Shocking. Sobering. Disgusting. These are just a few of the words that come to our minds when reading the news more than half of Juneau’s women have been victims of domestic or sexual violence at some point in their lifetimes.
The numbers become even more appalling the deeper one goes. One of eight women in Juneau have been assaulted — sexually, by an intimate partner — within the last year. Nearly half have been physically brutalized during their lives, and make no mistake, the study found this was true brutality. Hitting. Kicking. Burning. Shoving. Thirty-five percent of Juneau women have endured a sexual assault — a polite term for violence that doesn’t always meet the textbook definition of rape, but causes physical and psychological harm that’s just as awful. Combined, those last two statistics reveal a level of overlap that shows far too many women in the capital city are suffering savagery on two fronts — though where one ends and another begins is hard to say.
This is an epidemic across the state and the nation. The other Alaska cities surveyed in the report from the University of Alaska Anchorage revealed numbers lower than Juneau’s but nearly as revolting. Fifty-two percent of Bristol Bay women reported at least one incident of intimate partner or sexual violence. In Anchorage, the number was 51 percent, Fairbanks 45 percent. One Kansas county briefly stopped filing misdemeanor domestic abuse cases because the sheer number of them was straining an already tight budget. Fortunately, the Shawnee County District Attorney changed his mind, according to a report by Reuters, but the point remains: domestic and sexual abuse are statewide and nationwide problems with not just extensive physical and emotional costs, but financial ones as well.
Like other issues, the problems Juneau is facing when it comes to barbarity against women are best addressed before they manifest themselves in our emergency rooms and our courtrooms. Culturally, domestic abuse and sexual violence are, on the surface, looked at with scorn. However, the numbers indicate far too many people in Juneau either believe it’s OK, or not that serious. Even victims may not have come fully to grips with how unacceptable the horrors they’ve suffered truly are. The UAA report, comprehensive in its scope, states the amount of actual violence is greater than that reported to law enforcement. As a society, we must come to the unanimous conclusion domestic and sexual violence are both morally wrong and criminally wrong.
It seems a tall order, but such cultural shifts have been achieved before. Smoking was an activity nearly half of America’s population partook of at one point, wherever and whenever they wanted. However, as the health risks and financial costs of smoking became widely known, than number was down to 1 person in 5 and the activity became limited to a private one. Drunken driving has similarly gone from being viewed as a harmless indiscretion to now being seen as the life-threatening recklessness it is.
How, then, do we move the needles of perception and understanding in a similar fashion when it comes to domestic and sexual violence? Gov. Sean Parnell’s “Choose Respect” initiative is a good start. The program takes on the problem on three fronts: increasing law enforcement and prosecution efforts, treating and supporting survivors, and, perhaps most importantly, beefing up prevention and education efforts that aim to prevent issues before they begin. Another avenue that shows promise is AWARE’s “Girls on the Run” campaign. The public may know this campaign by its final yearly event, a 5K race featuring 150-200 girls. However, that fun run is just the culmination of a 12-week, 24-session curriculum of activities that aims to instill values of self-esteem and healthy living in girls ages 8-14. Hopefully, girls that participate in the program will leave it knowing abuse and violence are not elements of healthy relationships. We’re hopeful the UAA report will encourage the growth of those programs, and spawn new ones as well.
If you find yourself in need of help to escape domestic violence or sexual assault, or know someone who may be suffering through these horrors, please call Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies, or AWARE, at 586-1090. This organization can also provide aid to men and children. And, of course, calling 911 is an option if the need for help is immediate.
Mayor Bruce Botelho said the fact 55 percent of females in the capital city have suffered brutality at some point in their lives “should be shocking to the conscience of the community,” a fact we wholeheartedly agree with. Oftentimes, we as a society have the unfortunate habit of waiting for a shocking event to occur before taking definite action against a problem that has been a long time coming. It’s awful we as a community have let the problem get to this point. Let’s use this study to shock us into action, instead of waiting for the awful event this report tells us is coming.
Comments (19)
Add commentI'm not so sure...
I just find the results of that poll difficult to believe. No violence is acceptable, but the numbers they're reporting just don't pass the sniff test. I'd like to see some validation of those results using a different study methodology.
I think it's accurate...
I grew up in Juneau and I've always said and been amazed that most of my female friends experienced some sort of abuse. Just because it isn't reported or talked about publicly doesn't mean it isn't happening - daily.
Have to agree with julay. It
Have to agree with julay. It doesn't pass the sniff test unless you're a woman or know a lot of women, and I, too, was surprised that so many of my female acquaintances, friends, and family members had been victims of various assaults.
Animal violence a clear link with domestic violence
I am not able to comment in an expert way about the causes and challenges pertaining to human-on-human violence.
Evolutionary psychology is offering thought provoking opinions but this is a relatively young discipline and it will likely be some time before policy based on this science is widely available.
I do have a layman interest in organizations that combat domestic violence. In particular those groups which recognize the link between non-human animal abuse and later or concurrent domestic violence in society.
And now as to why I am commenting...
The gargantuan bugaboo that I am really creeped out about is, or rather was, the Parnell Administration's Law Department action not too long ago regarding violence. They took a pro-active, unhelpful stance regarding House Bill 6. I got a lot of heat from acquaintances who knew those in charge at the Dept. of Law stating the individuals were good people. Housebill 6 addressed animal violence (sexual violence) done by humans.
This isn't about who is good or who is bad in the Parnell Administration. This is about actions and words that are publically verifiable.
Good people or not, they chose to, and this is the kicker, actively not support House Bill 6 in 2010. The State could have remained silent, but no, they chose to be actively unhelpful with their comments in the press. I'd like to understand their rationale, but to date, have been unable to without resorting to private speculations.
Anyway, like I said, I am no expert. But Alaska needs to start thinking outside the box considering our inglorious bastardization of what should be peaceful and prosperous environments: our homes. There is a clear link between abusing pets and then abusing humans. In fact, it's called, The Link.
My suggestion? The State (and I speak of the citizenry here[even primarily]), cannot but have a vested interest in not turning a blind eye when there is evidence that minors have committed violence towards non-human animals, particulary domestic animal companions which by definition require human oversight for their survival.
That's my nickel on this complex issue and while there are, I'm sure, many other ways to understand and thwart mankind's less desirable impulses, I'll leave those approaches to the experts. I am very saddened to see our community experiencing such a problem that is possibly even more widespread than reported considering the sampling data was limited.
Mike
It goes both ways.Just look
It goes both ways.Just look at the police logs!
Everything goes both ways. It
Everything goes both ways. It just happens to go one way rather moreso than the other.
a new study
maybe A study on how many men have been in an abusive relationship. Partner on Partner violence should never be an option.
Just an old guy
Maybe the problem is that younger people don't realize that at some point in life one has to "grow up." Of course I know that I am perfect, never made a mistake in my life, never done anything wrong. But being in close, daily contact with another real person, suddenly at times I have been confronted with the fact that I am not perfect or all-knowing.
As a child, from what my siblings have told me, I was a "problem" because I got angry and vented my feelings on others. Then over the years, they tell me that I sort of "grew up." Now they accept me for who I am.
The response some have, as far as I can tell, is to accuse and attack those who make us realize that we are not perfect. That is a childish response. To me, some folks just have to grow up and accept the real world and themselves as they are.
How others grow up is up to them. But in the meantime, they need to be shown that they are not perfect, and have to learn to control their behavior.
I was always taught that if
I was always taught that if you want to be treated like a king, treat your wife like a queen, not the scullery maid.
Still skeptical
"One of eight women in Juneau have been assaulted — sexually, by an intimate partner — within the last year."
That's the claim that I find most hard to swallow.
It's the end of the day and as I look at the figures
atop the page, this Empire Editorial (commanding prime real estate) holds neither the top viewed nor top commented positions.
Having noticed that, I'm not sure what I would feel if I were a battered woman or displaced child lying on a cot.
Mike
The stats are real.
I was sexually assaulted twice before the age of 18. The statistics are real. No one talks about it, which is why some of you are skeptical.
kpawsuh......
wise words, friend.
There is a lot more here than meets the eye...
Since I have lived in quite a few places, I have noticed that the boy/girl relationship thing in Juneau is very much out of whack. Ask any single guy in Juneau. We don't ask for directions, and we don't whine very much about our bad experiences with women. It just isn't guy-like. As a guy here, I feel very much abused. It seems to me, that a very high percentage of women here are very aggressive about manipulating men in a number of ways, and the number of single women who desire romance in a kind, loving, supporting relationship with men are virtually nil. Most single women do not relate directly to men, instead, they seem to relate to our status, or our perceived status in a clique. Who we are and our romantic qualities does not seem to matter; it is 'what we have to offer' that is judged. In romance, our net value is not our net worth. It seems that most women in Juneau either want a Tier I sugardaddy with a house out by the glacier, or they want Jagermeister with Red Bull and a hook up with a 'bad guy' and be ridden hard and put away wet. There seems to be a raunchy 'bad' attitude about sex in Juneau amongst singles, and the social uses of alcohol seem to be misunderstood. I just don't see romantic women who want to get sensitive in Juneau.
Well loved men don't beat their women. Perhaps if women respected the respectful men in town we could work something out. I see the whole town of Juneau as being pretty cliquey and intolerant. People do not mix here very well, and it is very difficult for people to get out of their social cliques to meet or date.
The women who have related to me the best and shown the most respect for me have all been either married, or with a stable partner. It is no accident they were in good relationships, as good women are well respected in Juneau, and there are good men around who appreciate them.
I think these statistics are just a sign that there is a social problem going on here. These statistics indicate to me that many women are not picking up the right men, and that men in Juneau are under a lot of stress.
Spoorprint, was there a particular sentence in the article
that triggered your comment? The sentence in your comment that triggered me to respond was this one:
"single women who desire romance in a kind, loving, supporting relationship with men are virtually nil."
Mike
Well, Mike...
This article, which is related to a previous article and the 'Choose Respect' thing - all these media releases in my opinion are off base and are missing the point. In a way, they are shooting the messenger. While violence against women is a problem that needs to be worked on, everybody, including women, need to look at the cause of the problem. NOBODY is even thinking of that. It may sound unusual, but if women respected men in Juneau this town would be a much more comfortable place for all of us to live in. I have never lived in any town where women show such a lack of respect for men. Sorry, it is just my observation. Believe me, I am sorry to see it.
To be fair, there are a lot of guys around who have some issues, but that may be an issue for a different article - the point I am making right now is there are more facets to this problem than are being discussed currently.
I don't want to get down on the good women in Juneau. They are even more important in this kind of situation, there are just not enough of them. In general, Juneau is a very materialistic & egotistic place, and the humanities really do take a back seat here. Culture, quality of life issues, intrinsic qualities of people and environment are of secondary importance to status and monetary values in Juneau. Most people in Juneau think quality of life IS money... It really isn't - it is what you do with it...
Spoorprint, thanks for clarifying
I agree that there are many facets to domestic violence. I proposed one myself: the link between boys abusing animals and then later abusing women.
Can we both agree that is it never ok for a town to have even a 1% rate of violence towards women much less the 51% this article demonstrates?
Mike
Spoorprint
It sounds to me like you're victim-blaming. I'm sorry if your love-life is in the [filtered word], but you are in no way qualified to judge all 15,000 women (give or take) who currently live in Juneau. I don't know what this lack of respect is (I certainly don't see it), but unless it is very harsh treatment, I don't see how it would contribute to violence against women.
The thing I keep coming back to...
I think people don't respect one another enough and I think it can be worse in larger towns where you don't know the people you pass in the grocery store. I don't think the issue is Juneau women. I think respect for everyone no matter who they are (and yes what social status they are) is the biggest thing I see missing in our society.
The thing I keep coming back to is that breaking the cycle is the most important thing and to do that I think we need to focus on our children. If children can be taught to respect one another no matter what, I think it would go a long way towards bringing these numbers down... The "Choose Respect" campaign is a start for awareness, but I'd also like to see a more substantial program that teaches these lessons.