Domestic Violence is Deadly

It is time for my annual post about Domestic Violence. Some may classify it as a rant but really, it isn't. What it really is is an attempt to open people's eyes. Educate people about something that isn't talked about nearly enough. To make the struggles women have bigger than their breasts and the ubiquitous pink that is more prevalent than even Pumpkin Spice EVERYTHING. Okay, maybe there is a little ranting but not much, I promise.

Domestic Violence Awareness month began as a "Day of Unity" in 1981. It was aimed as connecting advocates who work to end the violence against women and their children. It was a nation-wide observance that evolved into week and focused on:

• Mourning those who have died because of Domestic Violence
• Celebrating those who have survived
• Connecting those who work together to end violence

Fast-forward 6 years to October 1987 and the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The "Day of Unity" is still celebrated, now on the first Monday of October (this year it is October 5).

The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer during her lifetime is a little less than 1 in 8, but the likelihood of a woman being the victim of domestic violence is 1 in  4 - so twice as many women suffer at the hands of an intimate partner as do from breast cancer. Viewed through a different lens, not quite a quarter of million will get breast cancer, but 1.3 million will suffer at the hands of an intimate partner.

I am not trying to say that breast cancer is easy. Or should be forgotten or break-throughs neglected. What I am trying to say is that women are stronger when they are helping other women and a wonderful way to do that is to bring attention to domestic violence so that it decreases. When Susan G. Komen's family started advocating for breast cancer research and a cure it was a much more devastating disease. But pink-lidded yogurt and pink-ribboned NFL teams have opened many eyes - think what a wave of purple can do to open eyes to Domestic Violence!

While inundated with pink this month give a little thought to her cousin, purple. Wear purple on the 6th for Purple Day - any shade will work. And while you are building camaraderie and increasing awareness on your breast cancer walk, share some domestic violence facts with those who may not know. And maybe one day we will be celebrating that Domestic Violence has been cut in half. Maybe. One day.