Abstract
Rape and
domestic abuse touches all cultures, with an estimated 24 people being raped,
assaulted or stalked per minute in the United States, which equals roughly 12
million men and women experiencing an incident of domestic violence or abuse
each year (http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs/).
The effects can be detrimental and permeate every facet of one’s life without
access to assistance, counseling, and community involvement. Without such access,
survivors of rape and domestic abuse report a higher incidence of headaches,
sleeping disruptions, poor physical and mental health, as well as missing work
due to associated symptoms. Programs that offer medical care, housing
assistance, and counseling are essential to helping individuals heal and thrive
after experiencing such a frightening and violent event. Community outreach,
education, and prevention programs are essential tools in the fight against
rape and domestic violence. However, due to the cultural differences that may
arise, different approaches may be necessary to reach a variety of individuals
in the most effective way possible.
Domestic
violence and cultural barriers
Domestic violence does not abide by
any cultural rules, yet it is often viewed differently through the lens of
culture, which also influences the likelihood of individuals receiving
assistance when in need. Knowledge about the differences is essential when
working with a diverse population, especially when working with individuals who
may not seek help until it becomes serious, as in the case of domestic
violence. Counselors have to put aside their own preconceived notions regarding
what distress looks like, as some cultures praise the ability to mask emotions.
Much of the research into domestic violence has been focused on White and poor
women, with little emphasis on other cultures (Bent-Goodley, 2005), thus
ignoring the differences between the experience violence among different races
and sexual orientation.
Stereotypes
and discrimination also taint the perception of seeking help, as some fear that
such thing will be looked at as a weakness or fear that their immigration
status will prevent them from obtaining assistance (Bent-Goodley, 2005).
Additionally, stereotypes may strengthen cultural privacy, which can lead to
minority cultures becoming invisible to those who provide services to domestic
violence victims (Burman, Smailes, & Chantler, 2004). However, there are
culturally competent services in the community that are able to assist
individuals who are experiencing domestic violence, regardless of race, gender,
and sexual orientation.
Community
Resource
Local services are often a challenge
to locate, especially when it comes to mental health and domestic violence. By
nature, such things are often secretive and swept under the carpet by society.
However, with effective outreach practices, individuals who are in need of such
services are able to become aware of their existence and able to access the much-needed
services. One local resource, who practices quite effective outreach methods,
is the Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence, or CARDV (http://cardvservices.org/).
I became aware of the organization
during my undergraduate years at Oregon State University where they gave a
presentation during one of my classes on campus. They were formed in the late
1970s in Corvallis, Oregon, when they started a 24-hour crisis helpline for
individuals (primarily women at the time) who were experiencing domestic
violence or sexual trauma. With help from local government, CARDV helped to
make Oregon the first state in which marital rape was a punishable offense
under state law in 1978. As society changed, the services offered reflected a
larger need for a more culturally competent approach. Staffers now are able to
counsel a broader range of individuals, from homeless women to gay males in a
domestic abuse situation, primarily due to cultural diversity training programs.
The ability to accompany clients to
the emergency room is an essential aspect, as many victims are reluctant to
notify medical personnel about their experiences. A recent study suggests that
emergency departments did not inquire about domestic violence, with minority
communities reporting less willingness
to acknowledge or report domestic violence (Burman, Smailes, & Chantler,
2004).
In addition to the 24-hour crisis
line and accompanying clients to the emergency room, CARDV also assists in
relocation, legal filing, and counseling for individuals, free of charge. A
lack of insurance, ability to pay, or immigration status should not prevent one
from obtaining assistance in the case of rape or domestic violence, as all are
susceptible to the experience. CARDV raises money through donations,
fundraisers, through their online store, and through federal grants, thus
expanding the availability for services to clients, regardless of their ability
to pay. CARDV provides a holistic approach to counseling services by offering a
place to learn about parenting, nutrition, and yoga with individual
appointments available for legal advice and mental health counseling services
too, thus assisting clients in gaining valuable skills to help them in
recovery.
Providing community education via
outreach is one of CARDV’s missions, which is facilitated through college
events, Take Back The Night events, and presentations requested by community
groups, parent groups, educators, students, and professional development. One
of the growing fields of discussion and outreach involves the world of sex
trafficking, which often occurs without the surrounding communities becoming
aware of the incidence. However, through advocacy and working with other
organizations, education as well as culturally sensitive practices are evolving
and reaching the individuals in need. CARDV’s outreach methods can be found in
a variety of places, including their contact information being found on
stickers located on most of the restroom stall doors within the community of
Corvallis, Oregon. Their call logs indicate the effectiveness of their
outreach, as during the 2012 calendar year, CARDV fielded over 5,000 calls via
their crisis line. Additionally, they provided shelter for nearly 100 adults
and 70 children, helped over 700 adults navigate the legal system, and provided
on-site hospital advocacy for over 70 individuals within Linn and Benton
counties.
Cultural competence within the
organization is essential due to the variety of individuals who are in need of
the services offered. Education for staff and volunteers is provided on a
regular basis and covers topics ranging from the differences between
collectivist and individualistic cultures, to gay and lesbian relationships.
The members of CARDV also represent a diverse culture themselves, as their
backgrounds include many different nationalities, age groups, and each come
with their own life experiences. It is essential to remember that in assigning
traditions and roles to certain cultures, assuming that they are stable across
the cultural category, would be a disservice to the individual (Warner, 2008).
As a whole, CARDV does represent a
high level of cultural competency, which is an intentional practice due to the
variety of individuals seeking their assistance. Through self-awareness on an
individual basis for staff and volunteers, the personal reflection and honest
assessment of their own personal beliefs regarding culture are able to be used
as learning tools and opportunities for growth, both within the organization
and on a personal level. Additionally, continual learning about diverse
cultures, including strengths, weaknesses, and cultural norms within said
culture, can provide a wealth of insight for staff, which can help them to
better serve their clients. Being keen on nonverbal cues is also essential, as
many who experience domestic violence may be too scared to share their stories
verbally, so being astute to evasive measures is useful in providing a safe and
comforting environment. All of these things contribute to gaining a higher
level of cultural competence which can help staff, volunteers, and clients in
obtaining the best outcome possible (Sue & Sue, 2013).
Advocating
and role as an employee
Upon graduation, if I were to become
employed as a trauma counselor with CARDV, the key focus would continue to be
advocating and providing outreach in order to spread the message of CARDV’s
mission, which is to provide services and support for those affected by
domestic abuse. Continual cultural diversity training would be essential to
reflect the needs of the clients and help staff to better address sensitive
needs of individuals seeking services. While the intake interviews are more
focused on the history and incidence of abuse, it would be necessary to keep
them culturally sensitive too, which would help to create an environment that
is supportive and empathetic to the client, two very important qualities as
indicated by Sue and Sue (2013). It is important to remember that clients
utilizing the CARDV crisis helpline are already in a fragile state and the
language used can either increase or decrease the likelihood of them obtaining
services. Conducting training on effective communication would be useful to
implement, in addition to training on approaching individuals during community
outreach events. I would also remind staff and volunteers to treat clients as
individuals, rather than relying on cultural norms.
Conclusion
Domestic violence is a pervasive
infection in society, and without effective intervention methods, has the
possibility of wrecking havoc across the globe. Cultural sensitivity, in
addition with education and community outreach are essential tools in combating
the systemic use of abuse to keep individuals quiet about such a damaging event
such as rape and domestic violence. Offering a variety of services in once
central location, in a holistic manner, is more effective when working with
clients who live in fear of being found by their abusers. By helping clients to
become more empowered and self-efficacious, their mental health improves as
they make the transition from victim to survivor. The culture of violence can
permeate any societal culture, thus the need for cultural sensitivity and
exposure to diverse populations is essential in providing effective therapeutic
interventions to those in need.
**References Available Upon Request**
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