Intimate Partner Violence and Media

John and Linda King are at it again. Reading my mind that is... I've mentioned before how amazing it is that there is media about various issues, but I've never seen more than one or two in my lifetime addressing domestic violence, whether on TV, radio, magazines, or even billboards. When I do, it's only during October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

I am not by any means minimizing the seriousness of breast cancer, because it is common and way too many people suffer from it. I am happy that there is so much awareness about the issue because women do need to learn how to prevent it; however, the same kind of fervor needs to be exercised when it comes to domestic abuse awareness.

Here's the proof: (U. S. stats only)

In 2004 the CDC claims that 186,772 women and 1,815 men developed breast cancer, and 40,954 women and 362 men died from breast cancer. Ouch.

In 2004 the CDC claims that 4.8 million women experience intimate partner related physical assaults and rapes and 2.9 million men are the victims of intimate partner related physical assaults. That same year, 1,544 (75% women) died from IVP or Intimate Partner Violence. IVP means two people in a close relationship. It doesn't include child abuse, elder abuse, animal abuse, teen dating violence, etc.

CDC Breast Cancer Statistic for 2004
CDC IVP Statistic for 2004 (bottom left of first page)

This is why the King's are working hard to bring information to the public. After losing one of their daughters to the IVP statistic, they are finding ways to get the word out. The video in this post is just such an endeavor. Hopefully we will see this message jump from the small screen to the big one.