DIGNITY AND RESPECT

An exclusive campaign sponsored by Romantic Depot

Romantic Depot and it’s new campaign named “Dignity and Respect” was created to prevent violence against women. This global campaign was initiated to create awareness because of the substandard sex education that is offered in our local public school systems. This exclusive campaign is offered primarily to urban and suburban areas for marginalized young men, who may have not had two parents at home, to provide proper parenting and mentoring on sexual wellness and education. We strongly feel many young men need mentors and better access to sexual heath and wellness education in their relationships to help prevent domestic violence against women. Educational pamphlets will be handed out for free in all our store locations to help promote awareness to this huge void in our society.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is not solely physical abuse — it’s the exhibition of any malicious behavior with the intention to gain control and power over a significant other or family member. While it may be easy to blame this sort of behavior on anger, mental health issues, or drugs and alcohol, it is important to remember that domestic violence is a learned behavior.

What Causes Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is entirely situational, so each case has its own unique set of circumstances. However, many cases share a few commonalities. Generally, a perpetrator or victim of domestic violence has a prior history of similar abuse, whether it be with different partners or family members. Often, this can become compounded by external stressors such as financial difficulties, problems at work, or a new addition to the family. Abusers may also feel the need to control their partner as a way of affirming dominance and dealing with insecurities he or she has in the relationship.

Types of Domestic Violence & Warning Signs

Different forms of domestic violence include, but are not limited to:

• Physical abuse
• Verbal Abuse: coercion, threats, and blame
• Emotional abuse and intimidation
• Sexual abuse
• Isolation
• Use of male privilege
• Economic abuse

Signs of domestic violence in abusers
often include, but are not limited to:

• Extreme jealousy
• Possessiveness
• Unpredictability
• A bad temper
• Cruelty towards animals
• Extremely controlling behavior
• Antiquated beliefs about the roles of women and men in relationships
• Forcing sex or disregarding for their partner’s unwillingness to have sex
• Sabotaging birth control methods or refusing to honor agreed upon methods
• Blaming the victim for anything bad that happens
• Sabotaging or obstructing the victim’s ability to work or attend school
• Taking total control of finances
• Abusing other family members, , or pets
• Accusing their partner flirting with others or having an affair
• Controlling what their partner wears and how they act
• Demeaning their partner either privately or publicly
• Intentionally embarrassing their partner in front of others
• Harassing their partner at work

Signs of domestic violence in victims often
include, but are not limited to:

• Being withdrawn or unusually quiet
• Constantly apologizing and/or seeming meek
• Appearing agitated or anxious
• Losing interest in daily activities
• Presence of suspicious bruises, such as black eyes
• Drastic changes in personality
• Changes in daily schedule or routine

Solutions

Domestic violence is not solely physical abuse— it’s the exhibition of any malicious behavior with the intention to gain control and power over a significant other or family member. While it may be easy to blame this sort of behavior on anger, mental health issues, or drugs and alcohol, it is important to remember that domestic violence is a learned behavior.

Solutions to End Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know needs help getting out of an abusive situation, start by following the steps here:

• Document incidents of abuse
• Get away from your abuser and get in contact with the authorities
• Reach out to a neighbor, co-worker, or family member and explain
  the situation
• Confront the abuser about their actions
• Seek group counseling with the abuser

How Does a Lack of Positive Male Role
Models Contribute to Domestic Violence?

The lack of a positive male role model can have a deep and lasting impact on a child’s life. When a young man doesn’t have a positive male role model in his life to properly guide him towards success, he will typically lean onto his own understanding of the world without a compass to guide him. This may result in observing male role models or peers who have a negative view of women and adopting their ideologies, thus making it extremely difficult to later develop healthy relationships with women.

How Does a Male Role Model Benefit the Lives of Young Men?

When a positive male role model is present in a young man’s life, it is reflected in a healthy outlook on society and positive attitude towards women. Men with positive role models become constructive members of society, with a decreased likelihood of becoming incarcerated, and a significantly greater chance of obtaining an education, gainful employment, and helping to empower women. When given the tools for success, young men with positive role models will utilize them efficiently, and encourage other young men to do the same, helping to break a negative cycle and positively impacting the generations to come.

National Statistics

• On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. Over the course of one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
• 1 in 3 women have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime.
• 1 in 4 women have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
• 1 in 7 women have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point where they felt fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed.
• Women between the ages of 18-24 are most likely to be abused by an intimate partner.
• Domestic victimization is correlated with a higher rate of depression and suicidal behavior.
• 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the United States has been raped in their lifetime.
• Almost half of female (46.7%) and male (44.9%) victims of rape in the United States were raped by an acquaintance. Of these, 45.4% of female rape victims and 29% of male rape victims were raped by an intimate partner.
• 19.3 million women and 5.1 million men in the United States have been stalked in their lifetime. 60.8% of female victims and 43.5% of male victims of stalking reported being stalked by a current or former intimate partner.
• 72% of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner; 94% of the victims of these murder suicides are female.
• 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.
• Victims of intimate partner violence lose a total of 8.0 million days of paid work each year.
• The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $8.3 billion per year.
• Between 21-60% of victims of intimate partner violence lose their jobs due to reasons stemming from the abuse.

• • Physical, mental, and sexual and reproductive health effects have been linked with intimate partner violence including adolescent pregnancy, unintended pregnancy in general, miscarriage, stillbirth, intrauterine hemorrhage, nutritional deficiency, abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal problems, neurological disorders, chronic pain, disability, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Victims of domestic violence are also at higher risk for developing addictions to alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
  • In 2013, New York City law enforcement responded to 284,660 domestic violence incidents; police outside of New York City responded to 187,710 domestic violence incidents
  • 12.1% of high school students in New York State reported having been physically hurt (excluding sexual violence) by a significant other in just the past year; 11.8% reported experiencing sexual dating violence.
  • Although the number of homicides in New York State decreased 6.5% between 2012 and 2013, the number of domestic violence homicides increased by 16% in that same period.
  • In 2012 and 2013, less than 1/3 of domestic violence homicides in New York were committed with firearms; nationally, 2/3 of domestic violence homicides are committed with firearms.
  • On a typical day, domestic violence hotlines receive approximately 21,000 calls, an average of close to 15 calls every minute.
  • Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.
  • The presence of a gun in the home during a domestic violence incident in creases the risk of homicide by at least 500%.
  • The number of domestic violence complaints that had prior court orders issued against the offender decreased from 13,099 in 2011 to 11,494 in 2012.
  • Domestic violence offenses arising from a dating relationship accounted for 14 percent (9,370) of the state total.

Statistics from the National Coalition against Domestic Violence (NCADV)

About Dignity and Respect

Romantic Depot has recently launched Dignity and Respect, a new campaign created as an answer to the substandard sex education offered in our local public school systems. This exclusive campaign is being offered primarily to urban and suburban areas for marginalized young men, who may not have had two parents at home, in order to provide them with proper parenting and mentoring on sexual wellness and education. We strongly feel many young men need mentors and better access to sexual health and wellness education in order to form positive relationships and help prevent domestic violence against women and teens. Educational pamphlets will be handed out for free in our store locations to help promote awareness and fix this pressing societal issue.

Quotes

“Before loving someone, make sure you’re loving yourself enough and treating yourself with respect before others.”
– Tanya M.

“A woman is not an object. She is not something; she is someone. You treat a woman with respect. She is not your toy. She doesn’t owe you anything just because you are a man. When she come to you for comfort, you listen to her; you don’t make a move on her. Grow up and start treating women how they
deserve to be treated.”
– Susan W.

• Unlearning unhealthy or harmful attitudes is possible through guidance and mentorship.
• A healthy mindset creates healthy relationships.
• When you know better, you do better.
• When young men have positive male role models in their lives, they make better decisions.
• Women are not objects.