Beyond Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By Heather Luster Staff Writer October has now passed, which means Domestic Violence Awareness Month has come to an end. However, conversations surrounding domestic violence should not come to an end with it. As I look back on the month, I realize how many people and resources - on and off campus - I became aware of, along with their events. There was the SHAPE Domestic Violence Resource Fair, local 5K’s, and a collective of wearing purple on Oct. 15 in support of survivors. Domestic violence is often discussed as something that happens in a home environment, but it is equally as important to discuss its presence in college communities and relationships. Many students are navigating relationships for the first time, and not being aware of the signs of unhealthy or dangerous relationships can lead to suffering. As a survivor myself, I find this topic is not spoken of enough. At first thought, many people assume that domestic violence refers to only physical abuse. But what many people don’t know is it includes stalking, financial, sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse as well. A lot of times, these types of abuse are interconnected and can occur together. This is what sometimes makes it so difficult to realize someone is the victim of domestic violence. They’ll think to themselves that because they aren’t covered in bruises or experiencing physical harm, they are not the victim of abuse. However, abuse doesn’t need to leave physical marks on someone's body to leave a lasting impact. The scars that domestic violence leaves are more deeply rooted in the mind, heart, and never-ending thoughts of “Why did this happen?” When I experienced domestic violence, it took me way too long to realize I was being abused prior to things getting physical. There were plenty of signs that things would lead to where they went - I just didn't know what to look for. By the time I realized what I was going through, I felt like I was alone and no one would understand. I also had no idea who to turn to or where to go. I felt no one would believe me and I could solve things on my own. Now, five years later, I look back at my younger self and wish I could have told her about the resources that surrounded her and how supportive people would’ve been. This is why being aware of resources, educating ourselves, and knowing where to turn before finding ourselves in these situations is important. Even if you think you may never end up in that position, someone you know might. As a society, we have become better at bringing focus to certain topics with awareness days, weeks, and months. However, I tend to notice many of these topics get put on the back burner as soon as they have passed. Domestic violence is not a problem that occurs in October and disappears as the month ends. This is a problem that unfortunately continues to appear during the remaining 11 months of the year. Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time to bring attention and education to the signs of abuse, ways to support survivors, and where to turn should you ever find yourself or someone you care about in an abusive relationship. Awareness should not be something we only participate in when the calendar and social media make it prevalent. Survivors and victims deserve resources, support, and awareness all year long. So, even though October is over, I encourage people to continue learning, understanding, and engaging in the awareness and conversations surrounding domestic violence.