First, the Massachusetts Dept of Public Health has issued an advisory following a significant spike in deaths due to domestic abuse. I didn't realize that the DPH would issue advisories on a 'social' epidemic - after all, you can't catch domestic violence from an infected tomato or tainted bag of spinach. The numbers are definitely startling - so far this year, there have been 24 deaths in the state attributed to domestic violence. That's much higher than the 15 recorded in all of 2005. Our governor speculates that the rise might be due to the economic pressures affecting so many families. Some questions I had...
- 5 "domestic violence-related suicides" were included in the 2008 figures. What are the criteria for determining the relationship between a suicide and DV?
- What are the nation-wide figures - have other states' DPH released similar advisories?
- Was there anything notable about MA's decision to identify this trend as a public health problem, and more than just 24 isolated, tragic incidents? I'm in full agreement that DV is a form of structural and systemic violence. Is this recognition by public health officials anything new or noteworthy?
- What are some other reasons for the increase? Some hypothetical suggestions...
- a decrease in funding for domestic violence hotlines and shelters
- increased overall population (what are the rates of DV deaths per 1000 MA residents? How does that rate compare with previous years)?
- a demographic shift towards groups more likely to suffer from DV. This one makes me nervous but I have to bring it up. I know that DV affects folks from all walks of life, all ethnicities, all backgrounds. Are certain groups less likely to report DV, or seek help? Are police in certain communities less likely to pursue DV reports? Are shelters in certain communities too stretched to service all clients? I hate to fall on stereotypes, but I think these questions have to be asked before they can be discarded. I remember when working at a local shelter for DV that so many women and families had to be turned away due to lack of space, or shuttled to other agencies.
- improved reporting / recording methods? For example, were DV-related suicides counted in previous years figures?
Second...
A media and advertising group in Singapore has released these simple ads, intended to illustrate the real damage of verbal abuse. I can't find much about this campaign from the actual company, only on various blogs which have noted the ads' disturbing quality. I'd like to know what organization hired Saatchi to create these, and what context they'd be used - on the side of a bus? As a series of print ads in a major newspaper? Would there be a call to action - for abusers or victims? It's hard to evaluate these ads without knowing more. Could you imagine seeing these ads here in the US? Maybe I'm just cynical, but I think too many folks would want to censor a similar campaign for being too explicit in their violence.
And third...
I still don't know what to say about this ad depicting the horror of sexual abuse. It's incredibly creepy and disturbing. I literally had to shower after watching it. But damn, does it stick with you.
Well... that's all been pretty depressing. In other news, Cuba, on the socialized-health-care radar after Sicko, is now including sex-change operations as part of the free services included in the state-sponsored health care system. Homos and commies! In cahoots - I knew it! Just kidding. Interesting to learn that Fidel Castro's niece, Mariela, is spearheading the movement for GLBT rights in Cuba.
And if that's not enough, this guy should cheer you up (via Getty).
0 comments:
Post a Comment