While it may sound like something out of Law & Order: SVU, "reproductive coercion" is a very real, very serious form of abuse facing women today. Reports of intimate partner violence including reproductive coercion vary hugely in age, socio-economic status, and geographical locations - sadly, it affects all kinds of women. Researchers say many women don't report this kind of abuse because they don't recognize that it's happening - and ... Read More

When we think of domestic violence, the image that most often comes to mind is that of an aggressive male perpetrator and a beaten female victim.  However, the American Journal of Public Health’s most recent large-scale study of domestic violence shows that in reality, women are actually more often the perpetrators. Analyzing data gathered from 11,370 respondents, researchers found that “half of [violent relationships] were ... Read More

[Trigger Warning: This post contains a description and photos of physical assault that may potentially be triggering for survivors of such abuse.] Just as Congress was debating the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, photographer Sara Naomi Lewkowicz’s 39-frame photo essay “Photographer As Witness: A Portrait of Domestic Violence” was featured in Time Magazine and is receiving serious backlash and hate from ... Read More

Not too long ago, the BUST Blog covered a New York woman’s efforts to re-vamp Verizon’s cancellation policies for domestic violence survivors. Almost 200,000 signatures later, her petition was successful! Today, as part of its annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Verizon is implementing some brand-new policy changes to better assist victims of partner violence. Customer service reps now have specific protocol for assisting ... Read More

Sometimes, when I read about whatever horrible thing televangelist Pat Robertson has said lately, my first instinct is to laugh — so much of what Robertson says seems straight out of the Onion. I saw this graphic going around on Tumblr recently and promptly burst into hysterical giggles: YOU GUYS, FEMINISTS ARE LESBIAN COMMUNIST WITCHES WHO GO AROUND MURDERING MEN AND CHILDREN!!!! But once I calm down, I remember that Robertson ... Read More

                                From eggs stamped with little pink ribbons to pink yogurt tops to special pink KitchenAid mixers for Cook For The Cure, everyone knows it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But did you know that October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month? Since October 1987, October has been the month to bring awareness to all ... Read More