Tag Archives: intimate partner violence

Some Feminists Are Upset About The Onion’s Piece On Chris Brown Beating Rihanna To Death

the onion rihanna

Yesterday, we, and many, many others, breathed a sigh of relief when Chris Brown told a radio station that he and Rihanna had once again broken up. (They’re both too young for him to be “wife”-ing her, he said.) Humor site The Onion did their spin on the story today, penning the story “Heartbroken Chris Brown Always Thought Rihanna Was Woman He’d Beat To Death,” in which Brown (obviously, not really Brown) laments he’ll never get to murder her in a domestic violence incident. Here’s a sample:

After revealing yesterday that he had recently split up with longtime girlfriend Rihanna, a heartbroken Chris Brown tearfully told reporters that he always thought the 25-year-old singer was going to be the woman he’d beat to death one day. “Despite all the ups and downs, I was so sure Rihanna was the one I’d take by the throat one day and fatally assault, and even toward the end I continued to hold out hope that we’d be together until the day she died at my hands from blunt-force trauma,” Brown, 24, said in a radio interview this week, telling DJs he still has abusive feelings for his ex-flame and is hopeful that he might punch her again one day.

Simply, I thought the piece was cringe-inducingly hilarious — it’s supposed to make you viscerally uncomfortable about how far domestic violence can go. Not everyone agrees, instead seeing it as mocking violence against women of color. Keep reading »

Color Of Domestic Violence
On Kasandra Perkins and the color of domestic violence. Read More »
I Witnessed DV
domestic violence
Jessica watched a man commit domestic violence on the street. Read More »
Domestic Violence Advice
court room
... from a prosecutor who has seen it all. Read More »

Addressing Domestic Violence Means Addressing Gun Violence, Says Joe Biden

  • Vice President Joe Biden announced 12 grants to programs around the country to protect potential victims of domestic violence at the hands of their abusers. Noting that between 2009 and 2012, 40 percent of mass shootings began with a man shooting an intimate partner, Biden emphasized, “The issue of domestic violence and reducing gun violence are connected.” [Think Progress, USA TodayWhite House]
  • Survivors of military sexual violence testified before the Senate this week. [Los Angeles Times]
  • Anna Wintour got a promotion within Conde Nast and already people are “concerned” about what this powerful woman is going to do. [Madame Noire] Keep reading »
Domestic Violence Advice
court room
... from a prosecutor who has seen it all. Read More »
I Witnessed DV
domestic violence
Jessica watched a man commit domestic violence while bystanders did nothing. Read More »
I Was Abused
domestic violence photo
Judy McGuire was physically abused by a boyfriend. Read More »

Today Is “No More” Day: Take A Stand Against Violence Against Women

Domestic Violence Advice
court room
... from a prosecutor who has seen it all. Read More »
Vawa Passes!
Today's Lady News photo
The violence against women act passed in the Senate. Read More »
After Sexual Assault
woman sad in bed
Tips for reclaiming your sex life after being sexually assaulted. Read More »
The Status of Women
united nations
The UN's Commission on the Status of Women is happening now! Read More »
NO MORE 3.13.2013

NO MORE. It is a simple, direct message representing a broad and pervasive issue. No more sexual assault. No more violence against women. Today, March 13 marks NO MORE day, a day to join the movement to stop domestic violence and sexual assault, and launch the organization’s new symbol — a thick “O” of light blue. Keep reading »

Photographer Captures Man Beating His Girlfriend In Startling Photo Essay

Domestic Violence Advice
court room
... from a prosecutor who has seen it all. Read More »
I Witnessed DV
domestic violence
Jessica watched a man commit domestic violence while bystanders did nothing. Read More »
On Abused Women
Facts about abused women. Read More »
Sara Naomi Lewkowicz domestic violence photo essay

This sent shivers down my spine.  A moving photo essay by the photographer Sara Naomi Lewkowicz on TIME magazine’s website follows a young couple’s relationship, culminating in the man beating his girlfriend. As she explains in a piece accompanying the piece, Lewkowicz originally meant to document Shane’s life as an ex-con. But it turned into something entirely different when Shane, 31, began physically abusing Maggie, 19, the mother of two young children, with the photographer and kids present. Keep reading »

Violence Against Women Act Might Actually Pass The House Of Representatives

Senators Against VAWA
These guys didn't even want to bring VAWA to a vote. Read More »
Vawa Passes!
Today's Lady News photo
The violence against women act passed in the Senate. Read More »
Domestic Violence Advice
court room
... from a prosecutor who has seen it all. Read More »
abused woman

Keep your fingers crossed: Politico is reporting that the Violence Against Women Act is expected to pass in the House of Representatives this week.

VAWA was originally championed by then-Senator Joe Biden back in 1994 and gets renewed very six years. The bill allocates funds to help victims of rape and domestic violence, including money to process rape kits, and prosecute men accused of abusing women. Sounds like a no brainer, right? Well, it’s not. Apparently violence against women is A-OK for some of our politicians. Last year, VAWA hit a snag in the House, which refused to pass a Senate version of the bill allocating funds to undocumented women, same-sex partners, and Native American women who are abused by non-Native American men. Keep reading »

GOP Congressman Says VAWA Has A “Motherhood-And-Apple-Pie Title” — What?

Today's Lady News photo
  • Congressman John Duncan from Tennessee says he is undecided on which way he’ll vote on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which passed the Senate last week 78-22.  His reasoning?  ”Every bill is given a motherhood-and apple-pie title,” and if “you voted on the title, you’d vote for every bill up here.”  Funny thing is, the title holds true to the content of the bill and has since 1994.  Sadly, this is not the most ridiculous quote from the interview.  Despite being unsure of his vote he is against domestic violence because “most men can handle [violence] a little better than a lot of women can.”  Yeah, go ahead.  Read that last line again. [Think Progress] Keep reading »

Oscar Pistorius Denies Reeva Steenkamp’s Death Was Premeditated Murder

Athlete Accused
Oscar Pistorius
Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius charged with murdering GF Reeva Steenkamp. Read More »
Premeditated Murder
Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp
Olympian Oscar Pistorius accused of murdering model girlfriend. Read More »
Domestic Violence Advice
court room
... from a prosecutor who has seen it all. Read More »

This morning, Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius faced his first bail hearing regarding the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and disputed the premeditated murder charge against him. The higher charge caries the most intense bail requirements of South African law, according to The Atlantic.

Here’s an update on where the case is at… Keep reading »

Jovan Belcher Allegedly Murdered Kasandra Perkins Over Paternity Paranoia

Color Of Domestic Violence
On Kasandra Perkins and the color of domestic violence. Read More »
I Witnessed DV
domestic violence
Jessica watched a man commit domestic violence while bystanders did nothing. Read More »
Domestic Violence Advice
court room
... from a prosecutor who has seen it all. Read More »
jovan belcher kasandra perkins

Kansas City Chiefs player Jovan Belcher murdered his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins because there was a question about their three-month-old child’s paternity, The New York Post is reporting.

Belcher’s mother Cheryl Sheperd was in the couple’s home on December 1 when Belcher shot Perkins nine times, before driving to a stadium and killing himself.  The Post claims his mother told police the couple had been fighting about whether he was the child’s biological father before the murder-suicide. Keep reading »

On Men As Victims Of Domestic Violence — From A Prosecutor

Prosecutor Speaks
court room
A prosecutor's professional point of view on domestic abuse. Read More »
I Witnessed DV
domestic violence
Jessica saw a man commit domestic violence in public. Read More »
On Abused Women
Facts about Rihanna and other abused women. Read More »
sad man

Last week an anonymous prosecutor who has prosecuted a domestic violence caseload explained to us, from her professional point of view, how we should respond when we have friends or family members in abusive relationships. Some of the comments objected to her use  of the pronoun “he” as the aggressor and “she” as the victim. Here the prosecutor, who requested anonymity, is back to respond. 

Absolutely, men can be and are victims of domestic violence. The choice to use the pronoun she exclusively was a choice that I made as the author because the majoriy of reported domestic violence victims are women. The data also shows that women are more likely than men to report incidents of domestic violence, according to Measuring Intimate Partner Violence by National Institute of Justice. Keep reading »

True Story: Everything You Need To Know About Domestic Violence — From A Prosecutor

I Witnessed DV
domestic violence
Jessica watched a man commit domestic violence while bystanders did nothing. Read More »
On Abused Women
Facts about Rihanna and other abused women. Read More »
I Was Abused
domestic violence photo
Judy McGuire was physically abused by a boyfriend. Read More »
court room

Two weeks ago, I wrote an essay about how I witnessed a man committing domestic violence against a woman outside my apartment. I received many incredible emails from readers, including one from a prosecutor who has previously had a DV caseload. She advised me to contact my local precinct and give a statement about what I saw; in her experience, that witness testimony has helped put the abuser behind bars. I asked this prosecutor — who requested anonymity — if she had any advice about how to help victims of DV from a professional standpoint. Here’ what she is sharing with readers of The Frisky. — Jessica 

When I read Jessica’s article on domestic violence, I didn’t think of the victim, the bystanders and their inaction, or the abuser. I thought about the prosecutor on whose desk that case would land. I knew statistically speaking, by the time the prosecutor sees the case, the victim has likely recanted. I thought about the volume of evidence that was right before me, in Jessica’s article. I thought about that prosecutor because I am a prosecutor. Keep reading »