Educate about IPV

Advocate For the Issue of Intimate Partner Violence: 

Educate yourself and others about the narratives that both help and harm survivors by... 

Challenging widely-held perceptions about domestic violence. Unfortunately, misconceptions about domestic violence persist—such as the notions that survivors can “just leave;” that heterosexual, cisgender women are the only victims; that domestic violence only includes physical violence; or that domestic violence is a “private, family matter.” Each one of these myths persists, despite our work to challenge these perceptions. 

ASK: Why can’t survivors “just leave?” Other than physical violence, what other forms of abuse can domestic violence take? 

RESPOND: Survivors must think about their own physical safety, financial security, the safety and welfare of their children and pets, potential housing, and where they can “just leave” to, among myriad other issues. Domestic violence can include physical, financial, emotional, psychological, or sexual abuse. 

Voicing that domestic violence is an intersectional issue. Domestic violence does not happen in a vacuum. Survivors often experience other “-isms” (e.g., sexism, racism, classism, ableism, heteronormativism, etc.), compounding the negative impacts and trauma of the abuse. Collectively, these -isms play a devastating role in perpetuating gender-based violence. 

ASK: How do you think different oppressions and privileges affect survivors’ experiences? 

RESPOND: When coupled with other -isms, victims face additional barriers to safety. 

Communicating that domestic violence is not a “private, family matter.” One in three women will be a victim of domestic or sexual violence at some point in her lifetime, and each day an average of three women die at the hands of someone who claimed to love them. Domestic violence affects us all; victims are our family members, neighbors, coworkers, and friends. All of us must be part of the solution. 

ASK: Do you know anyone who has been affected by domestic violence? How did you support them? 

RESPOND: Domestic violence affects each and every one of us. Violence is not the answer, and it’s on us to take a stand against domestic violence.