domestic violence awareness month

i love that october is now often referred to as "pink-tober" because of it being breast cancer awareness month. everything is "pinked" out - from the NFL to fountains in NYC. i love the pink ribbons and the strides made to raise breast cancer awareness.

unfortunately, the pink outshines the purple. many forget or don't even know that october is also domestic violence awareness month. even though it is not as well known or as socially-endorsed, domestic violence awareness is just as important as breast cancer awareness. raising awareness for domestic violence has become more important to me since joining alpha chi omega. as a sorority, we hope to raise domestic violence awareness and help those who are victims. we work to fight against unhealthy relationships and build healthy relationships. as alpha chi omega simply says in regards to domestic violence, "love shouldn't hurt."

the issue of domestic violence is a silent battle and one that unfortunately affects more people (not just women) than we know. i am blessed to have never been a victim of domestic violence, but i know some women that have and their stories are heartbreaking. i see, especially recently, more and more stories of domestic violence in the news. as a young female, i feel that it is necessary to speak out against domestic violence. too many young women are victims and they are fighting the battle silently.

the recent "outbreak" of domestic violence in the news can be seen as both a bad and good thing. though i hate that the women are victims of domestic violence, it has brought the issue to light. now, more and more celebrities and news anchors, from actress kerry washington to TODAY show host tamron hall,  are speaking out against and raising awareness for domestic violence.

so, with this being said, i invite you to join the fight. wear pink and purple this month, and every month after. silence hides the violence so keep the conversation going. speak out, speak up. no one deserves to be a victim of domestic violence. it's on us to end it.

xoxo,
clp