Warning: The following post may trigger difficult memories/emotions for those who have experienced domestic violence or an abusive relationship. Some of the images in the video are quite graphic and confronting.
Thousands of women (and men) are subject to domestic violence every day. But the brutal truth and the heartbreaking reality of violence is often impossible to comprehend for those on the outside.
This video documents one woman’s experience of an abusive relationship over the course of a year.
It will astound you.
Fortunately no one was hurt in the making of this video. It was made using professional makeup in an effort to spread the message. If however this post brings up any issues for you, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or go to their website. They are the national sexual assault and domestic family violence counselling service.
White Ribbon is Australia’s campaign to stop violence against women. You can donate to them here or, better still, get all the men in your life to take their oath to never commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.
Top Comments
You know whats more shocking is that if this were me every day for a year in my previous abusive relationship you would see nothing. My eyes would have been dying as they do- you can see it in someone straight away but there were no marks on my face. Bruising behind my ears was usual from being open handedly hit across my ears. My ears still ring to this day- 4 years later.
The reality is for so many of us we hide it ALL. Not a sound, not a mark, we tell nothing. We swallow it all and end up at some stage chronically ill as have so many women I have since met.
My closet of friends almost fainted in horror when they learnt what really occurred behind our closed doors. Some knew he was nasty but few few suspected the extent of the control and horror that went on. To this day there are things I won't speak of.
I was in New York when I was 31 and broke and stayed in a youth hostel. At 1am, I got up to go to the loo and came back, slightly misjudging where the door frame was in the darkness and smacked into it, narrowly avoiding smashing my nose.
The next morning I had an interview with an editor for freelance work so I freaked out when I saw my black eye developing.
My next-door bunkmate was a make-up artist and told me what to buy at Macy's. Unfortunately that didn't open until after my appt and my black eye was getting worse. I had the interview with the editor looking all freaked out and then immediately shot off to get the cover-up makeup.
I didn't get the job and I remember that the makeup just did not last throughout the day (I was there in summer) and the reactions I got from people thinking I was an abused woman were fascinating and sad, as they seemed to think I was contagious, as if the abuse would rub off on them...
t took 2 weeks for the bruise to go, which is a loooooong time. For those who have been abused, I wonder how they can already forgive him in that fortnight, seeing the bruise daily.