(Image via scrapetv.com)I am frustrated, pissed, angry! Why you ask? To whom you ask? I am talking about the increase in cases involving mostly men who are out of control and expressing their anger, hate, via violent, destructive, and impulsive behaviors/actions towards loved ones. These men think they can, or think they have the right to, abuse and commit violence on others. We live in a society that supports this behavior until its' too late or until the monster (the behavior or actions out of control) is so ugly that we are repulsed. Although there are many nameless cases that we never hear about, it’s the more “famous names” that the media often bring to light has the example. Is it me or in 2009 - 2010, the amount of celebrities and non-celebrities involved in domestic (physical, emotional) abuse, humiliation, and sexual violence has increased tremendously?
Chris Brown (Rihanna) Lawrence Taylor (16 year old girl), Tiger Woods (his wife, several women), Jesse James (Sandra Bullock), George Huguely (Yeardley Love), the infamous Duke University Lacrosse team case (who created an environment where a stripper could even accuse them of rape) are just a few high profile cases that have sex as the common denominator in the unhealthy relationships.
I am pissed because the community and loved ones of the above men and other less profile men- haven't done their job as well. The people around them have let these behaviors grow and get to this point. And when it happens people, the community or society, are ready to crucify someone.
Last week, I was reading a NY Post article on the Lawrence Taylor case when I came across in the comments some ignorant views that give proof of more education needed for people about domestic violence, and hatred toward women:
The Dude
05/10/2010 3:54 AM
“There will always be ‘Hos’ around (it's female nature) but at least without these pimps you won't have girls forced into it, although there probably are female pimps too and females who manage Ho houses.”However when I went back to the Post to write this, I was pleasantly surprised. Other readers commented to the above reader. Proof that others are thinking what I am thinking-Kyle
05/10/2010 1:16 AM
“The Dude - you seem overly concerned about LT. Why is that? There is a convicted murderer preying on young runaways. Shouldn't people be more worried about that? Sheesh. This is why NY is so &*&% up. So many people bashing this young, lost girl and worrying about whether LT will have to face charges.
She already came forward to say that LT did not hit her and that she told him she was 19. She called the cops on the pimp. NOT LT. LT already admitted that he ordered a prostitute. Let him take his lumps.
This reminds me of the girl who was sodomized and murdered by a bouncer and all people could say is that she shouldn't have been in a bar drunk by herself.”
A lot of what we do — we meaning males — revolves around sex or the idea of sex. A lot of what we do that gets us into trouble is around or about sex. (Ladies you are not totally off the hook- there are a lot of women who are also violent and or who support violent men).
However statistics show that there is an overwhelming amount of women being victims of violence verse men. In addition, men or males are taught violence from an early age where women or girls are not as indoctrinated to violence, adventure, action, etc.
(I have two boys I know. It is a challenge to keep them balanced and healthy. It's a challenge for me, too.)
Here are some stats:
-According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, which includes crimes that were not reported to the police, 232,960 women in the U.S. were raped or sexually assaulted in 2006. That's more than 600 women every day.
-17.6 % of women in the United States have survived a completed or attempted rape. Of these, 21.6% were younger than age 12 when they were first raped, and 32.4% were between the ages of 12 and 17. (Full Report of the Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence Against Women, Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey, November, 2000)
-64% of women who reported being raped, physically assaulted, and/or stalked since age 18 were victimized by a current or former husband, cohabiting partner, boyfriend, or date. (Full Report of the Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence Against Women, Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey, November, 2000)
-When we consider race, we see that African-American women face higher rates of domestic violence than white women, and American-Indian women are victimized at a rate more than double that of women of other races.
Sex or sexual energy is power. Energy is power. Man on man, man on woman, boy on girl, girl on girl, etc. In that couple or that relationship there is a dynamic that contains an exchange of power. One gives the other takes or in a healthy relationship it is shared. It is how you control your power that makes us human and above animals.
Male lions just run up and fight a lioness then have sex. The male lion walks away. Their sexual dynamic is violent. But they are after all wild animals. Are we animals? No!
So I have your eyes and your mind right now. What's next? Glad you asked. A lot of what I have addressed is covered in more detail below. This Life Student leaves you with this bit of valuable information — below is a list of ten things that men can do to be pro-active in not only protecting women (daughters, sisters, wives, mothers) but also our friends but also protecting society and ourselves. Protect by changing, informing, standing up, being aware! Why re-invent the wheel when a resource has so eloquently spelled it out!
The list is from the Call To Men (info@acalltomen.org), an awesome organization that works with many individuals, groups, programs, agencies, and business to talk about and empower males to bring about healthier thinking, behavior, and lifestyles. There exist similar organizations for those males (or females) in same sex relationships and experiencing similar issues such as Safe Horizon (www.safehorizon.org) at 1-800-621-4673 and in New York the Gay Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (www.avp.org) at 212-714-1141.
10 Things Men Can Do In Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention
1. Acknowledge and understand how male dominance and aspects of unhealthy manhood are at the foundation domestic and sexual violence.
2. Examine and challenge our individual beliefs and the role that we play in supporting men who are abusive.
3. Recognize and stop colluding with other men by getting out of our socially defined roles, and take a stance to prevent domestic and sexual violence.
4. Remember that our silence is affirming. When we choose not to speak out against domestic and sexual violence, we are supporting it.
5. Educate and re-educate our sons and other young men about our responsibility in preventing domestic and sexual violence.
6."Break out of the man box"- Challenge traditional images of manhood that stop us from actively taking a stand in domestic and sexual violence prevention.
7. Accept and own our responsibility that domestic and sexual violence will not end until men become part of the solution to end it. We must take an active role in creating a cultural and social shift that no longer tolerates violence and discrimination against women and girls.
8. Stop supporting the notion that domestic and sexual violence is due to mental illness, lack of anger management skills, chemical dependency, stress, etc… Domestic and sexual violence is rooted in male dominance and the socialization of men.
9. Take responsibility for creating appropriate and effective ways to educate and raise awareness about domestic and sexual violence prevention.
10. Create responsible and accountable men's initiatives in your community to support domestic and sexual violence prevention.
Copyright © 2004, ACT Men Inc. All rights
info@acalltomen.org
So ladies and gentleman, please like the reader/commenter- Kyle- be a life student. Oh and by the way- I am calm now. I turned by anger and frustration into action- I used my voice. Be active speak out and stand up. Society has to change and the Life Student is willing to lead the way- by example!
You can read more of the NY Post article on Lawrence Taylor:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/locallt_gal_text_cry_for_help_obAVWPKSJC7a90qwTro85H
Amir Thornell
The Life Student
thelifestudentblog1@gmail.com
GET DOWN says: Life Student, this is powerful stuff. Note: the World Health Organization has done extensive research on the link between intimate partner violence (and violence against women) and HIV globally. Here are two links, check it out:
http://www.who.int/gender/violence/en/vawinformationbrief.pdf
http://www.genderandaids.org/downloads/topics/VAW%20HIV%20report.pdf
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