Victims of Abuse Face Stigma and Shaming

Kristina Romero

Romero also spoke about how those in abusive relationships are stigmatized, even blamed for somehow provoking the abuse. She says social media comments being made about Dr. Shanika Arnold, the fiancé of Patrick Faber, remind her of what she was told about her own relationship twenty years ago. 

Kristina Romero, Raise Me Up

“It reminds me why, twenty years ago when I was experiencing domestic violence, I didn’t share what was happening because it is still a taboo topic. It is still a topic that comes with a lot of stigma and discrimination. When you say that you are in an abusive relation, or you are being emotionally abused, you’re labelled as “crazy.” Or your relationship is nitpicked, but not in a positive way.  You have friends and family that tell you, well you know, “You have a strong character, you look for it.” “He doesn’t seem like that type of person that will abuse you.”  “You must have done something to aggravate him.” And they make it about the victim, without realizing that abuse is the abusers fault. Abuse is a reflection of the abuser and not the victim.  So it really infuriates me, seeing the commentary, to see that people are stuck in the 1940s or the 1800s, still blaming the victim for the abuse that she or he is enduring.”