In the U.S. 43.6 million women (27%) and 37.3 (11%) million men will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime. These staggering numbers make it vital for organizations to be aware of and understand gender based violence. If you feel like this topic is heavy, well, it is but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t talk about it. But what role does an organization play? Podcast guest, Sarah Gonzalez Bocinski, is here to inform us.
Sarah Gonzalez Bocinski provides guidance and expertise to FUTURES’ economic justice initiatives and training and technical assistance projects related to workplace safety and economic opportunity for survivors of gender-based violence and harassment. Sarah brings over a decade of experience as an advocate, researcher, and technical assistance provider on issues ranging from economic justice and security, to gender equity in the workplace, and improving access to quality education and employment opportunities for survivors and other marginalized populations.
In this episode, Sarah walks us through the stats on how prevalent violence is against both women and men and she busts some myths about who experiences violence and even what violence looks like. She then talks about the intersection of violence and the workplace – how perpetrators can sabotage employment and what an organization can actually do about it.
Trigger alert – if a conversation around violence, or specifically sexual violence bothers you, you may want to pass on this episode.
Episode Highlights:
- In the U.S. 43.6 million women (27%) and 37.3 (11%) million men will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime. The numbers are higher for people of color and LGTBQ individuals.
- 1 in 5 women will be raped. Up to 85% of women have shared that they experienced sexual harassment and violence in the workplace.
- Anyone can be victim of violence. It does not stop based on your identity.
- Intimate partner violence = exerts power and control over another. It can include emotional abuse, isolation, coercion, and economic abuse (takes control over finances and gain employment, credit, living off of the victim’s finances while they don’t work).
- For survivors of domestic violence, leaving is the most dangerous time. That’s when fatalities go up.
- The long term impact of violence and trauma stays with the person for a long time.
- There’s incredible creativity in how abusive individuals are able to manipulate and control a person’s life.
- Employment can be sabotaged in many ways – they may be prevented from working, causing them to miss work or being late, leaving early, etc. Performance issues may come up as the perpetrator can cause the survivor to be kept up all night, call the workplace repeatedly, show up at work (creating fear, making it difficult to concentrate), and destroying work materials.
- 60% of survivors have been fired or had to quit because of gender-based violence.
- If you want to address a potential concern, you want to acknowledge what you’re seeing (a change that you’ve seen) and leave the door open to a future conversation. If they share that they are experiencing abuse, remind them it’s not their fault, assure it’s a confidential conversation (unless you are a mandatory reporter), and ask them how you can help in the moment.
- Don’t tell them what to do! Let them have control and agency. Empower them with information and options. They know what will keep them safe.
- One step you can take is to build a relationship with local domestic violence and sexual assault resources.
- We want to make sure we’re not enabling perpetrators.
Links Mentioned:
Interview with Sara Martin & Maggie Gough
Full Bio:
Sarah provides guidance and expertise to FUTURES’ economic justice initiatives and training and technical assistance projects related to workplace safety and economic opportunity for survivors of gender-based violence and harassment. Sarah brings over a decade of experience as an advocate, researcher, and technical assistance provider on issues ranging from economic justice and security, to gender equity in the workplace, and improving access to quality education and employment opportunities for survivors and other marginalized populations.
Prior to joining FUTURES, Sarah oversaw the Economic Security for Survivors Project, a national training, technical assistance, and research project at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and Wider Opportunities for Women. Sarah received her BA from Colgate University and MPP from the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University.
In her free time, you can find Sarah working on her country homestead with her family, crafting or making art, or wandering in the wilderness.
FUTURES on Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/FuturesWithoutViolence
https://www.twitter.com/withoutviolence