*trigger warning*
Ray Rice, a former running back of the Baltimore Ravens, was
originally suspended for two games for assaulting his wife, Janay Rice. The
first video released to the public was one which captured Ray Rice dragging his
unconscious wife from the elevator. At the time that the first video was
release, it was reported that the NFL had viewed a second video capturing the
incident which took place inside of the elevator. At some point last week, TMZ
released the second video, and leading up to that people were mad at the two
game suspension of Ray Rice, which may have pushed forth the public video
release. However, following the release of the second video NFL officials began
denying that they ever saw the second video.
Whether or not they viewed the video, people were making a constant
comparison between the length of game suspicions of players who tested positive
for THC and Ray Rice, who assault his wife. For players who tested positive for
THC received a 4 game suspension whereas Ray Rice originally only received a 2
game suspension. Ray Rice has since been
released from the Ravens and suspended from the NFL indefinitely. Some people are calling for members of
Raven’s upper management as well as the NFL commissioner. Another troubling result of this assault is
that NFL has made a new rule which states that for a first offense of assault
that a player will be suspended for 6 games.
First offense? Only 6 games? And that is only if the NFL officials
become aware of the incident and even then it seems to be unsure whether or not
they would acknowledge an assault incident as such.
What I have found most interesting has been the coverage and
disturbing opinions of this incident. For instance, Stephen A. Smith from ESPN
First Take commented on the Ray Rice incident by saying that he of course
doesn’t agree with domestic violence of women but women should learn that they
should not “provoke men.” This statement
essentially blames women for incidents of domestic violence and seems to
suggest that if women don’t want to get abused, then simply don’t give men a
reason too. However, this statement is not only disturbing for women but for
men as well. This statement portrays men
as beasts ready to pounce, reduced to tigers in a cage and women are the ones
poking them with sticks.
Stephen A. Smith’s response to the assault was unfortunately
a common one. Victim blaming statements pervaded a majority of the news
coverage as well as public opinions shared on social media sites. For instance,
I sadly came across a Youtube video entitled, “Ray Rice is the bigger victim of
domestic violence.” Also, following the
report of the incident on Fox news, the respondents responded that the take
away message should be to “take the stairs” and to remember that “when in an
elevator there is a camera.” This statement not only failed to address the true
severity of the situation that is domestic violence but seemed to suggest that
the abuser should carry out the violence in private. Another incident which essentially condoned
the act of violence against women was when an individual called into Limbaugh’s
radio show to share that if women want to be on the front line and treated
equal they should be able to take a punch. Limbaugh then comments that feminist
are wrong and feminism is “artificial” for men and women aren’t equal and that
the assault is a clear demonstration of such.
This statement said by the caller and supported by Limbaugh was used as
an attempt to rationalize domestic violence but bash feminism with Ray Rice’s
assault of his wife.
Many people were arguing that Janay “got what she deserved”
because she had initially started the incident by “lunging” and “antagonizing”
Ray Rice. Some people even used the same language of Stephen A. Smith in saying
she “poked the bear.” However, physical abuse is wrong and is against the law.
No one ever deserves abuse! Janay Rice was
also reticulated for staying with Ray Rice following the incident. Leaving an
abusive relationship is never an easy choice. Victims feel responsible for
assault and will defend the abuser. Leaving
an abusive relationship can be the most dangerous time for an abused
woman. Also, it is important for
individuals become familiar with the cycle of abuse. Abusers know who to take
power and control in the relationship and over their partners. Now, this is just an assumption but Ray Rice
is the primary financial holder, and therefore may have all the economic
control within the relationship. Janay may not have the financial resources to
the leave the abusive relationship.
Furthermore, there is many psychological tactics which the abuser
employs on the victim including denial of abuse or justifying their acts
through accusations of infidelity or in Janay’s case, her hitting Ray Rice
first.
But what I feel is more important is that everyone is
wanting to discuss why Janay didn’t leave the relationship when we should be
discussing why Ray Rice felt it was acceptable to abuse his wife. By having
people caught up in the discussion of why Janay didn’t leave the relationship
it distracts individuals from the true issue of domestic violence.
Although this incident is a truly disturbing one it has brought
domestic violence into the spotlight. Survivors of domestic violence have come
forward sharing their #whyIstayed stories, where they share the reasons why
they stayed, after Janay Rice received criticism for staying with Ray Rice. Also,
a story was shared were a father altered his children’s Ray Rice jerseys to say
“be nice to girls.” There have also been an increase number of calls to The National
Domestic Violence Hotline, for women in abusive relationships came forward wanting
to receive help after seeing the incident.
Assault is NEVER justified, regardless of one’s gender! And
stop showing the video! Survivors of domestic violence and others do not want
to see the disturbing act of violence. The fault of the incident should never
fall on the backs of the survivors of domestic violence. Domestic violence
should be put to an end.
-Written by Angela Barney
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