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Isolation intensifies violence in rural areas
By Norma Engelberg
Domestic violence, sometimes called “partner violence” knows no boundaries. It happens at all socioeconomic levels, in all ethnic and racial groups, in every country, to both genders, and in both urban and rural settings.
According to the Colorado Bar Association, an estimated one in four Colorado women has been abused by a domestic partner. In 2007, 11,362 incidents of domestic violence were reported to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Department of Justice statistics show that in recent decades, half of all women murdered in the United States were killed by a husband or partner, many of whom were stalkers before they became murderers.
In 2007, TESSA, a Colorado Springs-based organization — whose mission is: “To help women and their children achieve safety and well-being while challenging communities to end sexual and family violence,” — received more than 12,500 domestic violence and sexual assault client service calls and made more than 35,000 follow-up calls. TESSA works in El Paso and Teller counties.
TESSA reports that nine people died from causes related to domestic violence in 2004 in both counties.
When comparing the levels of domestic violence in Teller County to the rest of Colorado and the nation, however, it is important to take account of the county’s rural setting and its population.
“You can’t really compare domestic violence figures here with those of Colorado Springs,” said Jan McKamy, director of the Teller County Victim Assistance Program. “It’s apples and oranges. Women are much more isolated here than they would be in the city. Abusers know that and often move here because of it.”
While the number of domestic violence cases in Teller County can be considered low when compared to urban counties, the problem does exist, McKamy said. Her records show that reported domestic violence throughout Teller have averaged around 100 cases annually for the past few years.
“One case is too many,” she said.
Linda Chamberlain, who has a master’s degree and doctorate in public health, says in “Domestic Violence: A Primary Care Issue for Rural Women:” “From the remote islands of southeastern Alaska to rural counties in Georgia, rural women share a common risk: more than one-third will be victimized by an intimate partner.”
In general, rural areas have fewer violent crimes than urban areas, but that absence of violence doesn’t carry over to domestic violence. According to a report by Neil Websdale in “Rural Woman Battering and the Justice System,” women living in rural areas are just as likely as women in urban areas to report being the victims of intimate violence.
According to the U.S. Office of Rural Health Policy, batterers tend to isolate their victims in any setting but in rural areas that isolation is often more severe. They might live far from family and friends and the nearest neighbor might be several miles away. Rural areas also usually lack childcare, job opportunities and adequate public transportation. Shelters and other resources are often far away and poverty and economic dependence combine to make escaping a violent relationship more difficult for rural women.
“In rural areas an abused woman can’t just walk to the corner store or the nearest neighbor to call for help when her partner cuts off phone service or utilities,” McKamy said. “Transportation and communications are problems here. We hear it all the time, ‘we used to have two cars but my husband took my car apart to fix it and never put it back together’ or ‘we only have a cell phone and he takes it to work.’”
Another problem making it more difficult for abused women who live in rural areas to seek help is a lack of anonymity and confidentiality. According to the article “Danger in a Small Town: The Impact of Domestic Violence in Rural Communities” published by the Family Violence Prevention Fund, “In small towns, it can seem as if everyone knows everyone else. Judges and police officers who know both a batterer and his victim socially may be less likely to recognize the severity of an assault.”
As large as the problem appears to be, under-reporting of domestic violence is an issue, especially in rural areas. A study by Chelsie N. Noland and Ellen Buckner at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, School of Nursing showed that women living in rural areas are often reluctant to report abuse due to fear that they will be ignored, ridiculed or blamed.
In Teller County, McKamy said in an e-mail that “We know from longitudinal studies that at least an equal amount [of cases] never get reported.” She said this was probably a low estimate.
To address some of these rural domestic violence issues, TESSA employs two advocate-clinicians who work in rural areas of eastern El Paso County and Teller counties. TESSA’s office in Teller County is at the Aspen Mine Center in Cripple Creek. TESSA also employs a rural educator who provides community awareness and programs of education and consultation to other professionals in both of these areas.
According to the Colorado Bar Association, an estimated one in four Colorado women has been abused by a domestic partner. In 2007, 11,362 incidents of domestic violence were reported to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Department of Justice statistics show that in recent decades, half of all women murdered in the United States were killed by a husband or partner, many of whom were stalkers before they became murderers.
In 2007, TESSA, a Colorado Springs-based organization — whose mission is: “To help women and their children achieve safety and well-being while challenging communities to end sexual and family violence,” — received more than 12,500 domestic violence and sexual assault client service calls and made more than 35,000 follow-up calls. TESSA works in El Paso and Teller counties.
TESSA reports that nine people died from causes related to domestic violence in 2004 in both counties.
When comparing the levels of domestic violence in Teller County to the rest of Colorado and the nation, however, it is important to take account of the county’s rural setting and its population.
“You can’t really compare domestic violence figures here with those of Colorado Springs,” said Jan McKamy, director of the Teller County Victim Assistance Program. “It’s apples and oranges. Women are much more isolated here than they would be in the city. Abusers know that and often move here because of it.”
While the number of domestic violence cases in Teller County can be considered low when compared to urban counties, the problem does exist, McKamy said. Her records show that reported domestic violence throughout Teller have averaged around 100 cases annually for the past few years.
“One case is too many,” she said.
Linda Chamberlain, who has a master’s degree and doctorate in public health, says in “Domestic Violence: A Primary Care Issue for Rural Women:” “From the remote islands of southeastern Alaska to rural counties in Georgia, rural women share a common risk: more than one-third will be victimized by an intimate partner.”
In general, rural areas have fewer violent crimes than urban areas, but that absence of violence doesn’t carry over to domestic violence. According to a report by Neil Websdale in “Rural Woman Battering and the Justice System,” women living in rural areas are just as likely as women in urban areas to report being the victims of intimate violence.
According to the U.S. Office of Rural Health Policy, batterers tend to isolate their victims in any setting but in rural areas that isolation is often more severe. They might live far from family and friends and the nearest neighbor might be several miles away. Rural areas also usually lack childcare, job opportunities and adequate public transportation. Shelters and other resources are often far away and poverty and economic dependence combine to make escaping a violent relationship more difficult for rural women.
“In rural areas an abused woman can’t just walk to the corner store or the nearest neighbor to call for help when her partner cuts off phone service or utilities,” McKamy said. “Transportation and communications are problems here. We hear it all the time, ‘we used to have two cars but my husband took my car apart to fix it and never put it back together’ or ‘we only have a cell phone and he takes it to work.’”
Another problem making it more difficult for abused women who live in rural areas to seek help is a lack of anonymity and confidentiality. According to the article “Danger in a Small Town: The Impact of Domestic Violence in Rural Communities” published by the Family Violence Prevention Fund, “In small towns, it can seem as if everyone knows everyone else. Judges and police officers who know both a batterer and his victim socially may be less likely to recognize the severity of an assault.”
As large as the problem appears to be, under-reporting of domestic violence is an issue, especially in rural areas. A study by Chelsie N. Noland and Ellen Buckner at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, School of Nursing showed that women living in rural areas are often reluctant to report abuse due to fear that they will be ignored, ridiculed or blamed.
In Teller County, McKamy said in an e-mail that “We know from longitudinal studies that at least an equal amount [of cases] never get reported.” She said this was probably a low estimate.
To address some of these rural domestic violence issues, TESSA employs two advocate-clinicians who work in rural areas of eastern El Paso County and Teller counties. TESSA’s office in Teller County is at the Aspen Mine Center in Cripple Creek. TESSA also employs a rural educator who provides community awareness and programs of education and consultation to other professionals in both of these areas.
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