October is internationally known and recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Everywhere you look there are people donning pink shirts or ribbons, wearing livestrong bracelets with "save the ta-tas", or other (arguably) demeaning logos. According to the CDC, about 40,000 women lose the fight against breast cancer every year. Walks, marathons, and other fundraisers garner thousands upon thousands of dollars towards helping find the cure for this and, through its research, other cancers as well.
Often overlooked in this month is that it is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. While the number of annual fatalities due to partner homicide may not reach the staggering numbers of breast cancer, unlike cancer, domestic abuse is done by what should be rationally thinking teens and adults. It is not an untreatable disease, but a scourge due to lack of public education, awareness, and in truth, due to general apathy.
Over 500,000 women will fall prey to stalkers this year.
Nearly a third of women have reported being abused by a partner at some point in their life.
The US divorce rate is at 50%. almost a quarter of those divorces cite violence as a primary reason.
A third of all women who are victims of homicide are murdered by a current of previous boyfriend.
Abusers are a cancer to society. While we remember all those fighting the battle against the cancer inside them, let us also help to fight the cancer that is destroying families.
While we mourn all those lost to cancer, let us no forget to also mourn those lost needlessly to domestic abuse.
Wear a pink ribbon on your breast. And a purple one on your heart.
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