Domestic Violence Awareness Ribbons

Trigger warning: discussion of domestic violence and sexual assault.  If you are experiencing domestic violence and need help, check out this hotline service or skip to the paragraph below the bullet points in this post for more details on how you can receive help.

     Before I get to this week's craft, I want to take a moment to talk about something serious.  October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  This is important because domestic violence is an issue that affects all of us in one way or another, either through our own personal experiences or the experiences of loved ones.  It can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, economic and psychological abuse (source).  More than 1 in 3 women and more than 1 in 4 men in the US will experience physical violence, rape, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime (source).  About 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience severe physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner in their lifetime (source).  Nearly 1 in 5 women (and 1 in 71 men) will be raped in their lifetime, and of these women, more than half have been assaulted by an intimate partner (40.8% have been assaulted by an acquaintance) (source).  Here in Maine, about half of all homicides are domestic violence related  (source).
     With statistics like these, the odds are that even if you have not personally experienced domestic violence, someone close to you has.  Sadly, there are a lot of misconceptions about what domestic violence is and there is a stigma associated with experiencing it.  Many people who are experiencing emotional, psychological, or economic abuse don't realize that what they are experiencing constitutes abuse because their partner isn't hitting them (if you suspect that you or someone you care about might be experiencing domestic violence, this chart is a good starting place.  If you're still not sure or are wondering what your next step should be, try calling their hotline or talking to someone at your local anti-domestic violence organization).  Many survivors feel pressured into remaining silent about their experiences.  This is why Domestic Violence Awareness Month is so important.  It gives us a chance to come together and say that we will not tolerate domestic violence in any of its forms.  It provides us with an opportunity to educate others about what domestic violence is and to stand with survivors.
     You may be wondering how you can help.  There are numerous ways to get involved, some of which are low commitment.  For example, you could:

• Don purple (the color of domestic violence awareness) or teal (the color of sexual assault awareness) clothing and purple or teal ribbons to show your support.
• Change your Facebook or Twitter profile using this Domestic Violence Awareness Twibbon.
• Attend one of the many Domestic Violence Awareness events going on across the country (this site has some of the events going on across the country, although I'm not sure how comprehensive it is).  If you're a Mainer, click on this link and select the organization corresponding to the county you live in to see what events are happening in your area.  Additionally, if you're a UMaine student or community member, the Student Women's Association will be hosting our annual Take Back The Night march and rally on Thursday, October 15th at 5 pm in the North Pod of the Memorial Union.  We would love to have your presence and support!
• Volunteer to help with your local anti-domestic violence organization.  Needs may vary from one organization to the next, so check with your local group to see what they're looking for.  Hotline workers are a position that many organizations need volunteers to fill on a regular basis.  They often have specific times when they are hosting training sessions, so if you're interested in this be sure to keep an eye out.
• Donate to your local organization.  Groups are always in need of money to maintain and/or expand services.  Many groups that operate shelters may also need personal care items such as shampoos and menstrual hygiene products or toys and games if there are children at the shelter, but check with your specific organization before donating to make sure that your gift best suits their needs.

     The most important thing you can do all year round is listen and offer support.  If you suspect a loved one is in an abusive situation, the best thing you can do is to be there for them in whatever capacity they need.  If you aren't sure how to handle the situation, this site has some good advice.  If you yourself are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is a 24 hour hotline and chat service that can help you figure out the best course of action given your situation.  They have an escape button in the upper left hand corner of their webpage that you can click on if you need to leave the site immediately.  Many local organizations also offer hotline services and other forms of support, so if you have the ability to do so, check out the services that they have to offer.
     I know this has been a heavy post, but this is such an important issue and if I inspire even one person to take action or seek out help, then it was worthwhile.  Now on to this week's craft.

Domestic Violence Awareness Ribbons

Materials

*Purple and teal ribbons, one of which is thicker than the other (the purple ribbon is for domestic violence awareness and the teal one is for sexual assault awareness)

*Safety pins

*Scissors

Directions:

*Take one of the lengths of ribbon and cross it over itself to form a loop, adjusting it until you have a ribbon of the desired length.  Cut off excess ribbon.

*Cut the second ribbon to be the same length as the first.

*Lay the thinner ribbon over the thicker ribbon and cross the two ribbons in the same manner as you did in step one.

*Slide a safety pin through the intersection point of the ribbons.  Use the safety pin to affix the ribbon to your clothes.