_ Feature The woman’s burden Zahra Jamal Violence against women is one of the worst catastrophes facing Canadian women today—yet it is, for the most part, kept silent. Abuse is ruining many women’s self- confidence, security, and spirit—even women’s lives are in jeopardy. This situation won't improve unless abused women stop leaving their self worth in the hands of their partners. Joanne Dunaway from - the Justice Institute of BC says, “An abused person needs to understand that her partner will not stop the violence as long as she accepts it and makes up excuses for it.” The United Way of BC's Task Force on Family Violence states that in BC alone, 4,000- 5,000 women are beaten to the point of serious injury each year. Joanne Dunaway also says that, apart from five times more likely to attempt suicide, and eight times more likely to commit suicide or die young. Battered Woman's Support Services observes another popular reason is fear of what will happen once they leave. ~ “It’s usually when physical abuse, sexual abuse occurs when women feel obliged to accept their role as a submissive housewife and feel they “have no right to refuse humiliating sexual demands.” According to Women need to develop strategies to help ensure their safety women leave that their abuser feels most out of control; that’s when he comes back with more violence to prove he’s still in control.” Many people feel this violence is a cultural issue. However, psychologists Kathryn Ellis and Irene Frieze Statistics Canada, one out of every four women will be sexually assaulted at some point during their life—most probably by someone they know. This type of harassment makes her four times more prone to use drugs to counter the anxiety it causes, Revenu Canada Revenue Canada ivi For more information, visit our Web site at: www.rc.gc.ca/telefile/ TUL Easier tax filing and faster refunds for students It’s free, at your fingertips, and available seven days a week. Check your personalized income tax package for a TECEFILE invitation. Canada Due to growing aware- ness of violence against women, many women are educating themselves with self-defence and confidence- building courses. Carol Jerome, coordinator for the Women’s Centre at Douglas College, explains, “Women need to develop strategies to help ensure their safety.” An employee at the Crisis Line for Battered Women’s Support Services agrees with this statement, saying “The police cannot guarantee that a woman will be protected... Police often don't take women seriously.” Why would you be concerned if violence of any sort has not affected you so far? Chances are, if you're not directly affected, someone very close to you will be. You may find your brother amongst the many young men in jail for homicide against © their mother’s abuser, your daughter as one of the 22%- 35% of women struggling for their lives in the ER due to spousal abuse, or even your neighbours trapped in a never ending cycle of family vio- lence—a leading cause of injuries to women aged 15- 44, more than auto accidents, muggings and cancer com- bined. Remember, violence against women is not limited to its physical component. Seventy two percent of women in Canadian shelters are there because of psycho- logical abuse. Even more disturbing is the fact that most of them return to their partners for the sake of their children, because of their financial status, or because their partner promises to change. The employee from found that men who hold the view, traditional in many cultures, of women being best at caretaking, were more likely to be “loving and protective of their female or wrong), which is why it’s more disgraceful when a male strikes a female—the same sex as the one who bore and raised him. Violence against men is not justified by the fact they‘re male, nor is it true that harm done to men is unimportant; however, violence against women takes place in the pretext that they will be unable to fight back. The abuser relies on her unpumped biceps to make his point, which is a form of oppression, unlike the regular brawl between two guys at a pub. If you or anyone you know is in need of support, resources, or would simply like to learn more about controversial issues facing year in BC alone, 4,000—5,000 women are beaten to the point of serious injury each partners.” As a matter of fact, men who held fewer tradi- tional cultural values were found to be “more violent towards women with tradi- tional values.” Studies from the Justice Institute of BC show men who beat their wives come from all races, classes, ages, religious groups and professions. This contra- dicts the societal view of these men as just “wife batterers.” They usually have many good qualities, and quite often, women let these outweigh their drawbacks. One may wonder ‘why not comment on “violence against men?” Violence against women carries more weight due to the way women are made; generally, they do not have the physical build to overcome the physical strength of the average male. The situation parallels that of a 20-year-old beating up a 10-year-old: the latter doesn't have the means to fight back, which makes the fight unfair. Women usually end up with the responsibil- ity of caretaking and running the home (whether it’s right 48-6th Street, New Westminster P22 Tel/Fax: (604) 521-6077 Attn: !! STUDENTS Special offer! © Copies—Self-service ¢ Colour Laser Copies © Colour Laser Transparencies © Cerlox Binding For Presentations Typesetting, Resumes/Letters, Fax, Address Labels, Business Cards, Rubber Stamps, Laminating 06 cents 50% off! 40% off! 50% off! today’s women, please go to the Women’s Centre, room 4810. Their excellent counsel- ling services remain 100% confidential and they're a phenomenal resource for research. Take advantage of their seminars and self- defence classes such as Wenlido. Also, look forward to skits on self-defence they're producing to present in selected classrooms.