Emery County Domestic Violence Coalition 13th annual community awareness program

By TINA OLIVER Staff Writer

The Emery County Domestic Violence Coalition held their 13th Annual Community Awareness Program in October. Sixteen year old Karsyn Robb of Park City was the featured guest for the event. Robb entertained the program attendees with her music, including her single “You Told Me”, and also talked about how she became aware of domestic violence and how it inspired her to write the song. Robb learned about domestic violence from one of her teachers who provided her class with the stories of three individuals that were involved in abusive relationships. In one of the stories a teenage girl became involved with a guy whom in the beginning she believed was “the perfect guy”. As their relationship progressed, the young man became mentally abusive and very jealous, eventually being able to control the girl enough that she had isolated herself from her friends and family. The girl was finally able to gain enough courage to break off the relationship, but unfortunately, by this time the young man was so attached to the girl and the relationship that he killed the girl. Karsyn said ” I believe if more people understand what domestic violence is it gives us a better chance of being able to stop it.”
In 2010, she was awarded First Place in the Utah Health Department Media/Song contest with, “You Told Me,” a song about domestic violence. All proceeds from the single are donated to the Peace House, a local women’s shelter in Park City. About the song she says “This song was written to bring strength to all the people who are experiencing domestic violence. I hope it gives them the courage to get out of an abusive relationship and know that they are not alone.”
The Community Awareness Program was free of charge and included lunch as well as having a chance to win door prizes. The door prizes included Karsyn Robb CDs as well as Avon products donated by JanaLee Luke.
To end this year’s Community Awareness campaign the Emery County Domestic Violence Coalition has asked that we publish the below personal relationship assessment.
Is Your Relationship Abusive?
Compare it to the “symptoms” of abuse below and check off any that match.
Has your partner used any kind of negative physical contact – or the threat of it against you?
Are you afraid to say no to sex?
Does he or she threaten to kill him- or herself if you break up?
Are you afraid of what he or she could do if he or she got angry?
Do you avoid friends and family because he or she gets jealous or doesn’t like them?
Does he or she constantly call, email or text you to find out what you are doing?
Are you afraid to disagree or not do what he or she says?
Do you need his or her permission to do anything?
Do you make excuses for him or her like “He didn’t mean it” or “I deserved it”?
Does he or she expect you to drop everything and meet his or her needs?
Does he or she blame you for everything that goes wrong?
Does he or she make you feel bad about your weight, body, or intelligence?
Does he or she accuse you of flirting or cheating when you are not?
Does he or she go through your text messages, or emails to see who you are talking to?
Keep in mind that abuse will usually get worse over time, not better. Most reported abuse is committed by men against women. But it can be committed by women and can also occur in same-sex relationships.
Why do they stay? They may: think it’s normal for people to treat each other that way;
be scared to leave;
believe or hope their partner will change;
be afraid of being alone;
not have the resources or financial ability to leave.
Why do they abuse?
They may: not know how to handle anger or jealousy;
believe violence can give them power and control;
think it’s their role to control the other person;
have been abused or seen abuse in their family;
use alcohol or drugs that worsen violence.
Violence has no part in a healthy relationship.
Nobody deserves to be abused.
None of these reasons are good reasons to stay in an abusive situation or to abuse someone.