Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Article: Steinem: Violence begins at home

BY SHARON SWANSON, CORRESPONDENT
CHAPEL HILL - Gloria Steinem, the most recognizable face of women's rights in this country, visited Chapel Hill Sunday to support fundraising for "Private Violence," a feature documentary spearheaded by local domestic violence victims' advocate Kit Gruelle.
"It is violence [in the home] that legitimizes all other violence - in the street, in government policy and in foreign policy," said Steinem, her voice weakened by laryngitis.

A prolific writer, Steinem has written works including the national bestsellers "Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions," and "Revolution from Within." In 1971, she co-founded the National Women's Political Caucus. The following year, she became the founding editor and publisher of Ms. Magazine.

Steinem, 75, has devoted her life to feminist causes. So why this particular film, and why now?

"Because people got together to do it," she said. "It could have been made 50 years ago or it could have waited another 50 years. It takes people who care, who spend the time.

"And I do think, I hope, that it may be an opportune moment because documentaries fill theaters in a way they didn't use to," she continued. "I think what's happened is that the establishment press has become so into tiny, tiny little sound bites that people are hungry for more depth. ... And I am hoping that because of that this film will get a big audience."

"Private Violence" weaves the stories of women, abusers, police and court workers. The room at Spice Street restaurant was warm by the time the screening began, but the effect of the film clip was chilling.

Seventy-five percent of all women murdered by a domestic partner are killed either in the attempt to leave, or after they leave. It is women who take a stand against abuse of themselves, and their families, that are at highest risk.

"This is because they [the women] are getting out of control," explained Steinem. "[The abuser's] whole identity depends on control. They are most dangerous when they feel that someone is about to escape.

"And I would say, incidentally," she continued, "that the same thing is true of this country. We no longer have a majority support for Wall Street, for the wars we are engaged in. ... So the people in this country who are obsessed with control - I'm sure there are some on the left, but they seem to be mostly on the right - are more dangerous now because we are escaping. So you see more militaristic groups going up, more guns being bought, people with assault weapons in the street. I think that paradigm holds for the country as well."

According to the film, one-fourth of all men will be abusive to a partner at some time in their life. But the long-term effect of that statistic isn't limited to the battered spouse.

"This film connects the dots between violence in the home and other serious social problems: gangs, drugs, teenage runaways, high school dropouts, and bullying behavior," said Gruelle, a domestic violence survivor and educator.

For Gruelle, this film "represents a comprehensive outreach effort to end the recurring cycle of domestic abuse."

When completed "Private Violence" will draw from more than 150 interviews, including Steinem and Vice President Joe Biden.

Gruelle said that she and Durham-based filmmakers Cynthia Hill and Rebecca Cerese needed to raise at least $100,000 to complete the project, which has also received funding from Cindy Waitt and the Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention, created by Ted Waitt, co-founder of Gateway Inc.

Saturday's fundraiser earned at least $50,000, an amount Joan Waitt will match.

Orange County has had a domestic violence program for eight years, but there is still no county shelter for battered women.

"I've heard that the powers that be have said there isn't a need for one," said Gruelle. "But there have been some horrendous domestic violence crimes in this area. Multiple homicides. ... To say there isn't a problem with domestic violence in Orange County is ludicrous."

Speaker George Lardner, Pulitzer-prize winning author of "The Stalking of Kristin," reminded the attendees thatdomestic violence isn't confined to poor, crowded neighborhoods.

Lardner's daughter Kristin was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1992.

Perhaps it is even easier for abusers who live in affluent communities in big homes on large lots, Gardner suggested.

There, she said, "No one can hear the screams."

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