Would You Intervene?
Tags: The always-excellent www.jezebel.com has brought to our notice something we don’t get to see in Ireland. ABC have a show called What Would You Do? in which they stage a disturbing event to see if people will intervene. A recent episode showed an actress playing a woman who has obviously been beaten by her boyfriend/partner. She is eating in a restaurant and, when the ‘partner’ arrives, he continues to berate her. The cameras then see if anyone would intervene. What happens is fascinating.
No matter the race of the women involved, someone intervenes. It’s a heart-warming testament to a world which we are told is cynical and cold. Obviously there are still people who will step up.
Now watch what happens when the two actresses are dressed provocatively. It seems if you put on an lbd, you’re getting what you deserve.
How can this be? How can there be such a difference in attitude just because of what you’re wearing? How dare those women think that she is a prostitute and, as the actress rightly points out, even if she was, does she deserve to be beaten?
The fact that people are willing to step out of the crowd and intervene is a step but, good god do we have a long journey ahead of us.
As www.jezebel.com says in her article on this
While obviously the show is highly unscientific and meant for entertainment, it can’t be a bad thing to force viewers to think about issues such as racism or domestic violence. Maybe the next time they see someone being abused, they’ll be more likely to step up. (After all, they might be on TV!)
What would you do? Would the attire of the couple sway you?
If I am completely honest, I think I’d say something to the restaurant manager and I’d call the police but, to my shame, I wouldn’t approach the couple. Why? Ok, I hate confrontation, but my discomfort is much less of an issue than someone in danger. I need to become braver if I’ve to have the courage of my convictions. What about you?
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=04f2ddf1-b6c6-4c7c-ac44-5cb4dacd221d)
Popularity: 1% [?]
Loading ...
In all honesty I’m not sure confrontation is as good an idea as is made out in this show. Abusive relationships are far more complicated then what is presented here. If the person can’t get the support or feels unable to leave their abusive partner then going over and making such an aggressive stand may make the situation worse or put the victim of abuse in more danger. Sadly I think the police can do very little also.
I think the first scenario where they tried to diffuse the situation and then give her an opportunity to leave is probably the best because you can’t make someone leave a situation like that and some times I think the people being abused really want to but don’t feel able to because of the mental abuse that often goes hand in hand with physical abuse.
That said, I think there is some truth in the idea that what the person is wearing will dictate societies response. Definitely. How many times in rape stories do you hear commentary on how the victim was asking for it because of the clothes they were wearing?
Years ago my uncle intervened when he saw a man beating a woman outside their house in a city in Cork, my uncle ran out and pulled the man off her and gave him some of his own medicine the woman then got up off the ground and started to attack my uncle!! And he said he’ll never intervene again!!
Wow, that second video is quite shocking. I think in situations like these people are always waiting for other people to do something. Which can result in nobody doing anything… If I would be all by myself, I’d be hesitant to step in. But if I had a friend with me or a bystander who also wanted to step in, I’d be more likely to intervene.
By the way, just came across this article where it says What Would You Do? will be focusing on gay couples tonight. I’m quite scared to see how people will react to that…
Jesus that was shocking and upsetting would be great to do something similar in Ireland or even a woman being the abuser. If I was sitting with someone and they didn’t do something even tell the staff I would seriously be questioning my company. Its not easy to get involved because I know from experience when you do nine times out of ten they just get back together and you end up the bad guy. Those two women saying that was shocking. Whatever way you want to view it I feel a lad should have stepped up and said something. A woman may get hit but there is no excuse for grown men sitting there looking on while she gets hit.