These powerful images show us all that #Silencehidesviolence.
Warning: This post deals with domestic abuse and could be distressing for some readers.
The first thing 27-year-old Brooke Beaton did after her boyfriend beat her was call the police.
The second to call was an old school friend – a photographer.
It was time to make a statement.
The images taken just last week have now gone viral – being shared thousands upon thousands of times.
Brooke Beaton, from South Dakota in the US, enlisted the help of an old school friend – one she had not seen for more then ten years, photographer friend Tiffany Thoelke – to document the abuse.
Brooke had been driving a car with her partner – a friend of eight years, a lover of four months as a passenger when he assaulted her.
She told The Argus Leader he punched her face with his fist, struck her again, choked her and tried to wrestle away her phone. She feared for her life.
“I ended up at a gas station about five miles away from where we were,” Beaton said. “He was wiping up the crime scene with a paper towel from the gas pump.”
Finally he let her go. She drove home and called an ambulance and the police and her old friend Tiffany Thoelke.
Ms Thoelke says that was the moment her friend’s fear turned into courage.
Ms Thoelke posted the images on Facebook along with this statement:
I write this with a heavy heart. Today I saw a post of my childhood friend that tore me apart. During conversation she said, “We need to do a shoot to raise awareness about domestic violence.” I said, “Yeah we can any weekend,” (thinking the normal, makeup and such) swamped with editing and deadlines. She says to me, “No, like, as in now, I want it to be real.” Without hesitation, I agreed. I was taken aback by her courage, in a time when so many women just don’t have it.
This is not makeup, this is Brooke, my beautiful friend, a mother, a model, an all around amazing woman… with real bruises. This is real. Brooke’s strength during this time is everything you hope for in someone who has experienced such trauma. 80% of the women who are abused, do not speak about it… and they do not leave. Brooke, days later, decided she was going to speak out and stand up, with courage and confidence. She was going to be the voice for the countless other women who didn’t and don’t have one.
Photography to me is about changing the world, its about educating others, its about inspiring others, its about expressing yourself. Its about making people aware of things they had no idea were going on in the world we live in. Photography to me is much more than the “adorable family shoots” and the “fashion shoots,” its about making a change. 1 in 4 women are affected everyday by domestic violence and men are too. I noticed upon looking for inspiration for this session that… there really isn’t anything out there… and if there is… I am unaware. I was taken aback by the fact that there wasn’t much, and WE hope to change that. I also hope that through Brooke’s courage and strength we can give other women the strength to come forward and help put this man away. She is the only one out of many to take a stand. By liking this photo you do not “support” what happened to Brooke or any other person. You are showing your support for someone who decided to speak out, who decided she was going to be the one to make it stop and help others… You are also making it OK for other women to know that it’s ok to talk about it, it’s ok to walk away and that, they have support. I feel at a loss for words, unsure if these are even the right ones to write. I just know, we just know, it’s gotta stop… We know we can’t make it stop entirely, but we know we have the power to make a difference in someone’s life, and that right there… if even just 1, is all that matters. #silencehidesviolence —
The images have now been shared around the world and are already making a difference with other victims of domestic violence coming forward – breaking the silence.
One woman wrote: “Your amazing pictures of Brooke broke my heart. I also carry scars from domestic violence, and I am touched with how you brought the reality of what women in these relationships live. Thank you, and Brooke, for the bravery that these pictures represent”.
Another: “After just recently getting out of an abusive situation that landed my (now ex) in jail and me in the ER, I needed to see this. The struggle and the after effects are real and deeper then bruises. We are not victims who should be ashamed, but survivors who need to help those who can’t break there silence. Prayers to you. Your courage is beautiful..this brought me to tears.”
Brooke Beaton’s partner was arrested for domestic aggravated assault and interference with emergency communication, when he stopped her from using her phone to call for help.
In Australia, we know that one in three women report experiencing sexual, physical, emotional or financial abuse, usually at the hands of a male intimate partner or someone they know.
Around the world, the figure too is one in three. One billion women – of which Brooke Beaton is just one face.
But her powerful face captured so raw in these images is a step in a very much needed conversation about domestic violence.
“It opened a conversation that could go on forever,” Ms Thoelke told The Argus Leader.
“Where it goes from here, I’m not sure. It’s only been a couple of days, but it’s hitting powerful, powerful people that I’m hoping will use this as their platform.”
For support 24/7 for Domestic abuse and Family Violence call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Top Comments
WOW
You completely and utterly ignore the violence that females perpetrate on men. You even say disgusting things like men do it more so female violence can be ignored. You could not care less about the suffering and deaths of babies kids and men at the hands of females.
It astounds me that you dare to call yourself Australian.
Why wasn't this girl with her father and safe?
Mr Coslovich and his family say they repeatedly told authorities that
they were concerned about Nikki’s safety while she lived with her
mother.
Mr Coslovich, who on Friday faced the heartbreaking task
of identifying his daughter’s body, said afterwards: “Her forehead’s all
bruised and beaten.
“She looks like she’s gone 12 rounds with an actual boxer.
“Her chin looks like it has gravel rash; it’s like she’s been dragged through the place,” Mr Coslovich said.
“Her face looks like a rainbow — it’s purple and pink and brown,” he said.
Mr Coslovich was shown only his daughter’s face at the viewing.
Family members donated money so he could fly to Melbourne to identify her.
He said: “I had to stop myself from tearing the place apart, I’m so angry. It’s exactly everything I’ve been saying.
“Everything I’ve been warning against is right there on her face — I’m so angry that my baby had to pay like that.”
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"The NSW mother charged with poisoning her nine-year-old daughter is believed to be a
midwife who allegedly harmed the child to gain attention from the broader community, a source has told Kidspot.
The source close to the Hunter region family added that the mum worked as a nurse and midwife. "
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"A TEENAGE girl allegedly verbally abused the 18-year-old on a Nerang bus just before midnight
on Wednesday and then followed him down a road before a fight broke out.
The man was wounded (stabbed) in the stomach and taken to Gold Coast University Hospital.
The girl, 14, has been charged with one count of unlawful wounding and will be dealt with under the Youth Justices Act."
_______________________________________
A 26-year-old Caboolture man is stabbed to death, allegedly
by his ex-girlfriend, early on Sunday morning. Nine News 08/06/15
She phoned him and asked him to meet her. She took a knife along.
_______________________________________
11/08/2015
A mother has been charged with murder over the deaths of her three children after a car
they were all travelling in crashed into a Melbourne lake in April."
__________________________________________
"A Chinese national has pleaded guilty to murdering a four-year-old boy and his
grandmother with garden shears at a Melbourne home in March."
_______________________________________
"A man who got into an argument with two women at a bar over a spilt drink has had a glass
thrown at his face.
On Sunday evening a 31-year-old woman attended Waverley Police Station where she
was arrested and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common
assault"
________________________________
“A 26-year-old mother has been charged with murder after her
6 week old daughter was found dead with her throat slit” (The Australian).
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Why don't we need to stop female violence again?
Of course we need to stop female violence! All violence should be stopped! But this post is about a female who suffered intimate partner violence. Just because it is condemning male violence doesn't mean it is condoning female violence - in the same way that a post condemning cruelty to animals isn't condoning cruelty to children!
I thought the whole idea was to treat people EQUALLY and IGNORE gender.
So where are the articles on this site that condemn female violence? They seem to be few and far between.
Just wondering if you would explain why females march in the streets etc to stop violence against females. Females don't want to stop violence against people. Only females.
Would you tell me how many men are killed at the hands of females each week or don't you know because you couldn't care?
We need to stop violence, period. In order to do that, we need the authorities to treat our complaints seriously. This isn't a competition to see who does a better job of brutalising another. It is not a gender war. But whilst ever you make it about that, the people with the power to change the behaviour of those charged with our protection will continue to charter helicopters to lecture us on the evils of the "Death Cult" Meanwhile intimate partner terrorism runs rampant.
Let's unite to end violence by demanding law enforcement do their damn job. Not offer their two cents about whether or not they "believe" you are in fear of your life. It's really quite irrelevant what someone who arrives at a scene and has five minutes to evaluate the situation believes.
"In Australia we know that one in three women report experiencing sexual, physical, emotional or financial abuse, usually at the hands of a male intimate partner or someone they know."
How many report it to the Police? And how many of those complaints do the police do nothing about? I got my hair done last week and the Hairdresser told me she had been raped. When she reported it to the Police, she was told that she had consented to sex before "so what makes it different this time?" She has evidence by way of text messages and I will be sending you her details Mamamia to do a follow up story on the real story behind why domestic violence is so rampant. It's because it is not taken seriously by those in a position to do something about it.
I finally got brave enough after over 10 years of assaults by my husband, I reported it to the police over 9 weeks ago, I supplied them with a recording of him admitting to hitting me and admitting he knew he was being recorded, medical statement from my GP that I told him about it over 6 years ago and from my psychologist that I had told her about it. I gave them my now adult daughters information as she witnessed some of the assaults. As of today he hasn't even been questioned, let alone charged. I have an 11 and 9 year old that I need to protect, they were thrown into me and into the wall back in April, when my husband also called the police and wanted me removed from my home, because I actually hit him back that night. What else do I have to provide to keep my boys safe?
Keep speaking up and keep fighting. And, I know when you have been doing everything you can to keep yourself and your family safe, when you have been fighting for so long, just hearing you have to keep going can be exhausting. And when you've used the last of your strength to finally do what everyone condescendingly tells you to do (as if you don't know) only to be met with incompetence or indifference you wonder what parallel universe everyone is experiencing.
Rosie Batty is our voice and we need to galvanise behind her and tell our stories and expose the sheer madness our legal system is. http://www.abc.net.au/news/...
Roseanne Beckett is another, who is looking to dismantle the DPP. We need to support her and make it happen. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/w...
With social media, we are in a powerful position to push back from the utter madness that the bureaucracy has become in telling us how it's going to be. NO! And no means NO.
I will support you. If you are in NSW I will come to you if you need someone to be your support person. Otherwise, tell me which state you are in and I will look up info to help you. Please always remember that you are a bright shining example of strength, courage and bravery. And that you are so very loved. Thank you for sharing your story.
8. Women’s voices must be heard
“Women’s voices must elevate. As Leymah Gwobee, Liberian peace activist and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, says: ‘There can be no legitimate conversation without the voices of women.’ As Rosie Batty said: ‘Prior to Luke’s death no-one wanted to hear my story of living with violence. Now everyone does.’ It saddens me that, when women living with violence speak, the system doesn’t listen. One of the most important contributions we can make then is to give voice to those who have been silenced – to tell the individual stories that make the broader issue mean something more than just the data.”
Read more at http://www.mamamia.com.au/n...
Thank you for your very kind offer, I'm in Victoria. I went to a police station that had a specific Family Violence Unit, thinking that they would be used to handling cases like mine and be more understanding, this obviously hasn't been the case. My daughter and her fiancé are moving back in with me and my sons this weekend, so I will let this week go and go and see the police next week, so I have extra adults at home if he explodes and comes back here. I think that I may need to ask if I need to take my case to a different police station, maybe that will help and get things moving. Then I can keep my boys safe and hopefully prevent access as I believe he will be taking me to court shortly, to get access to them and they don't want to see him at all.
Repost:
Before you decide what to do next, please contact some support groups to help you with (and explain) the process. I don't know your circumstances but even if you are not entitled to legal aid, you can get free advice over the phone. Start here
https://www.legalaid.vic.go...
I don't think taking it to another station is in your best interest (here in NSW the first point of reporting (and officer) takes ownership of it. It's another *face*-saving mechanism because how stupid would the original officer look if another took your case as seriously as it should and needs to be taken). It also exposes the biggest flaw of the system and that is the luck of the draw as to who you get to handle your case; how professional they are - which usually correlates to the postcode of where the crime is committed - and just how subjective it is. (This is the reason I advocate for prescriptive legislation which requires automatic AVO's)
Pro Bono Legal Referral Schemes
http://www.nationalprobono....
Women's legal service Victoria
http://www.womenslegal.org....
The most important thing moving forward is to document EVERYTHING. And ALWAYS take a reliable witness with you who can verify what is said to you.
I hope you get a better hearing and wish you the very best. I am so happy you
have supportive family and, together, you will make it through. I wish you the path of least resistance and the best possible result.