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I’m very passionate about domestic violence awareness as I am personally a survivor of emotional and physical abuse. I’ve seen the court system firsthand when attempting to get a restraining order against my abuser. It was quite the struggle and jumping through hoops just to obtain a temporary restraining order. I almost gave up because I felt betrayed by the system I’m supposed to have faith in. I don’t want anyone else to feel that way.
It is critical to go over some of the domestic violence news that never really received the coverage it deserves and very much needs to spread awareness. Here are some of the disturbing domestic violence statistics:
- Every 9 seconds a woman is assaulted or beaten around the world (1).
- Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury among women around the world (2).
- Domestic violence victims in the United States alone lose nearly 8 million days of work, equivalent to 32,000 full-time jobs (3).
- According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates approximately 27.5% of males are victims of violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives (4).
Shay Martinez, a 29-year old woman, was brutally beaten by her boyfriend and sustained injuries so bad that they ended up killing her (5). He threw her about 10 feet across his bedroom which was reported to have concrete floors. She immediately started snoring and gushing blood.
It was reported this happened at about 5 a.m. on Sunday, September 10, 2017. He put her to bed and never checked on her again until 3 p.m. She was unresponsive with a pulse. She died on September 12, 2017 from injuries sustained from the abuse. The boyfriend was charged with first-degree domestic abuse assault and bond was set at $250,000. Assault in the first degree in the state of Oregon carries up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $375,000.
While the case isn’t your typical murder case, it doesn’t mean her boyfriend didn’t kill her. He admitted throwing her and she died a few days later from the injuries she obtained through the physical abuse.
So, why is this man not being charged with a more serious crime that could carry life in prison? He robbed this woman of her life. And he gets up to 20 years and the judge gives a bond? Doesn’t sound like the road to justice.
Another case involving Joshua Miller and ex-girlfriend Gekyma Robinson who have a child together named Jordan. On June 6, 2017 Miller’s ex-girlfriend was arrested on the suspicion she had assaulted Miller. She was witnessed hitting Miller over the head with a child guitar and yelling about rent. Thankfully, Miller and his son were granted an order for emergency protection for both Miller and his son.
Miller found a men’s domestic violence shelter and eventually moved into transitional
housing. The shelter is the only shelter for male domestic abuse victims in all of Texas. It is important to note that his ex-girlfriend is not in jail. I am unsure as to whether or not fines were issued at this time.
A case manager at the men’s domestic violence shelter believes there aren’t many services for men experiencing domestic violence because of gender norms as well as others finding it difficult to believe male victims (6). Male victims from the shelter have also reported that they are taught from a young age to not show or express their emotions.
It’s about time we come together and start treating each other as equals. Men and women experience similar feelings and emotions and no one should ever be looked down upon for expressing themselves. Rather than society blaming woman and men for what they deem to be true, it is long overdue that the justice system be just and fair when sentencing. We all know it happens, it’s time we take a stand for it and use our voices for good reason.
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