partners on the campuses of our colleges and universities. The Huffington Post covered this legislation. 

Scholarly Research
In Boston, new study finds almost 1 in 5 high school students physically abused someone they were dating. The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine published a study about the Perpetration of Physical Assault Against Dating Partners, Peers, and Siblings Among a Locally Representative Sample of High School Students in Boston, Massachusetts. Almost one-fifth of high-school students admit they physically abused someone they were dating, and those same students were likely to have abused other students and their siblings, a new study finds.  Business Week and Time also covered the story.

Events
Actress And Advocate Mariska Hargitay And 'Today' Show Co-Host Meredith Vieira Help Kick Off 'It's Time To Talk Day' By Participating In Screening Of Powerful Domestic Violence Documentary.  Telling Amy's Story chronicles the time leading up to the death of Amy Homan McGee, a mother of two who was shot and killed by her husband.  The documentary was created by Penn State Public Broadcasting and has aired on nearly 300 local public television stations. It has also been used as an educational tool by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice.Watch a trailer for the film here.

Opinion
Emory University professor and nonprofit advocate write about how an Atlanta organization helps teens form healthy relationships. Here in Atlanta, people are rallying around young people to end this epidemic of violence. Over 70 partnering community organizations and individuals have collaborated to form Start Strong Atlanta in response to the epidemic of teen dating violence and it has just launched a social networking site for teens about developing relationships free from violence. On the site, teens can dissect and discuss media influences on relationships and learn skills to build healthy relationships. Prevention is possible, but the only way we can end teen dating violence and domestic violence is by intervening early.

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Categories: News

News: Week of 11/29/2010

12/03/2010

In the Headlines
Survivor uses Facebook to expose her abusive boyfriend. Daiana Sperdutti, a 19-year-old from Mendoza, Argentina first pressed charges against her (ex) boyfriend and then uploaded pictures of her bruises to her profile. The idea, she says, is not only to expose him to all their friends, but to also encourage other girls undergoing abuse to stand up for themselves. Salon also covered the story.

Scholarly Research
Victims of dating violence often suffer from other problems as well. Young people who experience threats or actual violence from their boyfriends or girlfriends often suffer from other social problems as well. According to a study put out by the Police College of Finland on Tuesday, victims of dating violence often experience other types of violence, discord in their home lives, and they often exhibit high-risk behavior.

Opinion
Pennsylvania dating violence victim's high school should take the lead in teen dating violence education. Student columnist Brandon Kandrack argues that Gateway High School, former school of Demi Brae Cuccia for which a state dating violence education bill is named, should pioneer the teaching of healthy relationship techniques not only to honor their lost student — but to ensure that they lose no more. 

Events
Ohio high school uses a mock wedding to teach students about healthy relationships. Kenton Ridge High School juniors and seniors participated in a mock wedding ceremony as part of their Managing Family Transitions Class. The class is the result of a state law that requires schools to develop and implement efforts to prevent and address teen dating violence.

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Categories: News