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Domestic Violence And #WhyIStayed

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#WhyIStayed. We’re looking at women in and out of relationships of domestic violence.

In this May 23, 2014, file photo, Janay Rice, left, looks on as her husband, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, speaks to the media during a news conference in Owings Mills, Md. (AP/Patrick Semansky)
In this May 23, 2014, file photo, Janay Rice, left, looks on as her husband, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, speaks to the media during a news conference in Owings Mills, Md. (AP/Patrick Semansky)

The video has played this week until we know it by heart.  Ray Rice in the elevator.  His then fiancée Janay taking a blow.  Hitting the rail.  Hitting the floor.  It’s put domestic violence front and center like nothing in a long time.  Ray Rice out of the Baltimore Ravens.  The NFL in trouble, scrambling.  And lots of people speaking up all over.  Many online with the hashtags #WhyIstayed and #WhyIleft.  There’s a big, clear problem here - and a lot of complexity too.  A lot of stories.  This hour, On Point: we go inside domestic violence, with the woman who launched the hashtag tsunami.

Guests

Kevin Blackistone, sports writer, frequent panelist on ESPN’s Around the Horn. Professor of journalism at the University of Maryland. (@profblackistone)

Beverly Gooden, originator of the #WhyIStayed hashtag who herself was in a violent relationship. (@bevtgooden)

Laurie Macdonald, president and CEO of the Center for Victims in Pittsburgh.

From Tom's Reading List

CNN: Ray Rice video prompts stories of #WhyIStayed, #WhyILeft - "By Tuesday the social media platform was flooded with affecting stories from women explaining why they remained in abusive relationships and why they finally left. The outpouring was collected under two hashtags, #WhyIStayed and #WhyILeft."
Slate: The NFL Needs to Learn What Domestic Violence Really Looks Like - "In our society, where divorce is seen as a failure and working on your marriage is considered virtuous, it can be easy for victims to think that if they just stick with the marriage, and keep trying to improve it, the abuse will stop. That's why hundreds of survivors flooded Twitter this week with the #WhyIStayed hashtag, explaining how easy it is to fall into the trap of defending the relationship instead of getting out."
Huffington Post: Ray Rice Video Causes Huge Spike In Calls To Domestic Violence Hotline - "Katie Ray-Jones, the CEO of the hotline, said it normally receives 500 to 600 calls a day from domestic violence victims and their concerned friends or family members. But after the Rice video was circulated online Monday, the hotline received over 1,000 phone calls. The numbers continued to climb on Tuesday."

This program aired on September 12, 2014.

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