Local Expert Says Too Many Voices In Ray Rice Case Blaming The Victim
By John Ostapkovich
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Ray Rice situation has a lot of us talking about domestic violence and an expert in violence against women saying a lot of the reaction simply blames the victim.
Holly Harner, PhD, of LaSalle University has dealt with domestic violence both as an academic and a caregiver and she says as hard as everyone thinks they've been on Ray Rice, they're actually hard on his wife:
"Asking this question, why did she stay? Why did she marry him? Why didn't she leave? It's just classic victim-blaming. It's asking her why she didn't do things as if something she did is really what incited his particular behavior. It takes the onus and pressure off of him to have to change or behave in a different way and puts it back on the victim."
Professor Harner says leaving an abusive relationship is incredibly complex and dangerous in that a violent man spurned may become a homicidal man.
She says we're just picking up the pieces in the Rice case, but prevention begins with teaching young men and boys this is no way to treat a woman:
"Right now with the Ray Rice thing, this is the end of the line in terms of prevention. What we need to do is start working with and talking to young men and boys about being in relationships, educating them and saying that you don't hit your partner, you don't abuse your partner, you don't steal from your partner. You don't treat your partner in this way."
Prof. Harner adds it's important to reassure a domestic abuse victim that you believe her and reassure her that she is not crazy.
For the latest coverage on Ray Rice, click here.
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