"Get Out of My Home and Don't Come Back"

In Jan Jordan and Elaine Mossman's "Get Out of My Home and Don't Come Back: Empowering Women Through Self-Defense," they report their research on the possibilities of empowerment self-defense programs for preventing domestic violence (Violence Against Women 2019, Vol. 25(3) 313–336).

Women in domestic violence situations who completed an empowerment self-defense course reported:

• An increased capacity to stop an attack
• More confidence
• Increased use of their voice
• More awareness of violence and their options

Jordan and Mossman conclude that their research "demonstrates the potential of feminist empowerment self-defense programs to build confidence and resilience in women whose lives previously have been circumscribed with fear and violence."

Challenging Myths about Empowerment Self-Defense and Domestic Violence

People resistant to training women in domestic violence situations to defend themselves often offer three concerns : women will feel blamed for the violence, it will be too risky for women in domestic violence situations, and it will trigger traumatic memories. 

In "Get Out of My Home and Don't Come Back: Empowering Women Through Self-Defense," Jan Jordan and Elaine Mossman highlight the responses they got from participants in self-defense courses with refugees and others related to these concerns (Violence Against Women 2019. 25(6):313-336.

THEIR FINDINGS

1. Empowerment Self-Defense Training Affirms Violence is Not Women's Fault While Equipping Women with Skills for Protection of Themselves and Others

"Participants and refuge workers were typically insistent about experiencing the course only in empowering ways and with no hint of victim blaming. This finding reinforced what the self-defense teachers told us about the ways they consciously strove to validate the many different ways women responded to prior victimization. A pragmatic approach to ensuring women’s safety meant that while emphatically affirming violence against women is not their fault, they considered it essential to equip women with skills they could use in their own, and others,’ protection." (p. 329)

Women Practice Recognizing Risks and Explore Options to Minimize Violence

"The feedback we received indicated that an important aspect of the courses involved time spent talking about ways to minimize or avoid the use of violence. The emphasis was on learning ways to manage fear and read situations so that each woman could choose the best and safest response in any given context. This was likely to differ for different women, and even for the same women at different times, being influenced by factors such as how drunk or drugged their partner might be or whether a weapon was present. The self-defense teachers talked us through the ways they worked with the women to explore different options and courses of action they could take when they felt the tension building. The emphasis on protection, not aggression, was well-recognized." (p. 329)

Triggering is Not Necessarily Negative and Empowerment Self-Defense Provides Support 

"Both refuge workers and the self-defense instructors themselves spoke of their awareness that the material presented could trigger reactions and traumatic memories in course participants and sought to be well equipped in each environment with what supports were available. Several of the self-defense teachers said how much they valued support workers participating in the course alongside the women. If someone was triggered, one of the workers could take them aside, while the teacher continued with the rest of the group. Triggering per se was not viewed as a negative consequence." (p. 329-330).

Recognizing Domestic Violence

Marie Miguel was doing a free mental health project and came across the IMPACT Chicago website (see her bio below). What caught her eye was the IMPACT Chicago blog on “Responding to Self-Defense Critics.”  Marie offers her thoughts about recognizing domestic violence.

Did you know that almost 20 people every minute in the United States who are physically abused by a domestic partner? That is more than 10 million people per year. Although women are far more commonly victimized, 1 out of every 4 men has suffered from some type of domestic abuse. Also, one in 15 children is subjected to domestic violence every year. These are horrifying numbers. What can we do about it?

Learn the Signs of an Abuser

     There are different types of abuse. Although many believe that physical abuse is the worst, emotional and psychological abuse last much longer. The types of abuse include:
·       Psychological abuse includes intimidation, threats, destroying property, and isolation from others.
·       Economic abuse consists of any way to make a person dependent on the abuser, including withholding money, not allowing you to leave the house, and controlling all finances.
·       Emotional abuse is the act of making a person feel like they are not worth anything. The abuser will chip away at your self-esteem by criticizing you, calling you names, telling others you are a loser, and making you believe nobody else wants you.
·       Sexual abuse includes any kind of sexual act without your consent. This can include rape, harming parts of your body, forcing sexual intercourse after violence, and sexually humiliating you. 
·       Physical abuse can include any type of harm to someone including biting, kicking, shoving, slapping, hitting, punching, cutting, pulling hair, and even denying you medical care when needed.

Listen to Your Intuition

Believe it or not, there are some warning signs that a loved one may be an abuser. Of course, not everyone shows the signs, but it may help to know what to look for. If you feel scared or nervous but cannot figure out why listen to your instincts and notice if a loved one is:

• Getting overly angry quickly
• Yelling at you
• Calling you names
• Making a fist
• Constantly criticizing you
• Extreme jealousy
• Isolating you from family and friends
• Makes you feel guilty about doing things you like
• Takes away your money and controls the finances
• Tells you what you can and cannot do
• Threatens you
• Stops you from working or going to school
• Tries to get you to do drugs or drink alcohol
• Tries to pressure you into having sex when you do not want to

Support and Resources

The Domestic Violence Resource Center offers resources for support.

• Community Advocacy
• Professional Counseling
• Confidential Shelter Servies
• Transitional Housing
• Safety Planning
• Community Education

And a 24-Hour Hotline: 503-469-8620 or 1-866-469-8600 

Marie Miguel

Marie Miguel is an avid internet researcher and she likes to write about a lot of topics namely, social media marketing, healthcare, and business. She has a college degree in Communication with Specialization in Integrated Marketing Communication. She has more than 10 years work experience in various fields namely, social media marketing, as well as, research for fast-moving consumer goods. Currently, she is working as a Marketing Associate in the fast-growing industry of solar energy. In her free time, she writes content for different websites and blogs, so that she can share her knowledge of her field and of other topics that she is interested in. Marie also likes to travel and her adventures allow her to have a broader worldview. Finally, she has four kids, who inspire her with her work and her writing.

Illinois Cosmetologists Spot Domestic Violence

Credit: AP

People who cut hair, do nails, and engage in other cosmetic work see their clients up close and personal, often hearing intimate details and observing their clients in ways that others do not see.

As of January 1, 2017, Illinois cosmetologists are required to undergo training to identify and report domestic violence (HB4264). The Listen. Support. Connect curriculum will address how to recognize physical and emotional abuse.  The curriculum was designed by Chicago Says No More and Cosmetologists Chicago.  The first training sessions will begin in March 2017.

 “We are dedicated to collaborating in new ways to address the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault in the Chicago metro area and across Illinois,” says Kristie Paskvan, CFO of Mesirow Financial and founder of Chicago Says No More. 

To see the law in full, visit Chicago Says No More New Illinois Law.

Domestic Violence Survivors Speak Out About Law Enforcement

The National Domestic Hotline with the assistance of TK Logan, University of Kentucky, surveyed 637 survivors of domestic violence who called the Hotline. The average of participants was 30 and mostly white (56%) with 15% Hispanic and 11% African-American.

Twenty-five percent of the women who had called the police in the past said they would not call again. Both women who had called the police and women who hadn’t stated calling the police would make things worse (1/2) and expressed fear that the police would not believe them or do nothing (2/3)

The report recommends that law enforcement responses to survivors must be based on the following principles:

• Treating survivors with dignity and respect

• Giving survivors their “voice” during encounters

• Being neutral and transparent in their actions”

For more information or to read the full report: National Domestic Violence Hotline, Who Will Help Me? Domestic Violence Survivors Speak Out About Law Enforcement Responses. Washington, DC (2015).

Awareness + Action =Social Change

In October the Domestic Violence Awareness Project of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence is encouraging healthy communities through their campaign Awareness + Action = Social Change. They are committed to creating a prevention framework that addresses intersectionality of oppressions and creates partnerships with other social justice movements.

October prevention in action events include:

October 6 National Call of Unity

October 13 Fostering Healthy Communities

October 21: Allies in the Struggle

October 28: Embracing the Intersectionality of Oppressions Lens

For details about these events, go to http://www.vawnet.org/

No Selves to Defend

No Selves to Defend: A Legacy of Criminalizing Women of Color for Self-Defense is a compelling anthology edited by Mariame Kaba of Project Nia and the Chicago Alliance to Free Marissa Alexander. The anthology is a collection of examples of how women who have defended themselves (particularly women of color) have been criminalized and punished. Featured are Marissa Alexander, Lena Baker, Inez Garcia, Rosa Lee Ingram, Joan Little, Cece McDonald, New Jersey 4, Cassandra Peten, Bernadette Powell, Juanita Thomas, Yvonne Wanrow, and Dessie Woods.

Kaba created the book as a consciousness-raising tool as well as a means of raising money for Marissa Alexander’s defense fund. Supporters and activists who created the Free Marissa Campaign fought for the freedom of Marissa, a survivor of domestic violence who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing one warning shot upwards to stop her abusive husband during a life-threatening beating. Her warning shot caused no injuries and she had no previous criminal record, yet the Jacksonville Florida police arrested her and charged her with aggravated assault. Earlier this year, Marissa was released from prison after a three-year term, but will remain under house arrest for two more years.

The Free Marissa Campaign kept Marissa Alexander’s case in the public eye, revealing the problems of Florida’s mandatory minimum sentencing laws and the failure of the criminal justice system to adequately protect domestic violence survivors, particularly women of color, who defend themselves against domestic violence.

Ayanna Harris, co-organizer of the Chicago Alliance to Free Marissa Alexander said: "One of the biggest issues and injustices Marissa’s prosecution and incarceration illuminates is the criminalization of women who defend themselves. Marissa Alexander was bound at an intersection that illuminated many ills in our justice system, including mandatory minimum sentencing, the criminalizing of those who defend themselves, [and] inconsistent application of Stand Your Ground laws….(Prupis 2015).”

For more, check out the resources below.

Resources

Free Marassia Campaign 

Prison Culture Blog

Project NIA: Building Peaceful Communities

Prupis, Nadia. 2015. “Race, domestic abuse, and a warning shot:Marissa Alexander released from prison, but still not free.” Common Dreams, January 28.



Martha Thompson, IMPACT Chicago Instructor

Is there a better choice you can be making here?

“In a Way Back from That Hurt,” Roxanne Gay reflects on NFL player Ray Rice’s contention that he knocked his fiancé Janay Palmer unconscious in self-defense and sports personality Stephen A. Smith’s comments about women needing to avoid provoking men into violence.

She comments on:

· the harm of the belief that it is women’s responsibility to make sure that men do not hurt them

· the unacceptableness of Rice beating his fiancé to unconsciousness

· the necessity of considering a range of options in response to negative situations--the source of the title of this blog: Is there a better choice you could be making here?

· how rigid standards of beauty override women’s accomplishments

For more, read her full essay.