Domestic Violence

Rotarians of Nassau Sunrise, visiting Rotarians, Rotaractors and guest were as silent as corpses as Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson spoke about Domestic Violence.

 

 

Dr. Patterson read quotes from various cultures on domestic violence, dating back to more than a century. Examples included, "Wife beating is prohibited between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am, because the noise keeps the neighbors awake."1895 – Curfew on wife beating (110 years ago) (City of London Byelaw);"It is legal (and therefore perfectly acceptable) for a man to beat his wife, providing that the stick he uses is no thicker than his thumb." 1857 – the Rule of Thumb (150 years ago). Dr. Dean-Patterson's presentation included numerous historical wife beating traditions and proverbs. Some included writings of philosophers Plato and Aristotle; English, African, Chinese, Arabian and Caribbean proverbs supporting wife beating.

 

Also quoting from Cleveland Eneas’s ‘Bain Town’, she read Eneas's depiction of our African ancestors as regular ‘wife beaters’. In his book, Eneas recounts men who would abuse their wives within the Bain Town community. Eneas’s words paint a horror clip with the howls of women as they were ‘disciplined’ for some act or neglect of an act such as preparing the husband’s meal. Growing up, Cleveland Eneas and his childhood neighbors would sit and listen to the shrieks and lament that no one did anything about the heart wrenching cries of countless wives.  According to Dr. Dean-Patterson, the culture of domestic violence is universal and deeply rooted in our Bahamian culture.  Hence, the problem is “difficult to eradicate and prevent.”  She went further to describe domestic violence as an “infectious disease, and a contagion.”  She believes that children growing up witnessing domestic violence may become perpetrators or victims themselves.

 

“A Better Way” Domestic Violence Shelter and Outreach, states that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women.  Additionally, it states that on average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the U.S. every day. While there are no statistics to record our domestic violence cases in The Bahamas, Dr. Dean-Patterson noted that since her years of work, the cries have increased; men are also among those seeking reprieve from domestic violence.  She said The Crisis Centre might receive as many as ten calls within a day concerning domestic violence.

 

To curb this “infectious disease” The Crisis Centre has been visiting high schools under the program “Healthy Relationships.” For adolescents, a Green Ribbon Program teaches about anti bullying and peaceable ways to deal with emotions.