A Month For Women

It's my first week as the Marketing and Communications intern at CWU, and I can't think of a more empowering time to start than October. This is truly a month for women.

Most of us know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as the commercialization of the pink ribbon is inescapable. From t-shirts to travel mugs, the country is showing its support by toting all kinds of rosy-colored items. Many peple are even walking to raise money for research in the fight against breast cancer. As temperatures are starting to drop, hearts are truly warmed by a sense of unity in banding together to fight such an awful condition.

An equally debilitating circumstance, though, is affecting countless women across the country, many of whom are suffering in silence. October, as not as many may know, is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
In a proclamation made at the beginning of the month, President Obama stated:
[quote]To effectively respond to domestic violence, we must provide assistance and support that meets the immediate needs of victims. Facing social isolation, victims can find it difficult to protect themselves and their children…The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act supports emergency shelters, crisis intervention programs, and community education about domestic violence.[/quote]
Sadly, though, it seems that most of the community education received about domestic violence is through horror stories on the news, like this month's prevalent case of Everett's 26-year-old Sheila Dos Santos, who was allegedly stabbed 33 times by her ex-boyfriend after refusing his advances. All too often in this country women are controlled by their partners. The American Institution on Domestic Violence reports that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women, and that 5.3 million women are abused each year in the US. Doubtlessly there are countless more suffering from domestic violence, as victims are often too frightened to come forward against their abusers.

Just as Breast Cancer Awareness Month is so widely recognized because breast cancer affects every woman in some way, Domestic Violence Awareness Month should be recognized. Just like cancer, domestic abuse knows no race, age or social class. According to the American Cancer Society, about 180,000 people a year are diagnosed with breast cancer. If we all know at least one of these people, what are the chances that we know at least one of the 5.3 victims of domestic violence?

These women are our sisters, our mothers, our neighbors and our friends. Saving a life could be as easy as referring a victim to the National Domestic Violence hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) or simply telling a friend that you're here to listen and that she is strong enough to get help.

So, whether we bundle up in pink, walk for the cure, or speak up and seek help for ourselves or our friends, we can do so much to empower women this October. What will you do?

Briana Scafidi
Marketing & Communications Intern
Crittenton Women’s Union