By Russell Irving of DontOverlookTheObvious.com
‘Urban Legends‘ are those matters which countless individuals believe to be true, yet which are either totally false or have a grain or two or three of truth to them.
Super Bowl Sunday has been the subject of multiple such legends. Especially the one which states that there is more domestic violence on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year. Or, a variation which states that Emergency Rooms treat more domestic violence victims on this day than other ones.
The fact of the matter is that in 1993, FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting) sent out a press release saying women’s shelters reported that Super Bowl Sunday was one of their busiest days.
This then took on a life of it’s own. And, mutated into various ‘horror stories’ which remain active, to this day.
Dr. Richard Gelles, an expert in the area of domestic violence, has stated that there has never been a study proving the correlation between this football championship and abuse of women. There does not appear to be empirical evidence that Super Bowl Sunday creates more domestic abuse than other days.
Okay, but why, you might ask, do I even bring the subject up?
Well, 1st, I hate to see people spread rumors and false information. And, I know that there will be many an email or blog entry trying to convince folks that this myth is true.
But, more importantly, domestic violence, whether against a woman or a man (yes, that does happen) is a ‘super serious’ problem. It happens every day. The abusers do not need a special excuse for their horrid behavior. – If we relegate this violence to a few ‘special days’ such as Super Bowl Sunday, then it becomes easier for a victim’s relatives and friends to dismiss the serious of the crime. They will suggest to a known victim that they should try avoiding contact with their abuser on that day. As if doing that would keep them safe the other 364 days of the year. (It won’t.)
Fact is that domestic violence, regardless of the actual statistics, should never be excused. And, if you know of someone who is a
victim, try to get them to report it, file charges, and get help from a shelter, mental health clinic/ professional, clergy, or… Be supportive.
If you are a victim, remember and believe in your heart of hearts that you do not deserve the abuse. Think of the impact on any children whom you have/ witness the violence/ it’s aftermath. Finally, do not choose to remain in the situation. There are options to help you. Some might be easy and comfortable. Others, difficult. But, ultimately, you need to decide that you are a valuable human being who deserves better treatment. So, go for it!
‘Nuff said.
Russell Irving is a media-acclaimed, expert on Single Life, Marriage, and more. – His book, Improve Your Marriage – Don’t Overlook The Obvious is available at Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, as well as the book’s companion site, www.DontOverlookTheObvious.com
