Domestic Violence isn't just a "woman's issue." It is a HUMAN issue!

Below is a short article written by Jan Brown which was posted as a reply to my article Domestic Violence: Taking it like a Man--the Untold Story  five years ago.  My article can can be found HERE.  

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and throughout the month domestic violence advocates and the media's attention will be focused on bringing more public understanding to and promoting the eradication of men’s violence against women. However, not all intimate partner violence (IPV) fits into this neat little package. IPV against men, especially against men by their female intimate partners, has always been a hot button issue. The mere mention of male victims in a gathering of traditional domestic violence advocates creates great controversy. 

While domestic violence advocates may know men are victims they insist that their victims service agencies (over 2,000 of them in the US) should focus exclusively on ending violence against women by men because women are the most injured and prevalent victims. 

As a result, serious outreach and services for the male victims of IPV are sorely lacking. Studies indicate that men are victims of assault by their partners in 25% of the reported cases in the U.S. each year. The disparity between the needs of those victims and the services available is large. The gap must be closed and that can only be done through education, services and advocacy. 

While resources for men are still scarce, awareness is increasing and hopefully more services will follow. IPV is not a gender issue, it is simply a human issue. 

The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women envisions a world where services are available to victims and survivors without prejudice. 

Call: 1-888-7HELPLINE (1-888-743-5754)

Visit: www.dahmw.org 

Sincerely, 
Jan Brown
Founder and Co-Director Heather Fortune, 
Co-Director Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women

 Domestic Violence is EVERYBODY's Business!   It's not just a "woman's issue"  it's a HUMAN issue.   Plain and simple  And it is an issue that is reaching epidemic proportions.  Until we stand united and work towards  ending this ... we will continue to suffer the costs.

I urge each of you to share this information on your social networks.  Again...for emphasis...

Domestic Violence isn't just a "woman's issue."  

It is a HUMAN issue!

About Julia K. Cole

What can you expect from someone who considers Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality a personal calling? Straight forward answers that lead to life-changing experiences on a soul level!

Known as The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape, Julia has made it her personal mission to put Reality back into Spirituality™. Julia sets out to assist people in expanding their conscious awareness through her rather unique and personal take on the human experience. 

In the style of Erma Bombeck, Julia utilizes her own brand of humor and down to earth demeanor to get her messages across in an all so delightful way. 

As a writer, Julia is a virtual powerhouse of creativity.  Among Julia's literary accomplishments is  the  Children of the Luminaries  trilogy;  Book One: The Coming Storm can be purchased by clicking Here.   

Book Two  of the trilogy is due out in the Fall of 2015 and Book Three will be available in 2016.  The long anticipated ZEN of Duct Tape:  An Empress Is Born will be out in 2016.  As well as the Teddy Mitchell Chronicles.

Julia has also contributed to several other publications including Brad Steiger's  Real Zombies, The Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse  Click HERE for the review; and Marie D. Jones' Destiny vs. Choice  Click HERE    

PLEASE NOTE:  All artwork, unless otherwise specified, are the property of the individual artists themselves. The author of these blogs claims no ownership of the original artwork, but only of the sig tags created using said artwork. Each sig tag shown on these blogs include the appropriate copyright information of the Artists and the unique licensure for use.

Reproduction and copying of said work without proper authority is strictly prohibited


Unless otherwise specified, ALL articles on this Blogger are the property of Julia K. Cole.  The ZEN of Duct Tape™, it's name, teachings, modalities, and all excerpts; the nicknames The Empress of the Known & Unknown Universes™ and The Diva of Duct Tape™,  The Duct Tape Diva™; Putting Reality Back Into Spirituality™, Reality back into Spirituality™ are the property and trade marks of Julia K. Cole and are protected under Copy Right Laws both here in the USA and Around The World.  

International Denim Day: Because Clothing Is NO Excuse!

In Italy in the 1990s, an 18-year-old was raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor. The assailant was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to jail. He appealed the sentence, and the case made its way to the Italian Supreme Court. The Supreme Court released the perpetrator and dismissed all charges, on the grounds that “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them... and by removing the jeans... it was no longer rape but consensual sex.” 

Women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans in protest, and the California Senate and Assembly did the same. Denim Day was born.

Source:  http://www.stsm.org/events/denim-day

Denim Day is a campaign to prevent sexual violence through education and public awareness.  April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Denim Day is a call to action for all people to come together by wearing denim as a visible sign of protest against sexual violence. By participating in Denim Day this April, you can play a role in the prevention of sexual violence. Every year we ask community members, elected officials, businesses and students to make a social statement with their fashion and on April 29th to wear jeans as a visible means of protest against misconceptions that surround sexual assault.

Why denim? Denim Day was originally triggered by a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent.  The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Denim Day was developed in response to this case and wearing jeans during this annual event has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.

Women of the Italian Legislature protested the decision by wearing jeans to work. As news of the decision spread, so did the protest. In April 1999, a social service agency in Los Angeles established the first Denim Day in the United States.

DVSAC carries on this tradition.  We wear denim to dispel harmful myths about sexual violence and survivors.

Read More

Source:  http://www.dvsac.org/denim-day/

On April 29, 2015 show your support by wearing your jeans!  Get your employer and co-workers involved in this event!

National Wear Red Day – February 6, 2015

1 in 3 women die of heart disease and stroke each year. Celebrate National Wear Red Day with Go Red For Women on Friday, Feb. 6, 2015 to help save women’s lives. 

CLICK HERE  to Learn how you can join the movement nationwide and how you can honor women like yourself on this important day!

Why is the red dress the symbol of women and heart disease?

In 2003, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the AHA and other organizations committed to women’s health joined together to raise awareness of women and heart disease. The NHLBI introduced the red dress as a national symbol for women and heart disease awareness and the AHA adopted this symbol to create synergy among all organizations committed to fighting this cause.

By working together to advance this important cause, the AHA, NHLBI and other women’s health groups will have a greater impact than any one group could have alone.

Read More

The End of October Doesn't Mean An End To Awareness!

Domestic Violence Awareness Month may be coming to a close at the end of October, but we must not forget that every day men, women and children seek safety and justice inside America's courts.

Sadly, from New York to California, victims of domestic violence are facing a rationing of justice. Court furlough days have resulted in backlogs and delayed temporary restraining orders. Crippling budget cuts mean courts must reduce their hours of operation or close altogether.


Turned away at shuttered courthouse doors, victims of domestic violence are left to fend for themselves. 

In Oregon, "Jane" had to wait three days to file a Family Abuse Prevention Act Restraining Order because Friday was a designated court furlough day. In New Jersey, "Joe" sat outside a courtroom door for nearly five hours waiting to be heard while the increasing backlog of cases ultimately suspended civil and family court trials and delayed temporary restraining orders. And in Mississippi, children were left in limbo while safe custody and visitation orders took a back seat to devastating court budget cuts that delayed and postponed the administration of justice.

Lives are in danger, and we must act now. Our courts cannot do their part to protect families unless they are fully funded. Donate to Justice at Stake today by clicking HERE. Our courts must not be closed to the public.

Click HERE For More Information About Justice at Stake

4-Year-Old Sums Up Gay Marriage in a Few Short Sentences

This is so innocent and sweet, it's impossible not to just love it to pieces. A 4-year-old little girl in Australia wrote a letter to the prime minister, Tony Abbott, asking him to "let boys marry boys and girls marry girls," in an effort to persuade him to recognize gay marriage Down Under. Sabrina Franco was inspired to reach out to the prime minister after learning that friends of her mothers, a gay male couple, had to go all the way to New York to be married -- because same-sex marriages are neither recognized nor performed in Australia.

Read More

DANGEROUS DIET: Young girls swallowing cotton balls to lose weight

 A weight loss trend that involves eating cotton balls has health officials issuing warnings for parents.

It seems Americans are obsessed with losing weight or wearing a smaller size, and images from the media reinforce a false perception of beauty.

"I think, especially young girls, don't realize that those models are airbrushed," said Amy Garlove, a pediatrician at Norton Healthcare. "There's a lot of Photoshopping that goes into that."

Young girls are trying to measure up to the glamorous women they see in magazines and on TV. Many times these models often go to extremes to stay thin.

It's an unobtainable -- and dangerous -- goal, and Garlove says social media and websites can make things worse.

"Now in this day and age, we have the added insult, essentially, of the Internet, and so girls can get these ideas from other girls," Garlove said.

Some of those ideas are so disturbing, they're hard to comprehend. There are now reported cases of girls so desperate to lose weight that they swallow cotton balls to curb their appetites.

It's a trend therapists like Dr. Eli Karam in Louisville have begun seeing in young patients.

"This trend really got started by YouTube clips being made of other girls showing how to do this, how to restrict," said Dr. Karam.

The Internet is peppered with dozens of videos demonstrating how to eat cotton balls -- and some even make a game of out of coming up with creative ways to eat the cotton, including dipping them in juice "and then they swallow them with the hopes that it will fill up their stomachs so they will not be hungry."

Marsha Hilgeford, a registered dietitian, says the idea behind the trend is that "cotton would absorb and fill the space so there wouldn't be any emptiness, they would feel a fullness."

In fact, cotton balls are not very absorbent. If one is dipped in a container of yogurt, for example, the yogurt just sticks to it and continues to collect food. It does the same thing in the intestinal tract.

"It's not going to absorb anything," Garlove said. "It may take up space in the stomach for awhile, but it's certainly not going to be anything that is going to keep the patient from still needing the calories and the nutrients that your body has to have to survive and to thrive."

There are a number of dangers associated with ingesting cotton balls -- starting with the potential of choking. The danger grows as the cotton works its way through your body.

If the cotton ball does reach the stomach, it can cause sharp pains for the person who ingested it.

Cotton balls can also form blockages in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to surgery or even death.

"You might as well soak your T-shirt in grape juice and eat it," said Hilgeford.

To make matters worse, there are chemicals in cotton balls that could be harmful.

"Most girls, when they're doing that (eating cotton balls) aren't thinking about that," said Karam. "They're just thinking about the short term -- what will help me, what will make me feel better about myself, what will help me stop eating," said Karam.

Karam says young girls may try the cotton ball diet as a to gain a sense of control in what can be chaotic lives.

It's important for parents to pay attention to eating habits at home. Symptoms to watch for include: anxiety around food, attitude change, and stomach issues.

"Whereas an adult might think this is a very high-risk behavior, you can actually find the reverse, where a young girl could receive support from her peers for doing this.

We often turn to the Internet for information, but sometimes the wrong information can be dangerous. Many of the images seen by impressionable young minds do not reflect reality, and the pressure for a perfect body takes a toll on young women.

"They're trying to keep up with this unattainable goal of being this perfect body type, which doesn't exist because it's all done on computers," Garlove said.

It's the ugly side of the beauty industry.

If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, it's important to get help.

CLICK HERE for more information

Source:  WDRB News

$100 in 100 Hours!

To celebrate the American Cancer Society’s 100^th Birthday – along with 100 years of saving lives – I’m raising $100 in 100 hours, through Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. I’m asking for your help to reach my goal.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting nearly 300 communities to finish the fight. Every breast cancer walk and event is an incredible and inspiring opportunity to honor those who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about what we can do to reduce our breast cancer risk, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with research, information and services, and access to mammograms for women who need them. 

One hundred years ago, the American Cancer Society started the fight of a lifetime – the fight against cancer. I’m working to reach my goal of $100 in 100 hours to help the American Cancer Society reach their goal to make this cancer’s last century. Please help me by donating to my Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

Just Click HERE to be transported to my Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Page

Thank you!

Serial Killer's Secret Photos: Missing Women--Please Help Identifying Them!

Convicted serial killer Rodney Alcala was found guilty in 2010 of killing four women and a 12-year-old girl in Southern California in the 1970s. Alcala, 69, is a former photographer and a one-time dating-show contestant who has been behind bars since 1979. 

Police in California previously released dozens of photos, including the ones seen here, taken from a storage space rented to Alcala. Recognize the people in this photo? 

Please contact Huntington Beach, Calif., Police Det. Patrick Ellis at 714-375-5066 or pellis@hbpd.org. 


Click HERE to view All the photos

Or copy and paste the URL below


http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-504083_162-10006434.html

Our Missing: Never Forget! Never Giving Up!

People are seeking loved ones from all over the world.  Someone out there knows something!  Could that someone be YOU?

Below are just a few of the sites that have listings of Missing Persons from all around the world.   

Thankfully, quite a few missing persons have been found safe!  But so many, many, many more haven't!    And then there's the cold cases, the unsolved deaths and murders, and so on!   



If you have information on any of these cases...SHARE IT!  There is Hope your one small tip can lead to solving a mystery.

The more people aware and looking--the better the chances are for our Missing!  

Please be sure to Share the sites below

on  ALL your 

Social Networks! 

PLEASE CHECK BACK OFTEN!

I WILL BE ADDING ADDITIONAL SITES FROM TIME TO TIME!


~*~*~*~

*Outpost for Hope*  NEWLY ADDED

http://www.outpostforhope.org/


Charley Project

http://www.charleyproject.org/


The Doe Network

www.doenetwork.org

Still They Speak: Bringing Hope to Cold Cases                

stilltheyspeak.com/‎



National Missing and Unidentified Persons System

www.namus.gov/‎



North American Missing Persons Network

http://www.nampn.org/updates.html

Domestic Violence: It's EVERYBODY'S Business!

Domestic Violence does not discriminate against age, race, color, creed, gender or sexual orientation.


The U. S. Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) defines domestic violence as a "pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner". 

The definition adds that domestic violence "can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender", and that it can take many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional, economic, and psychological abuse

Our society, both here in the United States and world-wide, have been conditioned to think and believe that domestic violence only means women and children.   But the sad fact is, it also includes boys and men.

“When we ignore male victims of domestic abuse, we also ignore their children, who continue to be damaged by witnessing the violence regardless of how severe it is. We cannot break this intergenerational cycle by ignoring half of it. That's why a global coalition of experts has formed to support a research-based, inclusive approach, and their website has solid data showing women initiate the violence as often as men.”

Source:  National Family Violence Legislative Resource Center:


While the “statistics” show a large number of women reporting -- these numbers cannot be trusted as being accurate.   Though there are many, many who are truthfully reporting, there is a growing percentage of reporting done for the sole purpose  to get back at their spouse, boyfriend, significant other.

FACT:  The majority of men who are experiencing domestic violence will not report it.   

As with women, domestic violence against men can take many forms, including emotional, sexual and physical abuse and threats of abuse. Keeping in mind it happens in heterosexual and same sex relationships.

Due to our primary focus being conditioned to read the signs on a woman or child, recognizing those same signs of domestic violence against men isn‘t easy.    They’re there!  You only need to drop the stigma, broaden your perspective in order to see it.

As with women, early in the relationship, a man’s  partner might seem attentive, generous and protective in ways that later turn out to be controlling and frightening. Initially, the abuse might appear as isolated incidents. Their partner might apologize and promise not to abuse them again.

In other relationships, domestic violence against men might include both partners slapping or shoving each other when they get angry — and neither partner seeing himself or herself as being abused or controlled.   This type of violence, however, can still devastate a relationship, causing both physical and emotional damage.

Domestic Violence Against Men:  KNOW THE SIGNS  Click HERE

*~*~**~*~*

If you are a man and are living with abuse, and you are too ashamed to reach out … PLEASE know there are people willing to believe you and help you!  It doesn’t matter where in the world you are -- there is help!

http://www.batteredmen.com/

http://www.mensadviceline.org.uk/mens_advice.php


If you or someone you know is living with domestic violence … please seek help! 

http://dahmw.org/

National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-SAFE

The Domestic Abuse Hotline is for BOTH men and women!

Knowledge is power!  Get the Information!

 http://www.dm.usda.gov/shmd/aware.htm



My Blog from October 2010:  http://juliakcole.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html


Only TOGETHER can we break the cycle!

Domestic Violence: Taking It Like A Man -- The Untold Story

Domestic Violence.   It's Everybody's Business!

But how many turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to it?  Sadly too many to count.

While the majority of such violence reported involved  women and children, an alarming number of men who are victims go unreported ...  even ignored.

"... activists for “men’s rights” have suggested that policy-oriented efforts for women have been misplaced, because they focus entirely on women as the victims of domestic violence. 

“men are the victims of domestic violence at least as often as women” (Brott, 1994). "

[emphasis added]

(http://new.vawnet.org/Assoc_Files_VAWnet/GenderSymmetry.pdf)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

And we are not just talking about gay men in this regard.   Hetero-sexual men fall prey to domestic abuse as well.  You don't hear about it very often -- if at all.   Pride and shame prevent many of these men from coming forward.  Shame of not being seen as a "real" man if they are being physically beaten up or verbally assaulted.   Especially, and in particularly, if their abuser is a woman!     And for our gay brothers ... the blame for being who they are is used to guilt them into staying silent.

So, for the most part,  they all collectively suffer alone.  

But why keep quiet?  Why hide the abuse?  

 

Like women, men go through the same emotional ups and downs, blaming themselves, taking on the responsibility of their partner's abusive behavior.  Men share the same type of shame for allowing it to happen, the same type of guilt for not being good enough and so on.   The same helplessness and hopelessness is shared.   Like women, men who are abused undergo all the above.  However, unlike women, men who are victimized deal  with one additional burden ... gender stereo typing. 

Men who are abused by women often suffer in silence. In addition to the shame shared by many women victims of domestic violence, men must overcome gender stereotypes. 

The emotional scars cannot be seen; and the physical scars are laughed off and/or lied about.  The pain and anguish is compounded when they hear someone say ... "take it like a man!"

Take it like a man -- meaning --  Take your licks and count yourself lucky you are still breathing and able to walk around!  You're a man after all!

Too many of our men have suffered at the hands of their abusers for far too long.  They take the abuse for one reason or another  -- "taking it like a man", as it were, for fear of being seen less than what they truly are. 

*~*~*~*

Growing up, I witnessed domestic violence first hand.   Both parents abusing each other -- verbally and physically.  But whenever the police came ... it was always my father they arrested.  Why?  Because he was the man!  They saw his injuries as something he deserved and/or something he was expected to take.  Adding insult to injury --- they viewed it as my mother defending herself each and every time.  Little did they know (or even cared) ... a good percentage of those injuries my father incurred over the years were due to my mother hitting him first!  And most of the time without little to no provocation!

But daddy took it like the man he was!  And he suffered quietly through the emotional turmoil, through the hurtful and spiteful jabs made by neighbors,  friends and family members.

There were only a few instances where daddy did get physical with mother.  The first incident was when Mother came at him with a butcher knife.  During an attempt to wretch it from her hand, daddy broke her little finger.   The second incident occurred a little over a year later, when she came after him with a baseball bat.  She had swung at him, barely missing his head.  Daddy turned around, grabbed mother and slammed her against a solid wood door, bruising her entire back.  Out of anger, frustration and no doubt abject fear, daddy punched his fist through the closet door.

Though it was in true self-defense, daddy  was arrested for both incidents.   And while I don't condone his actions (and neither did he), I can see why he did it -- why he had to.

When I was grown, I asked my father why he took it.  He told me ... that's what a real man does.  Crying about it makes you weak!  So you take it like a man and keep moving forward--hoping one day it will get better!

And then you have men who go to jail -- for literally not doing anything -- but was incarcerated  for the lies the woman in his life has told.     The law took the woman's side -- even when the man had visible injuries!

*~*~*~*

Working in the legal field, I witnessed a great deal of injustice against men.    One case  that stands out in my mind was "Charles" -- a long time  client and colleague who came to our office early one morning.  His dark handsome face was bruised, his left eye swollen shut, his right arm in a cast.   Every step he made was agony.  He had sustained a broken arm,  several fractured ribs and a sprang ankle.   Looking at him, one would immediately  assume he had been in some kind of auto accident.    Sadly, he was a victim of domestic violence.   

His wife of three years had been  beating him on a regular basis.      While  the physical injuries were, on average, sustained monthly --- the verbal and emotional abuse had been taking place daily  (we found this out during our investigation).

This case happened nearly 16 years ago  and I will never forget what my boss told "Charles" when he came in.  "I hope you packed your tooth brush pal!  'Cause you and I both know you're going to jail today!"  

And he did.   Though his wife never sustained so much as a scratch, and all medical records of his injuries were provided -- "Charles" was sentenced to one year for domestic abuse!

The lies  told were criminal all unto itself.  But the  literal miscarriage of justice in this particular instance was more than unbelievable -- it was unimaginable!

So why was "Charles" jailed for domestic violence?  Most men, by appearance only,  are seen intimidating and/or threatening.     I believe this was the case with "Charles".   I feel and truly believe that because of his nearly seven foot, lean 205 pound  athletic stature, he was deemed threatening to most people and his wife was a mere 5'2 and 98 pounds,  it was always assumed that "Charles" was the abuser.  Because  "Charles" was a man he was always seen as the perpetrator of any and all domestic disputes.

On the flip-side ... his appearance worked against him in other ways.  How so?  Most men (and women) saw  "Charles"  as a wuss, a sissy for allowing the abuse to take place.  After all ... he was the man!  And a giant of a man to boot!

For "Charles" and men like him ... it was a no win situation.

Sadly -- similar (or worse) cases happens all too often.    

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The good news is ... (if you can call it that) the laws are changing.  Albeit ever so slowly.  But they are changing in regards to how domestic violence is being handled by our legal system.

But they can only change and improve if we arm ourselves with knowledge and awareness.    The laws can only change and improve if we ourselves change and improve the way we view one another!

Remembering first and foremost that we are human beings -- men and women.

I urge you to  join together in bringing an end to this type of violence for both genders--irregardless of their sexual orientation!      But most importantly, I ask that all of you -- both ladies and  gentlemen --Keep in mind that men are human beings too!  They are just as vulnerable to the same feelings we women have.   They are  susceptible to the same injuries inflicted as we would be.    They need to know that we do not look down on them for  enduring such atrocities.  We don't see them less than a man for going through these traumas.

And as for you men ...  Stand up and let your voices be heard!

For you macho types ... get over yourselves!  

If you know of anyone -- be they male or female -- Gay, Straight or Bi -- who is living with domestic violence ... please make an effort to help.   I am Not asking you to put your life on the line ... there are people you can call, services you can offer to the abused in ways no one has to know.   But don't just stand there and do nothing!

If you are someone who is currently living with domestic violence ... SPEAK UP!  REACH OUT!   There are people out there ready, willing and able to help you.

If you are a man living with domestic violence or know someone who is ... there are places to go and people who will assist you.   No judgments ... only understanding & compassion.  

Please don't suffer in silence!  

Below I have listed a few sites and resources, as well as articles on male victims of domestic violence.   Pass them along to those in need.     Together we can raise awareness so no one need suffer ever again!

Domestic Violence.   It's Everybody's Business!

Resources:

National Domestic Abuse Hotline:  thehotline.org

1.800.799.SAFE (7233) 1.800.787.3224 (TTY)
Anonymous & Confidential Help 24/7

http://www.menweb.org/battered/ 

http://www.batteredmen.com/bathelp.htm  ~ filled with articles and other resources.

S.A.F.E. (http://www.safe4all.org) concentrates on domestic violence against straight men, gay men, and lesbian women, because few services exist for these groups.

 

Articles of Interest:

http://www.ncdsv.org/publications_malevictims.html

http://menshealth.about.com/od/relationships/a/Battered_Men.htm

http://www.aardvarc.org/dv/malevictims.shtml