Spring Break
Red Flags Remind
Women's Center Raises Awarness of Domestic Violence.
Vanessa Joy
Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: Focus
A common misconception about violence against women is that it is solely a physical act.
"Many college students don't realize that their own friends and peers may be victims of dating violence, or that they themselves may be cycling in an abusive pattern within their own relationships," Torino said. "In part, this is due to common myths, which include the misperception that physical violence is the only form of abuse. In reality, violence against women in relationships is marked by patterns of power and control that may include not only physical assault, but also emotional and verbal abuse."
Common forms of such emotional and verbal abuse include excessive jealousy, possessiveness, not listening, interrupting, changing topics, criticism and put-downs.
But dating violence does not just stop at physical or emotional control, it can also involve sexual control.
According to a study by the National Institute of Health, "one-fifth of college women experience forced sex by someone they know." Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Justice reports that, "more than 80% of all rapes are acquaintance rapes." Just because a person is involved in a serious relationship, it does not give their partner the right to have sex with them against their will.
However, despite all the awareness campaigns against domestic violence, many UConn students say it is still a large issue on campus.
"Someone that I know said that their boyfriend at one point, they were in a public place, just like physically pushed them, for like making fun of them or something, and people around them that were watching, uh, looked very alarmed but didn't really intrude," said 3rd-semester undecided major Ashley Yalof. "I think she said she started crying as soon as it happened and he immediately apologized, but still."
In an effort to help those harmed by domestic violence, the Women's Center is sponsoring a survivor's group for women who have experienced actual or attempted sexual assault at any time in their lives.
Contact Vanessa Joy at
Vanessa.Every@UConn.edu.
"Many college students don't realize that their own friends and peers may be victims of dating violence, or that they themselves may be cycling in an abusive pattern within their own relationships," Torino said. "In part, this is due to common myths, which include the misperception that physical violence is the only form of abuse. In reality, violence against women in relationships is marked by patterns of power and control that may include not only physical assault, but also emotional and verbal abuse."
Common forms of such emotional and verbal abuse include excessive jealousy, possessiveness, not listening, interrupting, changing topics, criticism and put-downs.
But dating violence does not just stop at physical or emotional control, it can also involve sexual control.
According to a study by the National Institute of Health, "one-fifth of college women experience forced sex by someone they know." Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Justice reports that, "more than 80% of all rapes are acquaintance rapes." Just because a person is involved in a serious relationship, it does not give their partner the right to have sex with them against their will.
However, despite all the awareness campaigns against domestic violence, many UConn students say it is still a large issue on campus.
"Someone that I know said that their boyfriend at one point, they were in a public place, just like physically pushed them, for like making fun of them or something, and people around them that were watching, uh, looked very alarmed but didn't really intrude," said 3rd-semester undecided major Ashley Yalof. "I think she said she started crying as soon as it happened and he immediately apologized, but still."
In an effort to help those harmed by domestic violence, the Women's Center is sponsoring a survivor's group for women who have experienced actual or attempted sexual assault at any time in their lives.
Contact Vanessa Joy at
Vanessa.Every@UConn.edu.
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