The Chris Brown and Rihanna domestic violence situation has stirred more conversations about DV than I have heard in a long time. I am glad people are talking about the issue. But I have to say that I am dismayed at WHAT many people are saying. I guess I thought as a society, we have moved further along in our understanding of domestic violence. In the Boston Herald, it is reported that out of 200 teens surveyed, 51% said Chris Brown is responsible for the DV problem and 46% said Rihanna is responsible. I cannot believe that 46% of teens think that the victim is responsible. No matter what anyone does, the offender ALWAYS has a choice to walk away. Chris Brown had the choice to walk away from Rihanna - but he CHOSE not to. IT IS NOT HER FAULT. I am tired of people blaming the victim. Let's start holding the offenders more accountable.
This is a wake up call for all of us - to talk to our kids - and let them know that under no circumstance does anyone have the right to hit them. When they are trying to understand teen dating violence, we need to remind them and hopefully they will be able to see for themselves, that the "offender" could have chosen to walk away - but chose not to. It IS a choice.
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Victims of all genders needs to be identified too. Men suffer DV nearly as often as do women. VAWA needs to become applicable to all genders.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, between 1998 and 2002, 84% of spouse abuse victims were females. Males were 83% of spouse murderers. The truth is women continue to be the overwhelming majority of victims of DV. I would not say men suffer DV nearly as much as women. Nonetheless, everyone deserves to live free of violence: women, children and men.
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