ACTIVISM:
The community partner that I decided to work with
is MVP, which is a domestic violence organization that aims to bring
awareness to sexual abuse. This week we
ended up meeting with the director, Abigail Malick, to plan events that are
coming up for MVP. Before we began the planning for MVP, some my group members
and I had to meet up for a training session. In this session we understood what
MVP was and how it goes about informing people about the organization, which is
through an interactive group session. In
this training we got to discuss how we felt about domestic violence and some of
our ideas for events that MVP could hold. One of the activities we performed this week was
an informative table in the Student Union to bring awareness to students about
domestic violence. Another activity that we will be holding is a drive with the
harbor house that will bring supplies, such as clothes, to women of domestic
violence. The success that we have had is being able to meet up as group and discuss
how we are goint to get things accomplished. However, the only pitfall seems to be getting
more events to be hosted. Other than that, this service learning experience has
been an enjoyable one for me and I am happy to have my group members to share
it with.
REFLECTION:
In the process of planning
and informing people about domestic violence through MVP, I have realized how
important the issue is in our society. Domestic violence affects not only the
victim, but the people around them. This
is currently being demonstrated in the Central Florida area, as 11 shooting have
recently taken place in the work place due to domestic violence. “Approximately 24% of
workplace violence is related to personal relationships, which involve
situations where an individual gains access to a workplace and commits a crime
targeting an employee or customer who is a current or former intimate
partner"(Connections Between Work place and Violence). Typically, we think that domestic violence is
something that can happen behind closed doors; unfortunately, there is an
increase in domestic violence related crimes at the work place. “Just last week a Central Florida man gunned
down his former partner while she was at work at hotel in Orlando’s popular
tourist corridor. While in the lobby he also shot and killed one of her
co-workers. From there, the gunman drove a couple miles down the road to
another area resort where he shot and critically wounded his former partner’s
best friend” (Johnson).
This
tragic incident not only affected the victim, but friends, families, and
employees. The explanation of violence against women is
provided on a macro- level and a micro- level. In a macro-level perspective,
the economic system disempowers women, because some women earn less than men. This is why in a violent marriage or relationship
women find it difficult to leave their partner, because they financially depend
on their partner. Thus, in this case macro-level inequalities are present in
violence at the micro level. This idea clearly relates to our book reading “Making
a Home, Making a Living,” as it discusses how the comparable worth of women in
a work place is less than men. Women need both comparable skills and knowledge
in the workplace in order to compete with men. Also women are held to such a
low standard in the work place that they have to fight for equality. When
domestic violence enters the work place where women are already seen as unequal,
it makes them an even greater victim of inequality both at home and at
work. Women have to constantly fight the
toils of inequality in both a domestically violent home and a disempowered
economic system at work. This is why organizations like MVP are necessary
because they not only inform people, but the fight the injustice done unto
women in domestic violence situations. This organization lives out its mission
by educating, inspiring, and empowering men and women, just like me, to responds
to domestic violence.
RECIPROCITY:
Through planning events and talking with the director I
have learned a lot about the organization. I have understood how communication
is key when try to get things accomplished in a group setting. I have also been
able to learn a lot through my group members and this organization and about being
organized. By contacting organizations and planning events I have been able to
improve my communication skills and organization skills. I hope to continue
growing through this experience, and helping women of domestic violence.
WORKS CITIED
Johnson, Vicki. Domestic
Violence Creeping into the Workplace. http://www.ronsachs.com/domesticviolence.shtml
Kirk, Gwyn , and Margo
Okazawa-Rey. Making a Home, Making a Living. 5th ed. New York, New York:
McGraw Hill, 2010. 207-210. Print.
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