Too often, women’s roles in media are reduced to sexual fantasies. Depictions of fantasy women are problematic for a multitude of reasons, one being that fantasies don’t acknowledge the complexities of girlhood or their potential as humans, a box that has proven to be fatal to girls and women time and time again. In all media, and especially music videos, we are constantly bombarded with hyper-sexualized depictions of women, especially Black women. Media is shaped by culture! We blame teenage girls for expressing any hint of sexuality, yet they are taught time and time again that that’s what s ..read more

Domestic violence and its effects are present year-round. 2024 is still a fresh, new year and began with a month that holds meaning for several communities in terms of awareness building, many of which intersect with the work to end domestic violence. In this edition of our blog, ICADV’s Communications Coordinator, Oyindamola Olawepo, explores domestic violence and its connections with stalking, human trafficking, data privacy, poverty and economic justice, disabilities, and racial justice.    When a conversation turns to the topic of domestic violence, it can seem like so many diffe ..read more

Gaslighting is a curious term in that it originated in popular culture, retreated to the world of psychology, and then returned to the popular zeitgeist in full force. Gaslighting exploded onto the pop culture scene in the mid-2010s. It is talked about in Tik-Toks, the focus of many memes, and countless articles have discussed what it is and what it isn’t. The American Dialect Society named gaslight the “most useful” new word of 2016, and it was named Merriam Webster’s word of the year in 2022. The term has its origin in a 1938 play called Gas Light, which was later adapted into a 1944 film re ..read more

The holidays are upon us, and that means most of us are busy and stressed! The winter holidays are an emotional time for many people full of both positive and negative associations. I loved Christmas with my family because it was often the only time we were all together: decorating the tree, making dinner together, going through my stocking with my sister, seeing family I hadn’t seen in a long time, driving around to see the lights and decorations. It felt like a time of connection, warmth, and joy, and many people feel the same. However, the holidays can carry a lot of stress and negative fee ..read more

Throughout our Domestic Violence Awareness Month blog series, you will hear about domestic violence from various individuals, each with a unique perspective and experience. This week, in their own words, we hear from Jason and Rachal. Thank you to our contributing writers for sharing.    “While the sheltering of survivors is often a crucial first step in the recovery process, it is a short term, temporary piece of the longer-term recovery of survivors of domestic violence. After the shelter stay often comes the need for assistance in locating and securing longer term housing options ..read more

Throughout our Domestic Violence Awareness Month blog series, you will hear about domestic violence from various individuals, each with a unique perspective and experience. This week, in their own words, we hear from Michelle and Christine. Thank you to our contributing writers for sharing.    “As a domestic violence legal advocate, I understand the importance of quickly identifying when threats have been made with a firearm. I also have seen firsthand how the survivor’s level of fear and uncertainty escalates when firearms are a concern. We are all cognizant of the data about increa ..read more

Throughout our Domestic Violence Awareness Month blog series, you will hear about domestic violence from various individuals, each with a unique perspective and experience. This week, in their own words, we hear from Ema and the staff at Apna Ghar. Thank you to our contributing writers for sharing.     “When considering the topic of reproductive rights, I immediately think of the issues since Roe v. Wade was struck down and abortion bans went into effect across the nation. While Illinois has made significant efforts to protect all rights to healthcare. I live in Missouri, a stat ..read more

Throughout our Domestic Violence Awareness Month blog series, you will hear about domestic violence from various individuals, each with a unique perspective and experience. This week, in their own words, we hear from Vickie, Kristen, Becky, and Karlene. Thank you to our contributing writers for sharing.    “Every year during the month of October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) ICADV and advocates across the state and across the country focus on public education about the issue of domestic violence. Most people have images in their minds about domestic violence: black eyes ..read more

Violence prevention efforts are vital to reduce, and ultimately end, domestic violence. There are many important objectives in this work- for Campus Safety Awareness month (September), ICADV is focusing our prevention efforts on higher education. In this piece, we want to focus on why violence prevention in higher education is so important and greatly needed. This issue is especially relevant at the beginning of the school year, as more than 50% of sexual violence incidents occur in August, September, October and November.   (infographic resources linked below) 1) There are roughly 17 mi ..read more

Welcome back to ICADV’s blog! As we relaunch, we are taking the opportunity to discuss our tagline – “One Mission, One Voice” and what it means within this Coalition and within the move to end violence here in Illinois. The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV/ILCADV) was founded in 1978, the same year the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) was officially founded, and just two years after the first statewide domestic violence coalition, was founded in Pennsylvania. The gender-based anti-violence movement grew organically, and often simultaneously, around the co ..read more