The Rural Voice, 1993-11, Page 30The Hidden Horror on our Farms
Isolation and stress can take a heavy toll in wife -abuse in farm families
by Corinne Robertson -Brown
Things have been rough
lately on the Smith's farm.
John has hit his wife in the
past, but lately he's been
attacking her more often, hiding
the car keys on her, and refusing
to let hcr talk to her friends. Last
week he held her head under a
pillow until she nearly suffocated
because he found a long distance
call to her mother on their
telephone bill. His wife is afraid
of him all the time, but doesn't
know what to do. He is bigger
and stronger than she is, and she
never knows what will set him
off.
Think this is an isolated incident?
Think again. Although this farm
couple described above is fictitious,
their situation is very real. Statistics
show that one in 10 (some studies
suspect as many as one in four)
Canadian women are abused by their
partners. In 1991, a woman married
in Port Elgin was repeatedly shot by
hcr husband and survived. But 120
women across Canada that year were
not so lucky. They died at the hands
of their partners. They were shot,
strangled, smothered, or stabbed.
Battering, as it is sometimes
called, exists everywhere, and the
family farm is no exception. Just
because you don't hear about it
doesn't mean it isn't happening.
This appalling secret is beginning to
come out of hiding, though.
November is Wife Abuse Prevention
Month, and public awareness of this
vast social problem is increasing,
thanks to the tireless work of many
people and organizations dedicated to
stopping this crime and educating
people about it.
"People want to deny this
problem," says Arlene Timmins,
Executive Director of Phoenix
Second Stage Housing, and co-chair
of co-ordination for Stop Woman
Abuse Now (SWAN). SWAN was
established in 1990 as a community
response to the issue in Huron
County. It has a diverse mem-
bership, including representatives
26 THE RURAL VOICE
Arlene Timmins, Executive Director
of Phoenix House of Huron,
from police services, community
service agencies, the legal profession,
the medical community, the
ministerial community, the Crown's
office, and the community at large.
Monthly meetings keep SWAN
working on issues relevant to the
work of ending woman abuse.
One of their initiatives was the
compilation of a study of these
issues, and involved focusing on the
network of services available in
Huron County. Interviewers were
trained, surveys prepared, and 358
residents of Huron County were
interviewed,including men, women,
(some survivors of abuse), police,
physicians, lawyers, and clergy.
Huron County has been
described as one of the most
rural counties in southwestem
Ontario, with over half of the
popu ation living outside of the
towns and villages, and a large
percentage of those rural dwellers
living on farms. Even the non -rural
centres here are relatively small.
This situation poses special
challenges to service providers in
rural areas, and particular risks to
women whose partners are abusive.
Many live a long distance from even
a small centre, and winter conditions
can make travel even more difficult.
Women may not know what help is
available in their area. Even
telephoning for help often means
long distance charges, and police
response takes much longer than
it would in an urban area. The
distance from neighbours can be
a problem; as one woman said,
"There was no one close to hear
my cries for help." As well, there
is the reality in rural communities
that each person's actions are
extremely visible, and often
"everyone knows everybody
else's business." One woman
surveyed said, "It is impossible
for people to come to the farm
without him seeing them (he's
there all the time)." This can all
make it more difficult for a rural
woman to anonymously come
forward for service and help.
Because of these challenges,
Huron County, as well as Perth and
Grey -Bruce, have a network of .
essential services in place, and they
are particularly sensitive to the needs
of farm women. They often have
toll-free telephone numbers,
transportation, and many specialized
services which include shelters,
groups, and programs for both
women and men. (See sidebar.)
first, some definitions. The
terms "wife assault" or "wife
abuse" are used when a man
hurts or threatens a woman he
is in a relationship with. It can
include sexual assault and emotional
abuse. It is against the law. Contrary
to what people sometimes believe, it
is every bit as illegal to assault a wife
or partner as to assault a total
stranger. Women have the right to be
safe.
Why does a man batter?
Researchers believe that it is because
he wants to have control and power
over his partner. He may believe that
he has the right to control his wife.
He may have learned that violence in
the home is okay. He may feel
powerless and unable to handle the
problems in his life. Also, in the
past, it was easy for men to "get
away with" abusing women.
Why do some women stay with