Celebrities Fight against Domestic Violence

                Missy Elliott is a rap star who is using her fame for a good cause.  In 2004 Missy Elliott became the national spokesperson for Break the Cycle a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing violence against young people (Domestic, 2004).  The issue hit home because Missy witnessed her father physically abuses her mother as a child.  “Growing up, I saw my mother being abused by my father.  At the time, I didn't know what I could do or who I could turn to for help. I promised myself that if I ever had the chance, I'd use my voice to tell kids that they have a place to go, that help is available from organizations like Break the Cycle." said Elliott (Domestic, 2004). 

                Missy hopes to raise 5 million dollars by putting on a benefit concert called “Where my girls at?”  The money will provide young people ages 12 to 22 with free counseling, advocacy, and legal services. Missy’s upcoming CD This Is Not a Test! Will include information about the organization as well.

                According to Break the Cycle, one-third of teens report experiencing some kind of abuse in a romantic relationship, and 40 percent of girls ages 14 to 17 reports knowing someone their age that has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend (Domestic, 2004).  Meredith Blake, the organization's founder, says children who grow up with abuse are most likely to enter into abusive relationships or become abusers themselves (Domestic, 2004).

                Meredith hopes that her organization can lower these statics and prevent some of this incidents altogether.  Having Missy Elliott as a spokesperson will help get the word out about domestic violence and breaking the cycle.  The voice she brings to the issue will influence the futures of teens nationwide. Missy Elliott says she wants to do everything she can to prevent domestic violence, "The most important thing we can do is teach kids how to break the cycle," (Domestic, 2004).

                I am so glad that celebrities are giving back to the community and helping nonprofit organizations achieve their goals.  Having Missy Elliott as a spokesperson against domestic violence helps woman realizes that it can happen to anyone and to not be afraid to speak out and get help.

                My situation could have been a lot worse if there were not support groups out there to help.  After several years of abuse I finally decided to step out and join a support group that I found out about through Henrico County.  Seeing other women step up and speak out encouraged me to do the same.  I hope by seeing a celebrity fight against domestic violence will help young girls and women reevaluate their situation and seek help.

Domestic Violence Is No Misdemeanor. (2004). Current Events, 103(16), 2-3. Retrieved March 25, 2011 from Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost Database.



Tougher Laws against Domestic Violence

                Women have been fighting for years to receive tougher laws against their abusers.  Restraining orders were hard against your husband or live in spouse.  If children were involved it made the situation that more difficult. 

                After going through an abusive relationship for years I noticed that the law did not protect me from this man.  To me it seemed as if he had more rights than me.  After the police would pick him up he was ordered to stay away from me for 72 hours.  It sounds good on paper but he would still come back as soon as he was released on his on recognizance.  I would call the police but if he was gone before they came it was nothing they could do.

                Domestic violence occurs all over the world and the laws are very different than in the United States.  In September of 2009 Home Secretary Alan Johnson of the UK established new laws to protect abused women.  "It is not right that victims of domestic violence, who have already suffered so much, are forced out of their home. It is both safer and fairer to remove the abuser (Tough, 2009).  Instead of asking the victim to leave the law now requires the abuser to leave the house for 14 consecutive days.  This new law gives the victim time to sort out what course of action she would like to take.  If the woman decides to leave this gives her ample time to pack her belongs and relocate.  This new law is referred to as a “GO’ “order (Tough, 2009).

                                A similar law has been implemented in Austria, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and, more recently, Poland.  Since the law was implemented there the rate of domestic violence convictions has went up to a 72 percent (Tough, 2009).

                I think that the United States should adapt the same type of law.  Giving the victim 14 days versus 72 hours is a much longer time frame to make decisions about what course of action she would like to take.  I am so happy that other countries have stepped up to the plate to provide tougher laws against domestic violence.

Tough new powers to help victims break cycle of domestic violence. M2PressWIRE (September 29, 2009): Newspaper Source Plus. Retrieved March 13, 2011, from the EBSCOhost  Database.