It's None of Your Business: Rural Domestic Violence in the Upper Midwest

Presenter Information

Anna-Kjersten Fors, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU 204

Start Date

5-4-2010 10:00 AM

End Date

5-4-2010 12:00 PM

Student's Major

Gender and Women's Studies

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Maria Bevacqua

Mentor's Department

Gender and Women's Studies

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Second Mentor's Name

Helen Crump

Second Mentor's Department

Gender and Women's Studies

Second Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

Rural domestic violence has received little attention in the media, by authorities, or from the general public. Shelters for women in rural areas have been hidden, partially for the protection of the women who need the services, but also to keep the issue itself hidden. As a result, domestic violence in rural communities often has been downplayed and made ―invisible.‖ Rural societies tend to emulate individualism, which means family problems are not meant to be addressed publicly. Individualism results in community consensus not to get involved in a family’s private matters. This research project focuses on the rural upper Midwest, presents trends in rural domestic violence in the region, utilizes state statistics, newspaper accounts, academic research and journals, family oral history, and personal experiences. The work supports the contention that rural domestic violence is ignored, to the detriment of the victims and the community as a whole. Increased awareness will bring changes in addressing the topic. This project shows the need for doing more to raise awareness and the need to provide adequate support systems for rural domestic violence victims.