BEHS 364 Discussion 8
- What is the difference between being an activist, an advocate, and an ally?
An Activist is a person that takes direct action, uses, or supports actions in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue.
An Advocate is someone who pleads for a group by supporting or defending their actions or cause.
An Ally is a person or group that provides assistance and support in an ongoing effort
- When it comes to domestic violence issues, are you inclined to be an activist, an advocate, an ally, or none of these? Explain your response.
I would like to be an advocate, after the knowledge received from this class and reading the statistic. I would like to use my voice to speak up for the victims of abuse that are not able or afraid to speak up for themselves.
- Finally, as we end the course, please share something that you have learned that you did not know prior to taking this course. How will this change your understanding of domestic violence or the social structures that support it?
I now have an understanding that domestic abuse is more than just hitting someone, that people around you may be going through the abuse and the signs are there, but you sometimes tend to ignore because you do not want to get involved. Now regardless of if I suspect something I will speak up.
After reviewing this week’s learning resources, respond to the following discussion prompts:
1) What is the difference between being an activist, an advocate, and an ally?
2) When it comes to domestic violence issues, are you inclined to be an activist, an advocate, an ally, or none of these? Explain your response.
3) Conduct a web search and locate at least 3 domestic violence advocacy organizations. What specific opportunities do these organizations provide for people who want to get involved in the fight against domestic violence? Share the links.
4) Finally, as we end the course, please share something that you have learned that you didn’t know prior to taking this course. How will this change your understanding of domestic violence or the social structures that support it?
- Post your original discussion response by Saturday, 11:59 p.m. ET.
- Post replies in two other students’ threads by Tuesday, 11:59 p.m. ET.
- See the Syllabus under “Project Descriptions” for a detailed description of expectations for both original question posts and replies to others.
Activists are generally people with a cause who are committed to making change happen. They work to use their voice and their words to advocate for what they believe in, no matter the cost. Advocates are less likely than activists to become adversaries, but will still take an active stance against injustice to promote change. Sometimes this means that they will tackle more administrative tasks and less time spent on activism. Allies are the people closest to activity; the people you can count on to help support and spread the word about your efforts. When it comes to domestic violence I am more of an ally because I have not been a victim of abuse. However, as an ally, I feel I need to support my family and friends in any way that I can. I need to know the warning signs so that if they were present in my life or my friends’ lives, I would be able to recognize them. I am aware that many factors make people more vulnerable to abuse, so I know that there is nothing wrong with support. Three groups that help with domestic violence advocacy are National Domestic Violence Hotline, RAINN, and the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides 24-hour support and crisis intervention to victims and survivors of domestic violence through safety planning, advocacy, resources, and a supportive ear. RAINN(Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) runs programs to prevent violence, assist survivors and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. The American Bar Association Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence is a commission that seeks to train attorneys to represent victims of domestic violence. Its mission is to increase access to justice for survivors of DV, sexual assault, and stalking by working with people in the legal profession.
Before taking this course I didn’t know there were many types of domestic violence but the course was very well explained and the examples were relatable. I learned about the origins and types of DV, sexual assault, stalking, and child abuse. I can say I am very educated on the topic now. I also learned about what signs to look out for, who to report to, and how to prevent this from happening. I would recommend this course because it was very informative and eye-opening. I enjoyed learning about how my community can help, how I can help, and that there are services out there for victims of DV.
National Domestic Violence Hotline:
RAINN:
The American Bar Association Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence:
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