Domestic Violence: The Same Sad Song

Violence against women is nothing new. I know at least 10 people who have been victims of domestic violence; six women, four men; two older, three younger, five the same age as me.

So I wasn't surprised to learn that nearly one in four women are beaten or raped by a partner during their adult life. But I was surprised to learn that during this month of domestic violence awareness, a New York state Senator, Hiram Monserrate, was acquitted of slashing his girlfriend in the face. She gets emotional and physical scars and he gets to keep his Senate seat.

Last December, Monserrate allegedly hit his girlfriend in the face with a drinking glass, roughing her up after and prolonging medical attention by driving her to a hospital 30 minutes further from his home when a local hospital was just five minutes away. Nearly a year later, the same woman retracted her accusation and Monserrate gets off with a felony conviction.

This begs the questions: What standards/moral values are public officials held to? Should they be stricter? Should behavior in your personal life hold any weight on your position?

If we're going to crucify others for how they have sex, where they choose to do it and with who (which in reality is no one's business) why aren't we more outraged when incidents like this are brought to light? And I say brought to light because many domestic violence incidents are not even reported or made public.

It also leads to the thought....what societal norms are in play where a woman will recant her story? How entrenched in the situation is she? How long has it gone on? And is this a "norm" for her?

Disturbed doesn't convey how astounded or shocked I am by the acquittal. This further perpetuates the idea that men can treat women however they choose and not be held responsible for their actions. Thanks Judge William Erlbaum. Batterers just got another point on the scoreboard.