15 Calls To End The Silence Around Violence Against Women

Today, inspired in part by Republican opposition to renewing the Violence Against Women Act, Fem2.0 hosted a tweetchat under the hashtag #endthesilence.

More than three women and one man are murdered by their intimate partners in the US daily #EndTheSilence #fem2

— Sarah Burris (@SarahBurris) March 22, 2012

Source: @SarahBurris

Since #VAWA passed in 1994, rates of murder by intimate partner have decreased by 34% for women, 57% for men. #EndTheSilence

— Fem2pt0 (@Fem2pt0) March 22, 2012

Source: @Fem2pt0

Pop culture teaches boys to extract "consent" from girls through a host of coercive tactics.#EndTheSilence

— Hugo Schwyzer (@hugoschwyzer) March 22, 2012

Source: @hugoschwyzer

.@Fem2pt0 I had once had a prosecutor tell me if there was alcohol involved in the assault she would not go forward. #EndtheSilence

— Andrea Gleaves (@Andylou3) March 22, 2012

Source: @Andylou3

I think parents should be better informed as well, I understand it's hard to believe their child is a victim. #endthesilence

— Janne (@Janne_JJC) March 22, 2012

Source: @Janne_JJC

A woman protests violence against women in Mexico City earlier this month.

Image by Alexandre Meneghini / AP

but if my parents had believed me, I probably would have reported. #endthesilence

— Janne (@Janne_JJC) March 22, 2012

Source: @Janne_JJC

@Fem2pt0 Involve men! This is not only a woman's fight!Educate boys+girls on these issues so we build a supportive soceity! #endthesilence

— Clara Vaz (@ClaraVaz1) March 22, 2012

Source: @ClaraVaz1

It is a myth that #LGBT couples don't batter each other, or if they do; they are just "fighting" or it is "mutual abuse". #endthesilence

— Levi Pine (@weare991) March 22, 2012

Source: @weare991

Thanks feminism. Not too long ago, the state coudn't interfere in "domestic" disputes & marital rape wasn't a crime.#endthesilence

— Annemarie Strassel (@Joanjest) March 22, 2012

Source: @Joanjest

Living openly, without shame part of healing from sexual abuse for me, many. Visibility breaks silence. #EndTheSilence #VAW #rape

— Emmily Bristol (@TheSinCitySiren) March 22, 2012

Source: @TheSinCitySiren

thankful to all the women in my life that have interrupted sexism, including my own and that of other men in my fam #endthesilence

— Nat Lippert (@2getherwewin) March 22, 2012

Source: @2getherwewin

CDC: #sexualassault represented 10% of all assault-related injury visits to the emergency department by females in 2006 study #EndTheSilence

— RealLifeUnplugd (@RealLifeUnplugd) March 22, 2012

Source: @RealLifeUnplugd

Let's not ignore men victims too. Everyone needs to be taught about healthy communication, boundaries and consent. #endthesilence

— loveisrespect (@loveisrespect) March 22, 2012

Source: @loveisrespect

Recent ranting by #RushLimbaugh is one example of how some think acceptable 2 denigrate women. Perpetuates & promotes behav #endthesilence

— ckhayek (@ckhayek) March 22, 2012

Source: @ckhayek

Ok everyone, we need to end now and go out and make this conversation even more public. #endthesilence

— Fem2pt0 (@Fem2pt0) March 22, 2012

Source: @Fem2pt0