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CUT IT OUT
is a program of the Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund dedicated to
mobilizing salon professionals and others to fight the epidemic of domestic
abuse in communities across the United States.
CUT IT OUT builds awareness of domestic abuse through awareness
materials to be displayed in salons, the Adopt-a-Shelter initiative to
involve salons in helping local domestic violence agencies, and training
salon professionals to recognize warning signs and safely refer clients to
resources.
CUT IT OUT was initially created for the State of Alabama by The Women's Fund of Greater Birmingham. Taken to
the national level by the Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund, a partnership
between Clairol Professional, the National Cosmetology Association, and Southern
Living At HOME.
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http://www.cutitout.org/dvpro.htm
WHY THE SALON PROFESSIONAL?
The relationship between a client and a
salon professional is usually based on trust built up over time. Because of
the intimate and nurturing nature of the relationship, a salon
professional—who often sees a client on a regular basis—can often spot signs
of physical abuse that others may never see. A change in a client’s behavior
can also be easily recognized by a salon professional.
Research shows that most battered women never call the police or go to a
shelter. However, they do usually talk about the abuse with someone they
trust. Because salon professionals are skilled and experienced listeners who
are personally interested in their clients, many women suffering from abuse
feel comfortable confiding in them—even if the abused women would never tell
anyone else. In addition, because a salon is usually an all-female
environment, it may be one of the few places that a battered woman is allowed
to go without her abuser.
Statistics indicate that one out of every three women is abused at some time
in her life. Since salon professionals each see around 200 clients every 4 to
6 weeks, they potentially are in contact with a lot of abused women. They
have a unique opportunity to reach victims that domestic violence
professionals may never see. With proper training to recognize abuse and to
steer victims to help, salon professionals can become invaluable and
influential community partners in the fight against domestic abuse.
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