Violence-the international use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation (World Health Organization). Chapter 13 tells us all about violence and unintentional injuries. It discusses the ever changing crime rates in the United States and the different kinds of factors that contribute to violence. As a college student, the section on campus violence stuck out to me. We get emails all the time concerning campus safety and reports of violence, and still the chapter tells us that less than 25 percent of campus violence goes unreported. Community contexts, societal factors, differences in religious beliefs, and other factors are all factors contributing to violence and a college campus is a breeding ground for these factors. People who experience anger that drives them to violence usually experience a triggering event leading to primary and reactive aggression. Interpersonal violence is between two people or groups. Homicides, hate crimes, domestic violence, child and elder abuse, and sex crimes are all classified as interpersonal violence. Homicide is the second leading cause of death in people ages 15 to 24. The chapter also describes the different kinds of hate crimes and the groups they affect. Domestic violence occurs in the home environment and is usually the result of someone trying to control the household. Intimate partner violence (IPV) falls under the category of domestic abuse and is a problem between couples. It is broken down into three phases: tension building, incident of acute battering, and then the remorse and reconciliation. Child abuse, maltreatment, and neglect are inflicted upon children, and elder abuse is inflicted upon elders.
Sexual victimization involves the coercion of one party to engage in ,or endure, the sexual act of
another. There are many kinds of sexual victimization. The chapter gives us details on sexual assault, rape, aggravated rape, simple rape, and marital rape. It also discusses the Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights, or the Ramstad Act, which gave victims of sexual victimization the right to call off-campus authorities to investigate allegations and required that universities develop programs to educate students on sexual assault. Social contributors to sexual victimization include trivialization, victim blaming, and pressure to be manly created by male misperceptions and socializations. Sexual harassment and stalking also fall under the umbrella of sexual victimization despite the fact that neither involves physical contact.
Collective Violence, or group violence, is related to political, governmental, religious, cultural, or social conflict. Gang violence covers about 48 percent of violent crime in the United States, and gang membership is currently over 1.4 million. The prevalence of gang involvement is probably why gang violence accounts for such a high percentage of violent crime. Terrorism also falls under collective violence as the “unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social objectives.” I personally believe terrorism is the most terrifying kind of violence because you never know where or when it could happen, and it can affect hundreds or even thousands at a time. Avoiding violence can be difficult because we cant control the thoughts or actions of other people. However, Chapter 13 gives us some strategies to try. Social media is a dangerous platform, so we need to be careful what we post and who we meet from social media. Learning self defense can also be a helpful tool in avoiding violence. It can help to protect ourselves against rape and other forms of physical violence. The chapter tells us to be strong and show our strength. Don’t necessarily try to intimidate a potential attacker, but also let them know that you are not one to be messed with. If these techniques don’t work, call 9-1-1, do not change or shower, and contact the rape assistance hotline. If you have a friend who has been rapes, believe them, counsel them, and encourage them to do what is best for them. Make sure they know they are safe with you, and make sure they know you do not doubt them.
College campuses have taken steps to respond to violence including emergency response drills, message systems, and the reverse 9-1-1 system. They have also improved lighting and security, placed call boxes around campus, removed shrubbery where attackers could lurk, implemented safe ride programs and policies against hazing. Campus law enforcement has stepped up across the country to defend students against potential violence. Community involvement is also very important as we must all work together to control what we can control to reduce violence in our communities.
Not all injuries are the product of violence. There are situations in the world that we cannot control that can hurt us, but there are also some things we can do to prevent other situations. Car accidents claimed more than 33,500 American lives in 2012. Accidents are exactly that, accidents. However, many are caused by distracted or impaired driving, and speeding. These are all factors that we can control. The easiest fix is to simply drive responsibly. We can also make sure that our vehicles are in safe driving condition. Vehicle safety issues and malfunctions are all contributors to motor vehicle accidents. Our moods can be dangerous, as well. Everyone gets frustrated while driving, but road rage is where the frustration crosses the line. To avoid road rage, the chapter suggests avoiding eye contact and engagement, fighting the urge to antagonize, not leading a follower to your home, taking down names, and staying calm in trying situations.
Cars are not the only culprits when it comes to unintentional injuries. The chapter also highlights the potential risks in recreational vehicles such as skateboards and bikes. When operating either of these it is important to always wear a helmet and remain aware of your surroundings. I’ll speak for myself when I say I always tense up a little bit when I am driving and I see a biker or skateboarder on the road. A lot of times, these people do not ride with the same traffic laws as drivers. So remember, use hand signals, ride with the flow of traffic, and just use common sense.
There are also recreational activities that have nothing to do with roads, but carry the same potential for injury. Snow and water sports can be very risky if not done with the proper precautions. When skiing or snowboarding or partaking in any snow sports, always wear a helmet, make sure your equipment is in good working condition, and don’t try to get fancy. Everyone wants to do the black diamond, but some should stick to the bunny hill. Also, it is important that you pay attention to those around you. Some people may not be as aware and we have no control over those people, but we can control ourselves and our own awareness. The same can be said about any activities done in an aquatic setting. Be aware, be careful, and always avoid drinking before these kinds of activities. Also, never swim alone. If you ever get into trouble with no one around, you’re in some serious trouble. With water sports specifically, it is useful and wise to learn CPR. I am certified, and I will say it definitely gives me peace of mind when out on the lake with my friends.
There are plenty of other ways we can sustain unintentional injuries. One that surprised me was the possibility of injury from excessive noise. As someone who loves going to EDM concerts, this was a part of the chapter that caught my attention. It tells us that noise levels above 85 decibels increase risk hearing loss. Judging by the chart given in the chapter, 85 is low compared to concert level noise, which is closer to 130 decibels. Luckily, I don’t go to concerts very often. So, hopefully my hearing will stay in tact. Injuries are also sustained at home all the time. Fires and falls are highlighted in the chapter as two causes of household injuries, smoking being the number one cause of fire related deaths. So, take it outside people. Poisoning is in the mix with falls and fires. Cleaning products and chemicals that we often keep in our homes can become dangerous if not properly stored and labeled. Also, many of our homes have medications in them. Do not mix medications or take too much. This sounds trivial, but we need to be careful in order to avoid poisoning. A headache can result in an overdose of even the most basic medications.
Assuming that we all work, we need to be careful of workplace injuries too. I used to work in the produce department of a grocery store where I would have to lift heavy boxes of bananas or bags of potatoes and I was always sure to protect my back. Now I have a desk job and find that sitting for so long hurts my back even more. I decided to use a yoga ball instead of a chair and it has improved my back pain immensely. No matter what you do for work, always be sure to protect your back. Maintaining an overall healthy weight and lifestyle can help with this.
This chapter hit home for me, as I have been a victim of violence. As a child, I was unfortunate enough to live in a home with a man who had no respect for others and channeled his anger into violent reactions. I continue to suffer from mild PTSD to this day, but I have overcome the constant fear and aggression that results from it. Dealing with violence is just as difficult as enduring it. I believe this chapter is a valuable source of information to reference in learning how to avoid it.
The past week I definitely hit a little bit of a hiccup in following my plan to achieve my goal. My diet and exercise routine took a hit as I was completely overwhelmed with school work and actual work. I haven’t been eating as much as I should, and what I ate was not the high protein food I have been eating thus far. Easter certainly did not help either with my French and Italian side of the family being in charge of the cooking! However, today my family as a whole decided to start the keto diet. From here on out there will be little to no carb-foods in my home, and we will be eating healthy as a family. I think this will help me to get back on track because now I will have a support system that is embarking on this new way of eating with me!
P.S. With today being the first borderline warm day of the year, my friend and I decided to go to the beach to take some pictures, because I am becoming proud of the way I look again. (I realized once I was in a bathing suit it was not as warm as I thought!) My muscle tone has visibly improved, and I know I will only continue to get stronger.
Meghan's Health and Wellness Studies 