Domestic Violence and the Media

Lately it seems like domestic violence has become a popular topic in the media.  The incident that took place in February between singers Chris Brown and Rihanna made national headlines, and continues to make headlines nearly 10 months later.  Domestic violence has also been rumored in the Tiger Woods scandal.  It was reported that Woods’ wife Elin chased Tiger out of the house with a golf club, bashing in his car window before Tiger eventually crashed into a tree.  Saturday Night Live made a skit about the incident between Tiger and his wife, one that was met with much controversy.  And promotional footage for the new MTV reality show Jersey Shore shows a female cast member getting punched in the face by a man at a bar.  That footage has now been pulled from the air and will be used in an anti-domestic violence campaign.

While all the attention being paid to domestic violence is good way to raise awareness, we shouldn’t forget that domestic violence begins at home, and there are things we can do to reduce the rate of violence and abuse.

First, if you or a loved one is being abused, threatened, or mistreated, REPORT IT!  So many instances of domestic violence and abuse go unreported.  By filing a complaint with the police or contacting an experienced domestic violence attorney, the appropriate steps can be taken to stop the violence.  An attorney can also help you file for a restraining order.  

If you are someone who feels angry, and you have found yourself wanting lash out at loved ones, get the help you need. Whether you speak with a therapist or just to a friend, openly discussing what is making you angry can help you work through the anger issues you are experiencing before they manifest into physical violence.

If you are a parent, teach your children about violence, and talk to them about how violence, abuse, and making verbal assaults is not the way to get what you want or how to resolve a problem. Although bad behavior is often learned at home, it is also the place where good behavior starts.