Blind eye or cold shoulder?

When is it our business or even our obligation to do something about abuse? We know that around 1 in 4 women are affected by domestic abuse and that children living in homes where domestic abuse is occurring are impacted even when they don’t directly witness abusive incidents. It’s therefore almost certain you know someone who is experiencing abuse right now - a family member, friend or colleague.

It’s a tremendously difficult judgment call deciding whether or not it’s appropriate to get involved by doing something as high-stakes as calling the police or social services or making an anonymous report about someone’s welfare. Those big decisions can carry consequences for your own safety and you may be dogged by the question: ‘What if I’m wrong?’

The good news is you don’t have to do any of those high-stakes things to make a huge difference to the lives of victims. All you have to do is actively and openly live by your values.

Checking in on that friend you’re concerned about without pushing for details about what they’re going through might end up being someone’s lifeline; not laughing at a misogynistic joke in the office or walking away when people are making fun of someone in a position of inequality might give someone else the courage they need to make a change; challenging your own brother/father/son/husband when they make disparaging comments about women might just shift someone’s thinking on an issue.

Changing the attitudes that excuse abusive behaviours has a powerful impact and seeing you do that can make the world of difference to someone suffering in silence, believing nobody cares.