el Don /SANTA ANA COLLEGE • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2014/eldonnews.org
TACKLING THE UNSPEAKABLE
LAURA’S HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE EDUCATES CAMPUS COMMUNITY ON DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AT AN EVENT COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF A COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSOR
NEWS
THE FACE OF
Violence
PART THREE IN A SERIES
BY CHELSEA YBANEZ / el Don
Domestic violence
costs about $37
million a year in
law enforcement,
legal work, medical
and mental
health treatment.
SANCTUARY / Marissa Presley recounts the story of Laura, a domestic violence victim who
died at the hands of her husband, at Santa Ana College on Oct. 30. / Adrian Gonzalez / el Don
ing a victim.
“If we are able to recognize when it is
right in front of us, we will be able to
walk away a lot quicker than if we were
to ignore it,” said Presley. “Jealousy is the
No. 1 red flag to look for in an abuser. It’s
consistent. It’s interrogations. Those are
the ones that are dangerous.”
Other red flags include acts of manipulation, guilt and intimidation.
Fear, low self-esteem, financial instability and threats often bind the victim to
their abuser, Presley said
It’s not always women who suffer, either.
More than 25 percent of men have
experienced rape, violence or stalking by
a partner, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention reports.
Domestic violence affects people of all
socioeconomic backgrounds, genders and
education levels. It can happen to anyone
of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender, Presley said.
Children are also victims, even if only
through witnessing violence secondhand.
“Little girls that grow up in a domestic violence home right now in America
are 10 times more likely to be sexually
abused. They weren’t given a chance,”
Presley said.
Boys who witness abuse are twice as
likely to reflect that behavior towards
future partners and children, according
to the NCADV.
The first step in getting out of an abu-
sive relationship is asking for help.
Resources offered through SAC’s
Health and Wellness Center aid victims
in leaving their partners, said Phi Loan
Le, training director from Ps 卡