The Big Picture: holidays

Monday, December 22, 2008

If you need support . . .

The holidays can be stressful for everyone, but staying physically and emotionally safe during holiday events can be especially difficult for those in abusive relationships. Women's Resource Center operates a 24-hour hotline (which will be in operation on all holidays) that you or someone you know can call if you need to plan for your safety, ask questions about services or your legal options, or just talk to someone confidentially about your feelings and what you are experiencing at home. We also offer two free, confidential support groups each week at our Decatur office where women come to receive support from other women like them. You can get more information about our support groups by calling our hotline at (404) 688-9436.

May you enjoy a happy holiday and a new year of domestic peace.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is the establishment of control and fear in a relationship through physical, sexual, emotional, and/or financial abuse. Both men and women are capable of misusing power and perpetrating violence, and male victims are often just as afraid to call the police. More resources for female survivors exist, however, because overwhelmingly women and children suffer the most severe consequences (medical, legal, social, and financial) and therefore require the most intensive interventions.

Many women choose to stay in abusive relationships because they do not want their relationship to end...just the violence. Women often remain in, or return to, abusive relationships because their partners threaten to harm them and their loved ones if they attempt to leave. Commonly, women choose to leave when they become convinced that their life is at risk, or that their children are in danger.

Domestic violence is not just a "family matter". The violence will not stop until men and women come together with a common attitude of non-tolerance. We must speak out for those who may not feel safe speaking up, and our children must learn through our words and example that violence is never justified.