Dana Perino on Fox News made a statement that victims of domestic violence should "make better decisions" to escape from harm. Well women of America - that is your ANSWER to end domestic violence, victims should make better decisions!
Whew, if Life was just that easy, crime would completely cease to exist!
A Fox News commentator sparked outrage on Wednesday. A comment was made during live broadcast on the Fox News program, “The Five,” that suggested that women who are victims of domestic violence should simply “make better decisions.”
Wow. Who would make this irresponsible and alarming statement? Was there a guest on the show? Rush Limbaugh? Todd Akin? Glenn Beck?
Nope. None of the above. This statement was made by none other than Fox News commentator Dana Perino. Yes, a woman.
The discussion that evolved into a “victim blaming” session revolved around the case of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker,Jovan Belcher, who shot and killed his girlfriend, then drove to the stadium and committed suicide by turning the gun on himself in front of his coaches and teammates. The couple had a long history of domestic violence, with police called to their home on numerous occasions. The commentators on “The Five” were discussing the implications of the murder-suicide and whether or not gun control laws should be examined more closely as a result of this crime.
Better decisions? Really? And to be safe in our own homes we need to carry a gun around with us?
Perino served as White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush from September 14, 2007 to January 20, 2009 and, ironically for the Department of Justice. She joined the Fox News Channel in April 2009 as a contributor. Perino is the president and founder of a consulting firm, Dana Perino and Company, and the editorial director of Crown Publishing Groups Imprint Crown Forum. In November 2009, Perino was appointed to the Broadcasting Board of Governors by President Obama and was a founder of various women’s organizations such as Congo Story and Minute Mentoring (I don’t like being redundant, but again…ironic).
After enjoying a high-profile career with much of her focus on women’s groups, why would Perino make such a statement? Because it’s what she really believes. Her statement was genuine and she had no hesitation when she said it. She seems to genuinely believe that all women need to do is make better decisions. Link
Why is it that many Conservatives constantly embrace this cultist ideology to blame the victims or to believe that women are not capable of making their own decisions? "Women cannot get pregnant when rape, but if she does get pregnant, she wanted it". "The poor became poor because they are lazy and taking advantage of the system".
And now, women are abused because they make poor choices.
Yet Conservatives seem to have trouble identifying and directing blame at the perpetrators.
Domestic abuse is so complex and complicated in each and every household. It is psychological, mental and emotional dominance of one individual over another. It is a form of brainwashing (something Fox News is good at). For them to just brush it away by telling the victim to "make better decisions" is irresponsible, ignorant and pathetic. History have shown that sometimes for the woman to 'make the right decision' to leave the abuser cost her, her life - and lost her life violently.
Conservatives and Fox News need to take responsibility of making better decisions in what they say to their viewers and to the public.
So here are some facts about Violence Against Women:
- Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten.
- Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Most often, the abuser is a member of her own family.
- Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women—more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined.
- Studies suggest that up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually.
- Nearly 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a breakup.
- Every day in the US, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends.
- Ninety-two percent of women surveyed listed reducing domestic violence and sexual assault as their top concern.
- Domestic violence victims lose nearly 8 million days of paid work per year in the US alone—the equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs.
- Based on reports from 10 countries, between 55 percent and 95 percent of women who had been physically abused by their partners had never contacted non-governmental organizations, shelters, or the police for help.
- The costs of intimate partner violence in the U.S. alone exceed $5.8 billion per year: $4.1 billion are for direct medical and health care services, while productivity losses account for nearly $1.8 billion.
- Men who as children witnessed their parents’ domestic violence were twice as likely to abuse their own wives than sons of nonviolent parents.
The solution to these statistics is NOT - women need to make better decisions! Got that Dana!!
