Concerning Epidemic

A few years ago, I remember devising a strategy to avoid becoming a victim of what the media presented as an imminent bird flu epidemic. My family owns a relatively secluded cabin in the Pocono mountains and I decided I would travel there and stay isolated for as long as necessary to survive this new plague. As usual, the media’s bird flu hype turned out to be much more hype than bird flu, and my plan wasn’t necessary (although I still keep it on file, just in case).
Historically, major epidemics break out once or twice a century causing severe illness, loss of life, and social disruption. In modern society, we have medical and emergency authorities at the CDC prepared to quickly identify, contain, and fight any possible outbreak of deadly communicable diseases. Just recently, there was a small contained outbreak of meningitis at UPENN where several students were hospitalized. I heard/saw reports of it on t.v., radio, and in print for several days in a row. As a response, all students, faculty, staff, and families were notified, properly informed of the situation and significant precautions were taken to assure the sick received immediate treatment and the disease was contained.
Given such high levels of response, treatment and public attention to this and other outbreaks of disease, I am left to wonder why another major public health crises is not given the same level of prevention, attention, detection, and treatment. Violence against women in the United States, including domestic violence, rape, and sexual abuse, is nothing other than an epidemic running rampant throughout our nation. This epidemic cuts across geographies, class and racial lines, and ages. For those of you rolling your eyes and assuming I’m some fanatic feminazi, I invite you to look at the evidence.
~ According to the American Medical Association (I think we can all agree this is a reputable
source), the leading cause of injury to women in the United States is domestic violence.
~ One third of all murdered women are killed by their partner. (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Murder
in Families, Government Printing Office, 1994)
~ About 50% of men admit they would force a woman to have sex if they could get away with
it. (Henderson, L. (2003). “Rape and Responsibility.” Journal of Law and Philosophy.)
~ The most conservative estimates show that over one in three women (37%) will experience
sexual assault at some point in their lives. Other estimates suggest that number is as high
as 60%. (National Victim Center, Rape in America: Report to the Nation. 1992.)

These numbers by far exceed the general norm for epidemics. Even the dreaded Bubonic (Black) plague, the most notorious epidemic in history, affected less than 15% of the population. When combined, conservative estimates for both physical and sexual violence against woman reach 50%. I suggest each of you reading this blog stop, look around you (unless you’re alone) and see how many women are in the room. Half of them either have been or will be victimized by a man. If you are a woman, chances are you either have been or know a close friend or family member who has been victimized by a man. If you are a man, think of the women in your life--your mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, or aunt--most likely, one or several of them have been physically or sexually victimized by a man.
This type of epidemic (I don’t know what else you can call it) is unfathomable in a society as “modern,” “progressive,” and “equal” as ours. The absence of public outrage, widespread media coverage, and dramatic action only serves as further evidence of the inequality and pervasive devaluation of women in our society. I certainly hope and pray that I am not the only one who is deeply, deeply disturbed by this situation.