The Shadow pandemic
By: Olivia Acquadro
In 2020 nothing could prepare the world for the rapid spread of the Covid- 19 disease that would take the lives of 5 million people . The last pandemic the US had seen was the Spanish Influenza in 1920 that took the lives of 500 million people- or one third of the world's population. Since then there were multiple scares of wide-spread disease like the ebola outbreak in 2014 - but it still didn't quite sweep across the nation like Covid did, it remained contained in the New Guinea region of West Africa. It's hard to imagine that any kind of plague could exist outside of history books, but in 2020 we saw just how serious things could get.
As all of us lived through the fear and uncertainty of Covid-19 there was so many unanswered questions regarding big decisions like what would happen to the economy? Would we ever discover the cure or vaccine? Would mask mandates remain? Would life ever go back to normal? There was even positive discussion, and consciousness raising of mental health during this time that has reduced stigma that surrounded mental illness in the past.
The one topic that hardly saw the light of day was the spike in domestic violence and intimate partner violence globally and nationally during Covid-19. UN Women released an info graphic referring to the soaring rates of domestic violence as the “Shadow pandemic.” According to the United Nations, globally 243 million women and children ages 15-49 have been subjected to sexual and/or physical violence perpetrated by an intimate partner during the past 12 months. The numbers during this time increased as security, health and money worries heightened tensions as well as the confined living conditions trapping victims with their abuser. It also known that less than 40% of women who experience violence report these crimes or seek any help.
The United Nations posted a policy brief during April 9,2020 that reported:
In France reports of domestic violence have increased by 30% since lockdown
In Argentina emergency calls for domestic violence cases have increased by 25% since lockdown
In Cypress and Singapore helplines have registered an increase in calls of 30% and 33%
Increased cases of domestic violence and demand for emergency shelter have also been reported in Canada, Germany, Spain, The United Kingdom, and the United States.
Ms. Magazine reported that domestic violence shelters are reaching a capacity or unable to take new victims due to lockdown and social distancing mandates.
I did some digging to see of there is correlation or even a pattern between violence and pandemics and what I found was alarming….
According to Cure Violence Global
During the Black Death (1342-1353), Europeans increasingly massacred the Jewish communities, accusing them of well-poisoning
Communal violence erupted in areas across the U.S. when the Spanish Flu (1918-1919) hit, leading to people being shot for not wearing their masks, along with homicides and suicides.
During the Ebola Epidemic domestic violence increased in Western Africa, over 5 million children stayed home from school during this time in Sierra Leone,Guinea, and Liberia there was an increase in child labor, neglect, sexual abuse, and teenage pregnancies across all three countries
During Covid-19 the US experienced 35% increase in domestic violence incidents, as well as a 55% increase in the calls the domestic abuse hotline received
Conclusion: If we know that throughout history there has been a constant trend and presence of violence occurring during pandemics, why was there no real discussion addressing these issues publicly. It seems that women’s issues aren’t being prioritized but rather swept under the rug and ignored. Victims already feel that that cannot talk about their abuse, and we know based off the statistics that a large portion of cases go unreported. The biggest issue is the lack of knowledge victims have about resources and organizations that can help- a victim feels they must battle for their life everyday and the fear circulating getting help and having their abuser come back for retaliation is real. We need to keep this discussion going so that victims don’t have to suffer in the shadows of the pandemic, just because their abuse wasn’t televised doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, it doesn’t invalidate the trauma, pain and abuse they underwent during this time.
Resources and Hotlines are linked below:
National Domestic Violence Hotline: call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-799-7233 for TTY, or if you’re unable to speak safely, text LOVEIS to 22522. Anyone facing abuse of any kind can call this hotline.
RAINN (National Sexual Assault Hotline): call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Adult Abuse Hotline: call 1-800-222-8000
Sources: