Disclaimer

This is not an official Peace Corps Publication

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Dile NO a la Violencia Familiar (Say NO to Domestic Violence)


Arriving to my site on the northern coast of Peru, I was no stranger to Latin American culture: the good, the bad, and the machismo. It did not take long for me to witness the negative impacts of machismo culture in the lives of my students and their families. Male dominance and power is manifested in the division of household labor, decision-making, personal expression, and overall freedom and liberty for the women. Perhaps the most frustrating and extreme example of machismo in my community is domestic violence. Rumors of men abusing their wives and children are a daily occurrence in my volunteer life. However, the men are not the only aggressors; I overhear mothers screaming obscenities and calling their children terrible names. My students tell me horror stories about parents pulling their hair until they bleed and plastic pitchers hurled at their heads. My biggest challenge as a Peace Corps volunteer is watching my beloved community members hurt and batter each other physically, emotionally, and psychologically.
            After witnessing and observing these disturbing behaviors, I struggled to understand how and why people can hurt the people they love. I came to understand that for some families, these occurrences are generational and considered normal. Children observe their mothers endure physical and emotional abuse doled out by their father, and they do the same with their own families later in life, becoming either aggressors or victims. For lack of better instruction and example, abuse is considered to be an effective form of discipline. Children are subjected to violence when they misbehave or fail to succeed in school. Finally, alcoholism is rampant among men and it is not uncommon for spouses to arrive home and become violent after a long afternoon and night of drinking.
            I refused to stand by and watch my students and their families suffer; I decided to dedicate my work for the month of November to awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  My community partner, a professor from the local high school, and I worked with the mayor of the municipality, who agreed to fund and host a campaign against domestic violence.  We began with a parent workshop led by a psychologist and lawyer, who described the psychological and legal consequences of domestic violence, and possible solutions and treatment. The high school students also received workshops, and participated in an art contest to create informational pamphlets to pass out during the final town parade. We took advantage of the annual town fair and the students performed domestic violence-themed skits with the entire town in attendance. My community counterpart and I wrote and performed four “episodes” over the town loudspeakers. Finally, the students and staff from the high school, staff from the health posts, and town officials gathered for a town parade, touting posters, banners, and loudspeakers demanding an end to domestic violence and peace and harmony among families and community members.
            I consider this project to be one of my most successful endeavors during my Peace Corps service. For my students that are victims of domestic violence, it was an empowering experience because they were able to express their frustration and speak out against the aggression. Surveys and commentary indicate that people are better informed and are less afraid to expose and draw attention to cases of domestic abuse. Multiple women and students have requested information and advice on how to denounce the aggressors in their household. Finally, I was amazed at the level of support received from the community members and town officials to complete this project; ultimately, it must be the community who will demand change and make domestic violence unacceptable.