The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence compiles facts about the prevalence of DV in the United States, including these statistics.
Gendered violence must be examined through a lens of intersectionality if we are to have more compassionate communication about victim/survivors, as well as abusers.
We read Rosemary Clark's 2016 essay from Feminist Media Studies about hashtag activism in the context of domestic violence.
Below is a short news clip about one of the viral stories that ignited the #WhyIStayed online movement.
Here or on the Scholar Discussion Board be prepared to discuss one of the following questions:
1. How is intimate partner violence an important issue for gender/race/class and feminist discussion?
2. What dominant discourses exist around DV?
3. How does hashtag activism invite intersectional feminist organizing?
4. What outcomes did #WhyIStayed lead to?
Please note, this is not optional. All students are required to post a comment or a question for each post. If you are able to, please comment here. Otherwise, please place your comment in the appropriate Scholar Discussion board thread (it is available in the Course Content Forum). The deadline is 11:59 pm Sunday, March 29. Early next week I will either share a written post or YouTube summary of my notes if any responses still leave out important info we would have covered in person. I ask that you please read through your classmates' comments here and on the forums and maybe even reply to a comment or two (on either format, up to you!) in the interest of keeping it interactive.
Gendered violence must be examined through a lens of intersectionality if we are to have more compassionate communication about victim/survivors, as well as abusers.
We read Rosemary Clark's 2016 essay from Feminist Media Studies about hashtag activism in the context of domestic violence.
Below is a short news clip about one of the viral stories that ignited the #WhyIStayed online movement.
Here or on the Scholar Discussion Board be prepared to discuss one of the following questions:
1. How is intimate partner violence an important issue for gender/race/class and feminist discussion?
2. What dominant discourses exist around DV?
3. How does hashtag activism invite intersectional feminist organizing?
4. What outcomes did #WhyIStayed lead to?
Please note, this is not optional. All students are required to post a comment or a question for each post. If you are able to, please comment here. Otherwise, please place your comment in the appropriate Scholar Discussion board thread (it is available in the Course Content Forum). The deadline is 11:59 pm Sunday, March 29. Early next week I will either share a written post or YouTube summary of my notes if any responses still leave out important info we would have covered in person. I ask that you please read through your classmates' comments here and on the forums and maybe even reply to a comment or two (on either format, up to you!) in the interest of keeping it interactive.
Hashtag activism has become such an important outlet for people who have been physically, emotionally, mentally, or in any other way abused. It allows for them to be able to speak out and find a support group and a network of people who understand what they've gone through. This has a large variety of effects on the confidence of these people to speak out and find help and break away from their abusers. It allows people, who are in places who may not have had the opportunity to speak out, have a voice and help those who are also beginning to appear. A large support network can help these people break free of their abusers and find others who understand what they have been through and everything that they can do to help overcome their abuse.
ReplyDeleteIt is super interesting though because at first with question 2, my immediate response was hegemonic masculinity because it deals with power and strength. However, domestic violence can happen with any couple no matter the gender or societal roles and isn’t limited to dominant masculine roles. I am not trying to discredit male abuser/female abused relationships, because they are more predominant, but want to draw attention to some of the less discussed typical domestic abuse relationships. Recently, Johnny Dept and his ex-wife both claimed abuse from the other and many were taken aback that Dept would claim such a thing. My ex-brother in law was abused by an ex-boyfriend and even one of my best friends was physically and emotionally abused by her now ex-girlfriend for a year. Domestic violence is a domain of power with an oppressor and someone who is oppressed.
ReplyDeleteToo often victims of domestic abuse are criticized for staying with their partners. It is one of those things where you can’t fully understand what they are going through. Sometimes people think they can change others. That is what my ex-brother in law and my friend both believed. Sometimes victims love their partner unconditionally. But none of us can truly understand how victims feel or how they can say if we have not experienced their lives first hand. I believe that’s why the #whyistayed hashtag was created. Also to form comradery and activism like Mike touched on. We have all seen firsthand the power of hashtag movement with things like #blacklivesmatter or #metoo.
Thank you for sharing your personal stories of people you personally know who were in abusive relationships as this is a very trying topic. My question to your post is how people can claim or question that a man can't feel or get abused in a relationship such as in the case that you described above. I find that ridiculous, and it shows a lot about the world we live in. I'm still shocked.
DeleteI also agree with your statement that until we walk in someone's else shoes we will never truly understand what they are experiencing. So we shouldn't in this case judge why others choose to stay with their abusive partners even if it is sad to see.
I believe #WhyIStayed is is an important hashtag trending movement that gives a defense for people who have been victims of domestic violence. Especially during the Ray Rice hearings around 2014; the #WhyIStayed movement is a rally call for all individuals who have suffered DV from an abusive relationship. This hashtag would later spark the conversation in the transition of #WhyILeft. This movement was for individuals coming out and recognizing they had been victims of DV were able/willing to leave. I believe it is important to recognize how the hashtag for 'why i stayed' gave a platform for individuals to recognize the harm of DV and leave relationships; this is what created the 'why i left' movement. As with all other trending hashtags in media today, this brought attention to an underlying problem in America and how people respond and deal with domestic violent behavior.
ReplyDeleteHashtag activism creates a more inclusive inclusive feminist organizing because of how widespread it is. Social media and hashtag activism gives feminists of color and feminist who are not a part of a formal organization the ability to get involved and engaged. The connectivity of social media makes hashtag activism a possibility because it opens feminism up to people of different backgrounds and gives diverse groups the platform to get involved which they may have otherwise been unable to join. Social media allows individuals the ability to join digital networks with like-minded people. Hashtag feminism gives people of different intersectional backgrounds the ability to intervene and speak out against oppressive discourses created by dominant social structures such as the media. Hashtag activism allows different intersectional groups the ability to join in feminism that is dominated by white, female ideology/images.
ReplyDeleteEmma, I agree with what you are saying about hashtag activism opening up feminism to more intersectional groups. It is much easier and faster to make a post on social media than to attend a rally or other meeting that you would have to take off work for or find transportation to. Hashtag activism allows feminists who could not previously participate because of their economic status or lack of resources to participate . Hashtag feminism also provides victims of domestic abuse the confidence to speak out against their abusers. Speaking on the internet or through a computer is much easier than actually voicing your feelings out loud. The screen provides a sort of wall of security. To make a comparison to a negative thing, like with cyberbullies, the screen gives people the confidence to say things that they would never be able to say in person. Overall, hashtag feminism and social media expands feminism and connects and empowers victims of domestic abuse.
Delete#WhyIStayed is a movement that allowed women involved in domestic violence/abusive relationships relieve their stress and have an emotional outlet. It shows that there are complex reasons to why people do stay in these relationships, and to give women connections to other women that have undergone the same emotional or physical trauma that the person who shared the hashtag went through as well. It lead to strong feminist relationships between women who share the same experiences, for them to laugh, support, and vent to one another, and to show that they are stronger than their abuser. But most of all the #WhyIStayed movement was a reaction to all of the individuals questioning and attacking the women on why they stayed in a situation like that in the first place. This lead to women coming together to support one another in their times of need, and showed that everyone has eachothers backs, that no one will ever be alone.
ReplyDelete#WhyIStayed inspired women to share their stories of their experience with domestic violence and abusive partners. There are so many reasons for a woman to stay in a dangerous relationships and putting the hashtag out there gave them a voice to share theirs. The hashtag also showed these women that they are not alone. No one wants to stand up for themselves when they feel outnumbered and unsupported, but when you see that all of your social media feed are supporting women like you, it can make you feel powerful and worth it again after going through an abusive relationship. While the hashtag also helped support women, it called out those who criticized them for staying in the relationship. The hashtag brought out the reasons of staying and brought support to all the women who endured abuse.
ReplyDelete#WhyIStayed was a great outlet for women to share their stories and experiences with domestic violence. There are many reasons why women may choose to stay in abusive relationships. As mentioned in the video, women often do not speak out against their partners in an effort to protect their spouse, or because they fear that there could be consequences for seeking help. Social media is a very powerful outlet. By using a hashtag, women are able to reach out to others who may be in similar situations. Bringing affected women together to support each other in an online space creates a safe place for them to express how they're feeling without judgement or criticism. It is important to have a support system such as this one so that women do not feel like they are fighting alone.
ReplyDelete#WhyIStayed created a platform that echoed messages of truth, bravery, and resilience. Providing an outlet for greater range of diverse perspectives and experiences, the movement "collectively shifted the burden of blame for domestic violence away from the abused and onto the shoulders of abusers. In this process of staking new definitional claims over domestic violence situations, the hashtag’s aggregation of personal stories had the dual effect of challenging victim-blaming discourse while providing a resource for other victims" (p. 797). It was a powerhouse movement that broke through obstructions to solidarity and created a global support system.
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ReplyDelete#WhyIStayed not only moved the blame from the victim to the abuser but also brought awareness to the topic. Too often many may fall head over heels for someone disregarding any red flags. This hashtag allowed others to recognize if they are being abused as well as provided resources for those abused. It allowed vicitims to connect with others and discuss their personal stories and become empowered by it. This movement led to the ongoing movement and discussions on mental and physical abuse. It has allowed those who may have been oblivious to the abuse that they are not alone and do not deserve to be treated in that way.
ReplyDelete#WhyIStayed was not only inspirational and powerful, but I believe it made a difference. When it comes to the media, the dominant conversation surrounding domestic violence is often victim blaming. In addition, I feel like when hearing about domestic violence situations, it is easy for people who have never been put in that position to say “why didn’t they just leave” when it really is so much more than that. The hashtag challenged the dominant conversation, and also resonated with a wide audience. Over 2000 people joined the discussion which showed that anyone can be a domestic violence victim, and showed these victims that they are not alone and that others understand how they feel. The hashtag also provided a platform that began to change the tone of the conversation by evolving from just #WhyIStayed to also #WhyILeft and #WhenILeft. The hashtag provided support for people who may have currently been in a domestic violence situation, and showed people why victim blaming is not the way to approach the discussion. It completely shifted the conversation by raising awareness to the side of domestic violence that is rarely discussed.
ReplyDeleteThe positive side of social media is that it gives people the platform to discuss issues like domestic violence and seek support from other victims. Also, anyone is able to open accounts on social media regardless of gender, class, and race. Which allows for a diverse set of backgrounds leading to an intersectional approach on issues. #WhyIStayed was an example of positive social media interaction because it changed the perspective of domestic violence from victim blaming to the abuser. The hashtag allowed women to explain just how hard it is to leave an abusive relationship and empowered other women to share their experiences.
ReplyDeleteI am also glad to see social media was used in a positive way for change in this situation.
DeleteI never thought about how on social media you come into contact with different people of all backgrounds that share their stories. This makes a lot of connections to having intersectional approaches on this topic. Even after being in several classes discussing intersectionality, we often still think of an issue in our own personal experiences or experiences that we hear others talk about firsthand. It is always important to consider diverse backgrounds especially for our class. It is another positive side of social media I never considered before. Thank you for the insight!
DeleteIntimate partner violence is important for us to discuss in intersectional, gender/race/and class discussion because it reallt exposes levels of power. Typically domestic abuse is an act made by a man against a woman, (I realize this is not always the case, but it usually is) and it exposes, at the very basic level, the advantage of physical strength that man has over her. Women in these situations are at a grave disadvantage to physically defend themselves. Once the conversation dives deeper into why did she stay, it exposes many other areas of disadvantage she is likely to be in. As Beverly describes in the video, her finances might be tied to him and leaving him means she has no way to support herself, she might have children with him and is unable to protect them in the event that she left, some women even face the reality of being followed, threatened or even killed if they chose to leave. Women in abusive relationships are at an even greater disadvantage if they are part of a marginalized demographic such as a racial minority or a low socioeconomic status that makes it even harder for them to support themselves and their children apart from their abuser. All of these reasons make it hard for any woman to leave any marriage whether it be abusive or not, but when a man is using his physical strength against her, her disadvantage of biologial strength is expoited as well.
ReplyDeleteThe #WhyIStayed gave women who had gone through domestic violence a voice. Many people who look upon domestic violence from the outside make comments on how the women should have left or reported it to the police. These kinds of comments are victim blaming. #WhyIStayed was a way for those who were victims to tell their story on why they could not leave. The outcome of this movement was to change the narrative on how domestic violence was talked about. This is important to study because intimate partner violence is a gendered crime. In most cases it is a man who abuses the women and in a bigger picture it is another way men are holding women down. I say this because in situations like domestic violence or sexual assault it is the women who get dragged down instead of punishing the man at fault. Conversations need to be happening on how to properly combat these situation without blaming and putting restrictions on women.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your comments so far! I will summarize key responses for the four questions on our existing Google Slides on Scholar. I forgot we had that, but it's an easy way to access typed summaries of the readings after these post deadlines.
ReplyDeleteThe articles assigned for this discussion was another sad topic to read about, but it is another topic that we cover in our class that is very important. As with many hashtag activism movements, #TheWhyIStayedMovement is very important as well. Many women who have never faced an abusive relationship will never understand why some women choose to stay in their relationship. This movement allows women to see they are not alone and the only ones going through their situation. Through this hashtag on twitter women can bond together just be knowing how it feels to be in a similar situation. The movement finally gave women a chance to live their truth, explain their story, and not be blamed as the victim for their situation like in most cases.
ReplyDeleteThe outcomes of #WhyIStayed as we read about in the article also included women's stories going viral and the author also mentions how narratives written were so powerful for others to read.
I believe this topic is very prevalent to discuss in our type of class especially discussing gender. If we look at the statistics provided, although women and men both face domestic violence women tend to be on the higher end of the statistics presented. We can see it as a mainly gender issue. I will say however that one of the dominant discourses that exist around domestic violence is that it only happens to women. However, as we can see from the articles this is untrue. Men face domestic violence as well as some may not expect.
I think #WhyIStayed had a significant impact in expanding the deeper understanding of the difficult situation victims of domestic abuse are in. Often, the first questions asked is "why did you stay" and I think it is crucial for victims to share their voice to help people understand the true weight and disturbing nature of domestic violence. Unfortunately, as demonstrated by #WhyIStayed there are a wealth of legitimate reasons which make it incredibly difficult for victims to escape their partnerships and the sooner that people generally understand and support that, the sooner communities can assist victims in getting the help, care, and support they so need.
ReplyDelete#WhyIStayed has lead to many things, but the most prevalent being that ability to touch other women out there that are a part of domestic violence and let them know that they are not alone. That domestic violence is not something that anyone asked for and it is certainly not something that is specific to any one individual. The video addressed the reasoning behind the hashtag. It has raised questions as to why women stay with and even marry their abusers and it was found that there is not one specific reasoning behind it. Women often times stay or many their abusers because they love them. They have built a relationship and dedicated time and energy into a person they trusted and wanted to spend their life with. They have also been women that have reported to staying because there are children involved. Having their husband or spouse reported and taken away can have significant effects on the children involved. Lastly, there is always the common example of abuser that have threatened the victims and therefore they stay in order to protect themselves or any other family members that have been threatened. Sadly, many women are so focused on thinking about their abusers instead of themselves that they let their abusers have all the power.
ReplyDelete4. What outcomes did #WhyIStayed lead to?
ReplyDeleteThe #WhyIStayed led to both positive and negative outcomes. Although many survivors faced turmoil when using the hashtag to share their stories, it ultimately led to more open channels of discussion and gave a voice to the women who used the hashtag, as well as to those who suffered but did not use the hashtag. Although for the most part intimate partner violence is a gendered crime, the hashtag also gave a voice to men who had suffered from intimate partner violence, like celebrity Johnny Depp