Provoked is an awesome movie that shows the complexities of domestic violence.  It’s about a Punjabi housewife in London who suffers under her husband’s brutality for years and what the affects of violence are upon her.  The movie also shows how a Guerilla Fighter, in this case a South Asian social worker, can have a dramatic effect not only for Kiranjit Ahluwaltia, the main character’s life, but also affecting the law and many other victims’ lives after that.  This moving story is based on a true story. What surprised me, but shouldn’t, was how much this story resembled my own even though I am from a very different ethnic group, social status, and life situation.  It goes to show that abuse, is abuse, is abuse.  Watch Provoked and see an interesting insight into domestic violence.

Posted in: Domestic Violence, Uncategorized at 7:34 pm | Comments (0)

10 Red Flags of an Unhealthy Relationship

According to a 2005 Department of Justice survey, more than 2 million Americans were victimized by someone they know (National Crimes of Violence Survey, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/cvus05.pdf). Learning to detect relationship red flags and respond healthily is a valuable skill that can help empower people and give them more knowledge to proceed in relationships.  

Identifying red flags requires that you know what signs to look for and what they could mean to a relationship. “One of the best ways to know if a behavior is a problem is to trust your instincts and to learn about abusive techniques,” says Dr. Kevin Skinner, Ph.D., president of Growth Climate. The following red flags are common traits of an unhealthy relationship:

1. Blamer — Takes No Responsibility — An individual who makes his or her problems out to always be someone else’s fault and consistently portrays him or herself as the victim should be considered a possible source of trouble.

2. Isolation — A lot of abusers like to keep their victims isolated from outside influences and resources.

3. Jealousy — Abusers often accuse their victim of not being faithful. Some will even become upset if the victim talk to his or her friends or family too much.

4. Toot Their Own Horn — These types of people look for opportunities to let their importance be known. They consider themselves “one-of-a-kind,” more special or better than others.

5. Put Others on the Defensive — When an abuser feels threatened, a favorite tool of defense is a distracting or overbearing response, such as becoming hypercritical, sarcastic, angry and/or silent.  

For the rest of the article www.redemptivecommunity.com/site/?page_id=122

Posted in: Domestic Violence, Uncategorized at 11:33 am | Comments (3)