IT'S FAIR to say that the average media consumer's attention span is inversely proportional to the number of informational choices he or she has. In the world of today's 24-hour news cycle, the Internet and cable and satellite TV beaming down dozens of news-related channels that must compete for the attentions of an entertainment-saturated market, important issues tend to be sidelined for sexier or flashier shows. When tax cuts, FCC regulation or education policy is being discussed on CSPAN, the average citizen of television is likely to switch channels to watch something that's less informative than it is funny or silly -- "Queer Eye," "The OC," Fox News or "The Simpsons," for example. It's a tall order to resurrect a critical issue from the graveyard of the overlooked, but it can be done. And so it will be this Thursday, as members of the Charlottesville and University community come together to condemn domestic violence at Take Back the Night.
Domestic violence is an issue that touches both men and women. Men are victims of domestic violence too -- only, as one might assume, at much lower rates than women. The FBI reports that women are ten times more likely to be abused by their partners than men. If you think that statistic alone is sobering, just wait. A full 572,000 cases of domestic violence are reported to the police every year, according to the Justice Department. Conservative estimates say that figure only accounts for between 15-25 percent of the actual number of cases of abuse. Of those reported cases of violence, a whopping 172,000 require emergency medical care -- leaving us to only imagine how many unreported cases of domestic violence result in women suffering serious injuries and not receiving needed attention. Also according to the FBI, this prevalence of violence leaves four women dead at the end of every day as a result of abuse from their intimate partner.
Take Back the Night began in 1978 as a citizens' protest against the commercialized abuse and exploitation of women's bodies in San Francisco's pornography and red light district. Since then, it has evolved into an effort by communities the world over to confront domestic abuse and violence against women in a unique way -- by changing how people think about this issue. Passing new laws and programs are certainly crucial steps to combating domestic violence, but more important is fundamentally changing the prevalent culture that constantly relegates women to second-class status. So long as battering women and abusing children is perceived as acceptable by many elements of our society, a serious problem exists. That sexism (and, of course, racism) still exists in our dominant culture today is painfully obvious, and those attitudes of sublimated misogyny are what help perpetuate violence against women.
Of course, because domestic violence most often involves injuries to women, it is often unfortunately interpreted politically as being only a "women's issue" -- hence, one that men tend to ignore. Such is still the case, both in the Bush White House and for conservatives here on Grounds. Republican slogans about respecting life and supporting families may sound great when touting issues of negligible real-life impact (but potent political punch) like the recent "Unborn Victims Act" passed last week. Odd, then, that when Democrats tried to add an amendment that extended health care access, protection, emergency leave and aid for children of women who try to escape abusive relationships, Republicans soundly opposed (and defeated) it.
Odder still that, according to leaders of the U.Va. chapter of the National Organization for Women, the College Republicans ignored an invitation that went out to dozens of organizations to co-sponsor this week's Take Back the Night Rally. Perhaps they fear the possibility of encountering people opposed to President Bush. Perhaps they don't oppose domestic violence. Whatever their reasoning, both their club's inaction and that of the Republican Party are inexcusable. It also shows how addressing, let alone preventing, domestic violence hasn't just taken a backseat in conservative circles. As with many so-called "women's issues," it's virtually ignored.
Fortunately, responsible communities all around the country are picking up the slack. Take Back the Night represents our unwillingness to live any longer in a society that condones or tolerates domestic violence and abuse. Too many children are abused, too many families are destroyed and too many women have died already. This Thursday on the Downtown Mall, Charlottesville will do its part to help end the violence. Will you do the same?
Blair Reeves's column appears Mondays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at breeves@cavalierdaily.com.
Read More
PATEL: Personal development courses support students beyond the gradebook
By Heer Patel | YesterdayThe University must rethink its approach to education beyond traditional major-specific requirements and mandate personal development courses.
EDITORIAL: Commercialization threatens U.Va.’s educational mission
By Editorial Board | 2 days agoAfter all, measuring the University’s worth in terms of accrued capital, operational efficiency and numerical rankings molds this space into just another cookie-cutter institution.
YOUNIS: Why every U.Va. student should say yes to English
By Ayat Younis | January 9, 2025Every student at the University, regardless of their primary field of study, can professionally and academically benefit from engaging with the English department.
