Spring Break
To stop domestic violence, stop rationalizing it
Cindy Luo
Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: Commentary
If two people are annoyed at each other, and one retaliates by repeatedly beating the other, the assailant would absolutely (and rightfully) face charges of assault. So why is it that peoples' stances change when the assault involves two people who are in a relationship?
The Chris Brown-Rihanna incident highlights the problems of domestic violence that have become steadily more prevalent and worrisome in the past few years. Though domestic violence is deplorable enough, it is the attitude of tolerance and justification that is the most concerning.
In a recent New York Times article, 46 percent of 200 teenagers interviewed by the Boston Public Health Commission placed responsibility upon Rihanna for the incident, while 52 percent said that both were responsible. Those who said that Rihanna was responsible often cited the alleged rumors that she was jealous after seeing messages from another woman on Chris Brown's phone. Their justification was that she overreacted, that she might have even attempted to hit Brown.
There is absolutely nothing Rihanna could have said or done that would justified the beating she had to go through. If the allegations are true, and she did try and hit Brown, this action must be addressed separately. Clearly, whatever it is she may or may not have done did not cause the same kind of lasting damage to Brown as what he did to her. No words or actions could have provoked such an attack. She was bloodied and bruised, and as Chris Brown was nowhere near in the same condition, this was not a fight. This was a beating.
The steady desensitization of American culture to domestic violence is a trend that has curious origins. For many young adults, equality is an important factor in relationships. As it should be - men and women should have equal share in their relationships. However, when it comes to an argument, the "he hits me, I'll hit him back" idea does not support equality. Many times, it is not just one blow exchanged between two people.
The Chris Brown-Rihanna incident highlights the problems of domestic violence that have become steadily more prevalent and worrisome in the past few years. Though domestic violence is deplorable enough, it is the attitude of tolerance and justification that is the most concerning.
In a recent New York Times article, 46 percent of 200 teenagers interviewed by the Boston Public Health Commission placed responsibility upon Rihanna for the incident, while 52 percent said that both were responsible. Those who said that Rihanna was responsible often cited the alleged rumors that she was jealous after seeing messages from another woman on Chris Brown's phone. Their justification was that she overreacted, that she might have even attempted to hit Brown.
There is absolutely nothing Rihanna could have said or done that would justified the beating she had to go through. If the allegations are true, and she did try and hit Brown, this action must be addressed separately. Clearly, whatever it is she may or may not have done did not cause the same kind of lasting damage to Brown as what he did to her. No words or actions could have provoked such an attack. She was bloodied and bruised, and as Chris Brown was nowhere near in the same condition, this was not a fight. This was a beating.
The steady desensitization of American culture to domestic violence is a trend that has curious origins. For many young adults, equality is an important factor in relationships. As it should be - men and women should have equal share in their relationships. However, when it comes to an argument, the "he hits me, I'll hit him back" idea does not support equality. Many times, it is not just one blow exchanged between two people.
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CeeEss
posted 3/25/09 @ 6:36 PM EST
This article RATIONALIZED the stereotype that only MALEs are abusive and FEMALEs are sweet, innocent victims. I Remember DUKE UNIVERSITY and WE as a society SHOULD NEVER FORGET how a female LIED and everbody believed she was raped. (Continued…)
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