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In honor of October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month my girlfriend Jackie Young wrote a post linking my original post on October first on why we should inform as many people as we can about domestic violence. I went to her website and read a poem she wrote back in 2007 and it made me mad. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not her fault, the circumstances are what made me made. Here’s the poem:
regifting
there once was a girl with a bum leg
cause she didn’t move to do what he said
he tried to push her out a window
she told the punk she wouldn’t go
and gifted him with a pan upside the head
I believe that the whole pretty on the outside mentality is what leads us to believe that we have to be slammed up against a wall to really be able to call it abuse or that it’s not really abuse if we have all of our teeth and if patches of hair aren’t pulled out of our heads from the root. But let me not back track, or trample on her poem. Click here to read the story behind the poem. Just remember, there are some pretty, polished dime pieces out there who are hurting and have been abused. They are empty shells that are dripping with the finer things in life (or sometimes not) and have been left brainwashed into thinking that as long as they don’t “look” they are being abused, then they have the white picket fence. Let’s stop fooling ourselves. Abuse is abuse whether you’re hit or emotionally or financially manipulated. Let’s stop thinking that all abuse leaves VISIBLE bruises.
Our website THE PLURALTHING.COM is a ministry that teaches singles and couples how to love better and work through issues. Join, read articles and dialog with others who may be in the same situation as you. You can also log on to the sister site LOVEBETTERCAMP.COM and read our Monday Morning series that also has spiritually uplifting articles that teaches us how to love better as well, not just in romantic relationship but between friends, sisters, brothers, children and more. You can also support our ministry by purchasing one of our Love Better Promise Bracelets, which is also a reminder as you wear it this October to Love Better not just for Domestic Violence Awareness Month but ALL YEAR LONG! CLICK to Get Yours HERE for only $3.95 (includes shipping).
Here is how YOU can help: Leave a comment below. Share the link of this post on your Facebook update throughout the month of October. Follow some new people on Twitter and tweet the link of this post to them throughout the month of October. Email this link to your friends.
I sooooo miss giving out purple ribbons in October. I used to when I was working a regular 9 to 5. I would pin them on my co-workers who didn’t know what purple ribbons were for. Of course when you have celebrities behind other causes it makes them more prominent, but who ever came out and said, I’m the spokesperson for domestic violence because, yes, my husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, beats me, mentally abuses me, sexually abuses me, financially abuses and manipulates me. Nobody, really. Well, Juanita Bynum did. She came out about it a little bit after her then husband Thomas Weeks III stomped her senseless in a parking lot in 2007 and when this was a pop culture website instead of the fashion website it is today, I blogged about it and got over 5,000 hits that morning alone. Mind you, she had the bruises to prove it.
She did the whole talk show circuit thing and I kept writing about it here and it got a lot of national attention, and then it faded away and people stopped talking about it again. It always amazes me that things are always fads with people. They wanted to reconcile, they wanted to divorce and although we were all on the outside looking in, as a psychology major pursuing a degree in relationship and martial counseling I always said they needed The Plural Thing, but others said they didn’t need to be together in the first place. Here is what happened in case you hadn’t heard:
August 23, 2007 – Juanita Bynum a televangelist who has won a national following with sermons about women’s empowerment, was badly bruised in a fight with her estranged husband as they met in an attempt to reconcile, police said.
No charges were filed in connection with the confrontation between Bynum and preacher Thomas W. Weeks II, founder of Global Destiny churches, police said Thursday.
The fight happened early Wednesday in the parking lot of the Renaissance Concourse Hotel near Atlanta’s airport, and a hotel bellman pulled Weeks off Bynum, Officer Ronald Campbell said.
“She was bruised up and battered,” Campbell told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “She had purple bruising around her neck and upper torso.”
People overlook domestic violence awareness month every year and every year I promise not to get disgruntled about it. To me it’s not a contest to support one cause over another, it’s just that domestic violence is the black sheep, the thing people won’t talk about, or refuse to acknowledge or pray will go away if they cook dinner well enough, or vacuum and light fragrant candles and let a cool breeze in right before he comes home from work. I won’t get disgruntled. I’ll simply do a post ever year and get people talking about it in some way like they talk about everything else. I realize that when we don’t talk about things, it happens again and again. Here’s Rihanna below. Even a Pop Star and all of her fame and brand name Balenciaga boots unfortunately doesn’t make her immune. I believe we need to not just teach people the signs, but show them how to get out when they see them.
She loved him, she dealt with it. You don’t have to. You shouldn’t. You’re better than that, no matter what he or she tells you. No matter how sorry he or she is afterwards. The next beating could KILL YOU!
Purple is the color of abuse because it represents the bruises from the beatings and pain of abuse. If I do one thing today via this post I want it to be to make other people aware. If you know someone who is being abused, don’t sit by and do nothing. Tell somebody. If you are being abused, get out. There is help. Don’t worry about where you will live or what you will lose in the process. Let him or her have the house, the car or the family summer home or even the big screen tv even if it’s the only big ticket item you’ve ever bought in your life.
People you would never imagine are silently abused and never tell. Maybe they are housewives whose husbands pay all the bills and never wanted them to work so they could have that kind of control over them. Maybe they’re ill or emotionally in a vulnerable situation, whatever the case you deserve better. Here are some stats of the prevalence of domestic violence in the United States from EndAbuse.org:
On average more than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States. In 2005, 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner.2
In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published data collected in 2005 that finds that women experience two million injuries from intimate partner violence each year.3
Nearly one in four women in the United States reports experiencing violence by a current or former spouse or boyfriend at some point in her life.4
Women are much more likely than men to be victimized by a current or former intimate partner.5 Women are 84 percent of spouse abuse victims and 86 percent of victims of abuse at the hands of a boyfriend or girlfriend and about three-fourths of the persons who commit family violence are male.6
There were 248,300 rapes/sexual assaults in the United States in 2007, more than 500 per day, up from 190,600 in 2005. Women were more likely than men to be victims; the rate for rape/sexual assault for persons age 12 or older in 2007 was 1.8 per 1,000 for females and 0.1 per 1,000 for males.7
The United States Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that 3.4 million persons said they were victims of stalking during a 12-month period in 2005 and 2006. Women experience 20 stalking victimizations per 1,000 females age 18 and older, while men experience approximately seven stalking victimizations per 1,000 males age 18 and older.8
Our website THE PLURALTHING.COM is a ministry that teaches singles and couples how to love better and work through issues. Join, read articles and dialog with others who may be in the same situation as you. You can also log on to the sister site LOVEBETTERCAMP.COM and read our Monday Morning series that also has spiritually uplifting articles that teaches us how to love better as well, not just in romantic relationship but between friends, sisters, brothers, children and more. You can also support our ministry by purchasing one of our Love Better Promise Bracelets, which is also a reminder as you wear it this October to Love Better not just for Domestic Violence Awareness Month but ALL YEAR LONG! CLICK to Get Yours HERE for only $3.95 (includes shipping).
Here is how YOU can help: Leave a comment below. Share the link of this post on your Facebook update throughout the month of October. Follow some new people on Twitter and tweet the link of this post to them throughout the month of October. Email this link to your friends.
New York (March 31, 2009) — Eighty percent of young women in the United States say they have little or no knowledge of lupus, according to a national online survey released today by the Ad Council.
In an effort to raise awareness of lupus among women who are at greatest risk for the disease, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health is joining the Ad Council to launch a national multimedia public service advertising (PSA) campaign to address the disease.
The campaign is being unveiled this morning by Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H and model Mercedes Yvette in the Great Hall at HHS and the PSAs will be distributed to media outlets nationwide this week.
Lupus is a serious national health problem, affecting as many as one of every 200 Americans, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Ninety percent of those with the disease are women and it is three times more common among minority women.
As a chronic autoimmune disease, lupus causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the body’s own healthy cells and tissue as though they were foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses. It is one of the least recognized diseases and one of the most difficult to diagnose. It is an inflammatory disease that can attack many body systems.
The new PSA campaign primarily aims to reach minority women of childbearing age (18 to 44), who are at greatest risk for lupus. The objective is to help these women understand the disease and its effects and help them identify early warning signs so they can ask their doctor for a medical evaluation.
“Despite its prevalence in the United States, lupus is rarely discussed and often misunderstood among women in our country,” said Dr. Wanda K. Jones, deputy assistant secretary for women’s health at HHS. “Through this campaign with the Ad Council, we can significantly increase awareness and help women achieve early diagnosis, which will give them the greatest chance for improved health and long-term survival.”
Without intervention, lupus can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, disability, and in many cases, death. The disease can have a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, hair loss, painful or swollen joints, fever, skin rashes and kidney problems. However, in the majority of people who are living with lupus, early and effective treatment can minimize symptoms, reduce inflammation and pain, help maintain normal functions and prevent the development of serious complications.
“I took my symptoms seriously and was able to get diagnosed and start treatment early. As a result, I’ve been able to lead a healthy life,” explains Yvette, a Lupus Foundation of America spokesperson. “Taking care of myself is all about finding the right balance – the right doctors, the right meds, the right people and the right workout.”
“Our research found that lupus is not listed among the top health concerns for women and many have minimal knowledge of the disease,” said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. “By increasing the level of awareness and understanding about lupus and its symptoms, we can encourage women to seek a medical evaluation early so they can take control of the disease and reduce their risk for serious complications. We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for this critical campaign.”
The Ad Council’s survey found that only 18 percent of women are personally concerned about lupus. The majority of respondents expressed concern about other health-related conditions, including cancer (67 percent), depression (61 percent), high blood pressure (58 percent), diabetes (57 percent) and arthritis (52 percent). Furthermore, approximately 29 percent could not correctly define lupus as an autoimmune disease, and 31 percent were not aware that women of childbearing age are most at risk.
Created pro bono by Los Angeles-based ad agency Muse Communications, the campaign includes television, radio, print, outdoor and Web advertising, which will all be available in Spanish. The new ads feature real women in the target audience who have been diagnosed with lupus. They portray women who are experiencing symptoms of the disease but have not yet asked their doctors, “Could I have lupus?”
The PSAs conclude with the tagline, “For answers. For support. For hope.” and direct women to visit a new interactive and comprehensive Web site, www.couldIhavelupus.gov, or call a toll-free number (1-800-994-9662) to learn more about the symptoms and treatment options for lupus and access local resources. The site, which is also available in Spanish, encourages visitors to upload their personal stories and post comments in an effort to initiate a dialogue about the disease among the target audiences.
“The Diaries’ creative is a special body of work that starts and ends with the women that are affected by Lupus,” said Jo Muse, executive chairman and creative director “They spoke to us so deeply and we just wanted the messages to ring true and be impactful.”
Beginning this week, an integrated social media program will extend the reach of the PSA campaign on popular social networking sites and blogs frequented by women.
Also, the Ad Council and HHS’ Office on Women’s Health are engaging a series of campaign partners in the federal government and nonprofit sectors to further the reach of the messages to their groups and members. These include the Lupus Foundation of America (founding partner), Alliance for Lupus Research, American College of Rheumatology, The Black Women’s Health Imperative, Center for Lupus Care, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hispanic Federation, Lupus Alliance of America, Lupus Support Group, Lupus Research Institute National Coalition, National Institutes of Health, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association, S.L.E. Lupus Foundation and The Wright Group.
The new PSAs and Web sites have been researched extensively and tested with women in the target audiences. The ads are being distributed to approximately 33,000 media outlets nationwide. Per the Ad Council’s model, all of the ads will air and run in advertising time and space donated by the media.
Campaign launch activities will continue throughout the next several months to coincide with Mother’s Day and Lupus Awareness Month, which is May.
The online survey was commissioned by the Ad Council and HHS and conducted in partnership with Greenfield Online from Feb. 28 to March 8, 2009. The sample consisted of 430 women between the ages of 18 and 44 who had never been diagnosed or treated for lupus. Respondents were part of households that are members of a large national opt-in panel managed by Greenfield Online. The Greenfield panel is nationally representative of the U.S. online population. Preset sampling specifications were set to ensure a nationally representative sample of women, reflecting a range of demographic groups.
OWH
The Office on Women’s Health (OWH) was established in 1991 within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its Vision is to ensure that “All Women and Girls are Healthier and Have a Better Sense of Well Being.” Its mission is to “provide leadership to promote health equity for women and girls through sex/gender-specific approaches.” The strategy OWH uses to achieve its mission and vision is through the development of innovative programs, by educating health professionals, and motivating behavior change in consumers through the dissemination of health information.
The Advertising Council
The Ad Council (www.adcouncil.org) is a private, non-profit organization that marshals talent from the advertising and communications industries, the facilities of the media, and the resources of the business and non-profit communities to produce, distribute and promote public service campaigns on behalf of non-profit organizations and government agencies in issue areas such as improving the quality of life for children, preventive health, education, community well-being, environmental preservation and strengthening families.
Muse Communications
Muse Communications is an independent multicultural agency. The agency services clients in various industries, including health care, automotive, banking, insurance, government agencies and beverages. Muse resides in Hollywood, Calif. For more information contact Muse at (323) 960-4080 or visit www.museusa.com.
Dig out that Bridesmaid dress, donate it to a worthy cause and have a blast at Project Bridesmaids, a new kind of event from Modern Bride on Saturday, March 7 at Hammerstein Ballroom. Project Bridesmaids benefits Planet Hope. Your lovingly worn bridesmaid dress gets you a full day of fashion shows, incredible giveaways, makeovers, refreshments, discount shopping, a chance to win a trip to Barbados and other great prizes! And the first 500 guests get a great swag bag full of goodies!
Saturday, March 7
Hammerstein Ballroom
311 West 34th Street, NYC
12-5 PM
Planet Hope will distribute donated dresses for prom 2009 to students at several schools across the country, including New York City’s Frederick Douglass Academy and A.Philip Randolph Campus High School. Don’t have a Bridesmaid dress? Small suggested donations are accepted as well. Created by actress Sharon Stone and her sister, Kelly, Planet Hope, provides hope for a better life by providing new clothing for kids, counseling and image makeovers for homeless women and for women who have been victims of domestic violence. For more information, just click here.
March 10, 2009 is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. I found out about it at The Red Pump Project. If you’ve got a pair of red pumps christen them today or host your own Red Pump Happy Hour in your city. It’s about spreading knowledge and saving lives.
From The Red Pump Project:
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is Tuesday, March 10th. It’s a nationwide initiative to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women & girls and encourages ladies to take action. While progress has definitely been made in the areas of AIDS prevention and treatment, women still represent 27% of all new AIDS diagnoses, with African-American women accounting for 66% of that group.
October 19, 2009 | Posted by princess dominique 
Categories: worthy cause | 
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