October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness about domestic violence, support survivors and advocate for safer communities.
Domestic violence—while often misunderstood or overlooked—manifests in a variety of ways, including physical, emotional, psychological and financial abuse. The month of awareness serves not only as a reminder of the ongoing challenges survivors face, but also as an opportunity to break down misconceptions and engage in meaningful conversations about this critical issue.
To learn more about how domestic violence affects communities, how CWRU can help support survivors and to promote open conversation on the topic, The Daily sat down with Marina Giannirakis, director of violence prevention and response at the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women. Read on to hear Giannirakis’ insights and explore campus resources.
Q: From your experience, what are some of the most common misconceptions people have about domestic violence?
I think one of the most common misconceptions is that it only happens to women, or that men are always the perpetrators. Women who do perpetrate often use different forms of abuse that may not be as physical or as obvious, or people might not know the words to classify it as abuse because it could be a lot more emotional and psychological, rather than physical or sexual abuse—it’s still abuse, it just looks different.
I think another common misconception is that if you recognize that someone is hurting you, it should be easy to leave—or just questioning why victims don’t leave. This is a very common one, and we’ve been talking about it a lot recently. It’s not easy to leave somebody, especially if you love them. It can also be really dangerous to leave somebody who’s abusive.
Q: How have societal attitudes toward domestic violence changed over the years?
I think there is starting to be a little more understanding and empathy as people learn more about how hard it is to leave. In the last year I’ve had some conversations—both in a professional capacity and personal—where I’ve felt a shift toward that understanding. When the actress and singer Keke Palmer revealed that she was in an abusive relationship last year, somebody asked me, “Why didn’t they leave? They have all this money!”
I think a lot of people can understand why it might be safer to stay if somebody doesn’t have those resources, but that question led to a really good conversation around financial abuse, control and lots of other more subtle forms of violence. Overall, I think it’s not as taboo to talk about as it used to be, which is helping educate people about all the ways abuse can manifest.
Q: What unique challenges do survivors of domestic violence face when they are part of marginalized or underserved communities?
I think a big challenge for some marginalized communities—particularly people of color—is the distrust of the institutions that are supposed to help them in these situations. Getting law enforcement involved can mean something very different for Black and brown individuals, and there’s a lot of fear of not being believed, treated fairly or protected when they seek help.
Other identities—like survivors from the LGBTQ+ community—may sometimes feel that resources aren’t designed for their experiences. For so long, a lot of resources surrounding domestic violence were tailored toward women, because the movement started as a gender-based violence movement. Folks still may not think that those resources are for them. We’ve been trying to work on that at the Mather Center, and communicate that these resources are not just for women or folks who identify as women. They are for everyone, no matter how you identify.
Q: What role do faculty and staff play in supporting survivors of domestic violence, and how can they be trained to respond appropriately?
Almost all faculty and staff are required to share information with the Office of Equity if they learn that domestic violence may have occurred, and the university requires mandatory training for all faculty and staff annually on this topic to make sure survivors are aware of resources available to them. It’s so important for faculty and staff to do their best to pick up on signs and to be trained on how to support somebody in the moment, or know where to refer students.
The Mather Center offers additional trainings on the topic throughout the year or by request. We also have a faculty and staff toolkit that covers what faculty can put in their syllabus, what to do in certain scenarios, where you should go and so on. We have some sample scripts people can follow if someone starts disclosing to them, and outline some typical signs and sometimes symptoms to look out for.
Q: How does Case Western Reserve ensure that survivors who come forward feel safe and supported throughout the reporting process?
There are a lot of processes and resources at the university designed to help survivors feel safe and supported, and they’re available to anyone who may be experiencing domestic violence. Generally, the Mather Center is always going to start by creating a safety plan with survivors, which is essential when experiencing any form of domestic, relationship or intimate partner violence. In simplest terms, a safety plan is a set of actions that can lower your risk of harm from your partner or alleged abuser.
These plans will change and evolve as survivors move through whatever process they feel comfortable with, but typically start with identifying safe and unsafe places, people and events. For example: home, classes (the buildings they are in, and the route taken to get there), student organizations or groups, jobs, car and parking lots, religious or spiritual locations, sports practices, etc.
If a student wants accountability, either through an investigation with the Office of Equity or by filing a report with law enforcement, the safety plan may evolve to include additional supportive measures. These could include accommodations like extensions on assignments, excused absences, No Contact Directives, residence changes or work or class schedule changes.
Additionally, survivors have the option to be accompanied by a support person of their choosing at any meeting with the Office of Equity. They also offer trained advisors who understand the policy and procedures for support, and can accompany a person through every step of the investigation process.
Survivors always have the right not to participate in an investigation, and can change their mind at any time. We always allow the survivor to guide the conversation, acknowledging that they are the expert on their own experience.
If you or someone you know may be in an unhealthy situation, please reach out to the resources below.
Campus
Student Advocate for Gender-Based Violence (confidential)
Phone: 216.368.2536
Email: CWRUAdvocate@case.edu
Location: Tinkham Veale University Center, Suite 248
University Health and Counseling Services (confidential)
Health Services: 216.368.2450
Counseling Services: 216.368.5872
Appointments: myhealthconnect.case.edu
24/7 telehealth and telecounseling visits: timelycare.com/cwru
Office of Equity
Phone: 216.368.3066; 216.327.4160 (text or call the Title IX Coordinator, including after regular business hours or on weekends)
Email: equity@case.edu
Location: Nursing Research Building, Suite 1180, 2120 Cornell Rd. Open during regular business hours Monday-Friday; walk-ins welcome or call for an appointment (Zoom or in person)
CWRU Police
Phone: 216.368.3333
Email: publicsafety@case.edu
Location: 1689 E. 115th St.
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7217
Community
Journey Center for Safety and Healing
(24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline): 216.368.5872
Ohio Domestic Violence Network
800.934.9840
odvn.org
Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
1223 West Sixth Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
216.687.1900
National
National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7): 1.800.799.7233