Students and teachers have whispered and talked about the media blitz of domestic violence stories. The media runs these stories of professional athletes beating their wives with gripping headlines and footage, yet these are real lives. How is this truly promoting intelligent conversations about such a terrible issue? There is a vital need for educational courses on the subject.
“I love the fact that the media is talking about domestic violence, but what I really don’t like is how they are talking about it,” Dr. Amy Persichetti assistant professor of English, said.
Persichetti understands the value of creating an open forum for students and members of the Cabrini community to voice their opinions on hot topics. She co-hosted a forum, named “How the NFL dropped the Ball on Domestic Violence,” earlier this semester with her colleague, Dr. Michele Filling-Brown.
“I think that Janay Rice was the perfect victim and the worst possible person to be in the spotlight,” Persichetti said.
The bold statement is made because the NFL wife is “Illustrating that a lot of people who experience domestic violence don’t call it domestic violence. They tend to blame themselves and apologize for their behaviors.”
Discussing issues of famous people dealing with domestic abuse creates a passionate conversation, but students may believe that they are detached from the issue entirely. This does not include me, right?
Persichetti has found that between 25 to 44 percent of people experience domestic violence in a relationship.
If students are still wondering how this issue affects them, Perischetti added that 75 percent of students know somebody who has been in an abusive relationship.
The media portrays celebrities and athletes who have been victims of tragedy, yet what about victims on campus that we see every day?
It could be a girl buying coffee at Jazzman’s. It could be a guy who sits in your history class. It could be anyone.
Persichetti has been teaching a domestic violence course as part of the Engagements with the Common Good curriculum for eight years.
She believes that domestic violence in this age group should be referred to as intimate partner violence.
Dating violence is not limited to physical fighting and abuse as it is the “Physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse of a dating partner.”
Students between the ages of 18-24 are at the highest risk for dating violence. Persichetti explains that students learn from the media and their friends and do not think that anything is wrong with their relationship. They will come up with justifications.
“The number one tell-tale sign of an abusive relationship is jealousy.”
Envy may not be as tangible as a black and blue mark on the skin, yet it is a complex form of control.
“Jealousy is a really weird thing because we are taught or we are socialized to believe that when somebody is jealous, it’s because they love us,” Persichetti said.
However, there is a fine line. Signs of dating violence include partners that “Diminish the ideas and feelings” of their boyfriends or girlfriends and isolation.
“Isolation is huge. We’ve all had that friend that falls in love and falls off the face of the earth.” Perscihetti explains that these friends come back, but what is alarming is the relationships in which “The people tending to be abused tend to be very insular.”
In the ECG class, students are taught about domestic violence, the control wheel and how abusers “Establish dominance,” Perchietti said.
The class works with a community partner, namely a domestic violence shelter.
“The most important facet of the class is that we partner with Laurel House.”
Perischetti explains that students conduct their own research studies each semester. There have been 17 completed studies from which detailed conclusions can be drawn.
“While we are learning all the theoretical underpinnings of domestic violence and the societal structures that permit and encourage it, we also research what is really happening.”
Students are no longer certified to become crisis counselors, yet they follow the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence Manual or JARS which stands for Justice, Autonomy, Restoration and Safety.
“It’s the training manual that all domestic advocates in the state of Pennsylvania follow,” Persichetti said.
The course covers important topics such as legal options and the empowerment of victims.
Persichetti recognizes that the class is very successful due to the strong partnership with Laurel House, the domestic violence shelter located in Norristown.
“They have provided so much expertise and so much on- the- ground feedback about what they experience in the field. It’s invaluable. We couldn’t do it without Laurel House.”
The students can become invested in the issue and implement lessons to help others in domestic violence situations.
“I think it’s almost impossible to sit through a class and not learn something,” Persichetti said.
“It’s so relevant. Sometimes when you talk about global warming or water issues these things seem abstract, but domestic violence is unfortunately something that we have to deal with one way or another as a victim or a friend.”
Domestic violence courses are unique in terms of education. However education on these crucial and painful topics is essential for ending the cycle of violence. Persichetti elaborates that students can learn the warning signs and know what is right or wrong.
“We know that children who witness their parents’ domestic abuse on one another are more likely to become victims or perpetrators.
Yet Cabrini’s social justice curriculum fosters a “Natural place in the curriculum.”
Otherwise, “For other colleges they would have these classes in social work and psychology classes.”
Therefore, the Engagements with the Common Good courses are relevant and everyone is able to experience the topics.
Senior exercise science major Jill Megna said, “The Dating and Domestic Violence class opened my eyes to a world in which I had never been exposed to prior. I was so grateful for the healthy relationships in which I had been exposed to over my life. From the class I was inspired to take the next step outside of the classroom. My organization P.in.K and I volunteered with Laurel House, a safe home from those in which have experienced domestic violence. Any small steps, whether awareness or support can help save a life.”
Persichetti explains that in a world of social media and constant connection, “It’s a really complex world to try and date.”
“I can’t do my job without students and students have to be front and center with these discussions. Culture has changed a lot. The ways that people are able to trace people now and find them, it’s a really frightening world.”
Persichetti speaks about how abuse is “Custom designed” and that it takes an average of seven times until a person leaves an abusive dating relationship.
Perschetti is disturbed by recent media reports and has seen women’s issues have been relegated and are not making as much progress.”
Just as dating violence is relevant on campus, sexual assaults are occurring and must be addressed.
“I see the there is a huge emphasis right now on student sexual assault and reporting. That’s not necessarily connected to domestic violence, yet we have to have a policy in place . I know a lot of people on campus who are actively working on it.”
The ECG class is an excellent option for students to receive an education on such relevant and controversial topics. The need for an education on domestic violence issues is evident as there are issues on college campuses, national scandals and personal experiences alike.
“I think that every time we have an incident like the Ray Rice incident, it’s proven to us again and again why we need classes like this.”
