Domestic Violence

Kiwi columnist Garth George thinks that you should be ashamed of yourself for what your political views on reproductive choice forced a man to do to this woman. Via Feministing, George believes that violence against women is karmic retribution for the scourge of abortion, as well as a not-unreasonable response by men who "feel their maleness is under threat" by women's strides toward equality in society. If we just stopped trying to be more than barefoot and pregnant, men would totally stop beating us. [Feministing, New Zealand Herald]

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personal/political
Why You Shouldn't Vote For A Bad Guy With Good Positions
I was one of those voters who didn't really care who Bill Clinton was shtupping in the 90s. When he got caught with his cigar in Monica Lewinsky (possibly the best non-euphemism ever), I was nearly 21 and was really curious why, as a feminist, I was supposed to be all freaked about a woman my age having consensual sexual relations with an older man. I don't care terribly much about the personal lives of my elected representatives except when the (conservative) positions they take are in stark conflict with their private behavior — and even then, I am voting based on the positions and not whether they, for instance, get blow jobs in the Union Station's men's rooms. There is one exception to this rule for me, and that exception is my Congressman, Jim Moran. More »

5:00 PM on Tue Nov 4 2008
By Megan
7,976 views, 80 comments

Most discussed FourthWaveBaby: Although I think this is a valid perspective (and of course every person has to vote according to her conscience more »
Leftovers
Twinkies To Get Tinier • Study Claims Link Between Bars And Domestic Violence
• The Twinkie is the newest junk food item to be remade and repackaged in 100-calorie snack packs called "Twinkie Bites." • A Quebec entrepreneur has created a special ring for the single and approachable to help other singles find an eligible mate in a world where marriage is becoming less and less common. • A woman born with a winemark on her face shares her experience of playground teasing and later acceptance. • Just what we need, another ladymag, except this one is called Sue and is targeted at female litigators. • More »

5:30 PM on Mon Nov 3 2008
By Maria
3,211 views, 80 comments

Most discussed Cafezinha: Confession: I have never tried a Twinkie. Despite the fact that I'm a whole foods obnoxious health nut, I'm really more »
the pen can be mighty
In Argentina, Using Words To Change Attitudes
Argentina, which elected Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to be its first woman President last year, is like most countries in that it has a problem with violence against women. Via Feministe, a group of more than 100 Argentinian journalists came together a wrote a manifesto describing their commitment to changing the way they report about gender violence. Their commitment, and what the U.S. media could try out, are after the jump. More »

5:20 PM on Mon Oct 27 2008
By Megan
2,736 views, 31 comments

Most discussed Kali Mama: Totally cosign with not calling rape sex. It's even used in molestation cases, such as "he had sex with that child". It's more »
Facebook Fears
How Social Networking Shifts The Landscape Of The Modern Relationship
34-year-old Emma Forrester changed her Facebook status to "single" a few days after her husband, Wayne, moved out. Wayne called Emma's parents to complain that Facebook "made her look like a fool," and shortly thereafter, Wayne stabbed Emma to death while the couple's two children were asleep. Obviously this is a tragic, crazily extreme case, and has much more to do with the fact that Wayne Forrester is an unhinged perpetrator of domestic violence than with Facebook. However, since social networking became popular five years ago, I've seen many instances where Facebook/Myspace/Friendster activity has caused strife and upset in relationships. More »

4:00 PM on Fri Oct 17 2008
By Jessica
13,109 views, 265 comments

Most discussed bananastand: Oh my god. I've had friends who, like, agonize over this sort of thing. I say, if you're in a more »
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and sadly, there's still a disturbing amount of violence perpetrated against women: One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. For a look at the people behind the statistics, WIMN's Voices is pointing readers to a new series by The Eunice News, a small Louisiana newspaper, that aims to illuminate the nature of domestic violence. The first installment, “Loretta’s Story: Abuse started shortly after marriage,” tells the story of one abuse survivor, from how the cycle of violence began with emotional and verbal abuse, to the escalation to physical violence and the isolation of the victim. [WIMN's Voices, thumbnail image via Manipulator]

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Later this year, dating violence education will be incorporated into the health curriculum for all public middle and high schools in Rhode Island under a new law named after Lindsay Ann Burke, who was murdered in 2005 by her ex-boyfriend. The initiative was led by Burke's's parents, who run a memorial fund to raise money for dating violence workshops, and was supported by R.I. Attorney General Patrick Lynch, who says, "You teach sex ed, you teach 'don't do drugs,' you teach 'don't drink,' you should also be teaching 'don't be a victim of domestic violence.'" The curriculum focuses on both nurturing good relationships and avoiding abusive ones. Rhode Island is the first state to mandate that domestic violence education be in the annual curriculum for students in 7th to 12th grade, but the law is gaining traction around the country. [NPR]

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Yesterday a Florida man who was denied sex by his girlfriend responded by shooting himself in the arm twice, threatening her, and passing out on the kitchen floor. Jonathon Guabello, 29, had been fighting with his galpal of five months at a local bar earlier in the evening. Guabello, who appeared to be under the influence of Xanax and alcohol, wanted to have sex when the two returned to their apartment but she refused and left the room. A few minutes later, she heard two gunshots. Guabello has been charged with firing a weapon in an occupied dwelling and domestic assault threat to do violence. [The Smoking Gun]

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Natalia Antonova, a blogger from Ukraine, was outraged at a crawler question posed by the Ukrainian outpost of MTV. The formula is a simple one and is also incredibly popular across Europe: Viewers can text in responses to questions for a small fee and their answers appear throughout the program. The question that angered Antonova was "Can you beat girls?" Antonova feels that MTV is "normalizing" domestic violence and using it for entertainment. We agree, particularly because some of the responses aired on the channel provided "guidelines" to properly abuse women. [GlobalComment]

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In Spain, at least one woman dies every week at the hands of her partner, a statistic that has prompted the government to launch a campaign against domestic violence. As reported on the blog The F Word, Spain's Bilbao airport is plastered with government sponsored ads featuring slogans like "Don't even think about hitting me. Ever" and "When you abuse a woman you stop being a man." Fighting domestic violence has been a priority in the administration of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who, since his inauguration in 2004 has passed a Law on Gender Equality, appointed a majority of women to his cabinet, and created special courts to prosecute domestic violence. But sadly, despite the government crackdown the violence hasn't decreased, with 32 Spanish women killed in domestic violence cases by May this year. [IPS]

38 comments