It's a No Brainer

Recently, my husband came to me with the Valley & State section of the Arizona Republic talking about a DV training program called Empire Gives Back. This is a partnership effort between Empire Education Group and Cut It Out (national DV prevention program) in which students at the Empire Beauty Schools will learn about DV, awareness efforts, and victim support among other things--all supported by Attorney General, Terry Goddard and Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence. That's terrific news! The only part I thought was funny is the "no brainer" comments made by Goddard.

According to Goddard, this partnership is a no brainer because beauticians are most likely to see DV victims and to hear about abuse as they do beauty services on women. Right? Well, many of you are probably thinking yes, of course it's a perfect match.

I might agree, but being someone who colors her own hair (too cheap to pay for salons), does her own nails (clips 'em off due to lazinezz and artistry), and gets a hair cut from her all time favorite gal at Great Clips...that counts me out. As for other women, well yes if they can AFFORD the services and can actually get out of the house. Additionally, this partnership presupposes again that this is a woman's issue.

Let's look at it another way. How about a program called Medicine Has Your Back, in which partnership efforts take place between medical schools, hospitals, and Cut It Out so that quality training is required in the medical community. Okay, so the title needs a little work, but the idea of focusing in this industry has WAY more impact on domestic abuse. Why do I say this? Because doctors are more likely to see a person in crisis than a beautician, not that I am knocking Empire. It's absolutely wonderful; however, hospitals see children, women and men in crisis and are in a great position to help. I return to my mantra that domestic abuse is a human and animal rights issue, not just a female one. Additionally, if the medical industry as a whole would recognize this serious pandemic for what it is and have campaign programs in place that help victims, it might even help their bottom line. Now that to me is a no brainer.

Terry Goddard and Cut It Out
Empire Gives Back