Media and campaigns often gravitate toward certain survivors: the young, the innocent, the photogenic. A teenage girl kidnapped by a stranger gets press; a sex worker who is assaulted by a client often does not. Campaigns must be vigilant not to imply that only "perfect" victims deserve justice. Effective awareness requires showcasing diversity of race, gender, socio-economic status, and circumstance.
As Sarah healed, she realized that she wasn't alone. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. The statistics were staggering, and Sarah knew that she had to use her story to raise awareness.
Media and campaigns often gravitate toward certain survivors: the young, the innocent, the photogenic. A teenage girl kidnapped by a stranger gets press; a sex worker who is assaulted by a client often does not. Campaigns must be vigilant not to imply that only "perfect" victims deserve justice. Effective awareness requires showcasing diversity of race, gender, socio-economic status, and circumstance.
As Sarah healed, she realized that she wasn't alone. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. The statistics were staggering, and Sarah knew that she had to use her story to raise awareness.