Since 1989, October has been recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is a time dedicated to bringing attention to the pervasiveness of the issue, honoring victims/survivors and working to end future violence. This year, Sojourner's theme was "awareness through storytelling". By telling and listening to stories, individuals and communities can learn, heal and inspire change. Throughout the month, Sojourner offered different ways to engage with stories.
Violence Free Minnesota Homicide Report: Relationship Abuse in Minnesota
Each year Violence Free Minnesota releases a report honoring the previous year's victims of domestic violence-related homicides. The report shares the stories of the victims while delivering a broader conversation about the state of domestic violence in Minnesota. This includes statistics, risk factors and recommendations. In 2023, at least 40 confirmed victims of domestic violence homicide were documented in the state of Minnesota. This is the highest recorded number since they began tracking in 1989. To read the full report, go to vfmn.org/reports.
Awareness Through Fiction
There are many movies, television shows, and novels that accurately depict the complex nature of domestic violence.
Here are a few of our recommendations:
The Color Purple (2023): Based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker, The Color Purple tells the story of Celie, an African American woman living with an abusive husband in the American South during the 1900s. An article by LA Times states, “For all its joy, ‘The Color Purple’ is also a chance to talk about Black women and intimate partner violence”.
Maid (2021): Based on Stephanie Land’s 2019 memoir, this Netflix drama series follows a single mother, Alex, as she flees an abusive relationship and provides for her young child. An article by domesticshelters.org, states, “Maid does a stellar job of highlighting nonphysical abuse—psychological and verbal abuse, coercive control, financial abuse—and the complicated aftermath of these tactics”.
Waitress (2007): Jenna, a waitress living in the American South, is trapped in an abusive relationship. The husband can be seen exhibiting many aspects of the Power and Control Wheel and the film is featured on a list by domesticshelters.org, “10 Films That Accurately Portray the Problem”.
A more comprehensive list of recommendations, as well as the articles mentioned are linked below.
Survivor Stories
Another way to learn more about the realities of domestic violence is to listen/read survivor stories-- told by survivors themselves. Here are three podcasts that provide a platform for survivors. This type of storytelling can be healing, validating, and informative.
Narcissist Apocalypse: Hosted by Brandon Chadwick, Narcissist Apocalypse gives a voice to survivors of domestic abuse. Since the podcast began in 2019, he has published over 250 survivor stories and interviewed countless experts in the field. Chadwick states, "My goal was to help survivors tell/validate their own stories, but also validate and teach other survivors through those stories"
Toxic: In this 2024 Social Changemaker Award-Winning Podcast, hosts Amanda Kippert and Jenna Brandl, tell true stories of abuse, domestic violence and other issues of toxic masculinity.
Something Was Wrong: According to their site, "Something Was Wrong is an award-winning docuseries about survivors' discovery, trauma and recovery from crime and abuse."
Full Episodes can be found wherever you get your podcasts or by following the links to the show websites. If you are interested in sharing your story of abuse, there are submission forms on each site as well.
#Every1KnowsSome1: Connecting these stories to our own lives, how to respond to disclosure.
The National Network to End Domestic Violence chose the theme "Every1KnowsSome1" for their awareness month campaign. The phrase is meant to highlight the pervasive nature of domestic violence, alluding to the idea that everyone knows someone affected by domestic violence, whether they realize it or not. When someone you know shares that they have experienced abuse you can:
Listen and Validate: Reassure them that it is not their fault, and that they deserve to feel safe in their relationships.
Offer Support: Let them know they are not alone. Ask how you can best support them.
Provide Resources: Encourage them to connect with a domestic violence agency such as Sojourner (952.933.7422) or the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1.800.799.7233).
Practice Patience: Continue to provide support regardless of their decisions regarding the relationship. Take care of yourself too.
Learning more about domestic violence and the support available in your community is a great way to ensure you are a resource to those around you. This month and every month continue to listen to survivors and uplift their stories. Together we can create safer communities where we all thrive!
TW: Consume with care. The materials shared in this article depict abusive relationships that can be unsettling to watch/read/hear. Help is always available at Sojourner Project, 952.933.7422.