WUNRN
GREECE - FINANCIAL CRISIS &
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
By Foteini Svarna - -
I am shocked to see my good friend
– an interior designer – with a nasty bruise on her face. “My husband is very
violent these days” she whispers, looking toward her shoes. “Since he lost his
job, he swears at me and slaps me. I am afraid. I feel humiliated and
depressed. I feel guilty.” My friend lives with her husband in
The economic
downturn in
In an interview, Dimitrios Tsoukalis,
a licensed psychologist tells me “Greeks have passed through various
psychological stages since the financial crisis started. First, disbelief.
Second, frustration built up due to constant reductions in payments and
increases in taxes and expenditures. When frustration reached a certain point,
tolerance declined and the Greek movement of Aganaktismenoi (“frustrated”) appeared.
Greeks began to direct their anger outward and toward politicians on whom they
put total blame for their sufferings.”
While
Ms. Vasso Kollia, Secretary
General for Gender Equality, reports to parliament that the domestic violence
hotline, SOS 15900, received 12,500 calls and 100 emails between March 2011 and
November 2013 – 79 percent were for family violence, 1 percent reported sexual
abuse, 1 percent were reports of rape and 12 percent were regarding other cases
of violence not necessarily in the family environment.
The Greek Police report that when
the economy began to collapse in 2009 they observed an alarming increase in
cases of domestic violence. In comparison with previous years, domestic
violence was up 53.9 percent in 2011 and 22.2 percent in 2012. Ten women were
murdered by an intimate partner in 2011, five in 2012, and eight in 2013.
Domestic violence is a classless
problem that knows no age, religion, or location. It can appear in any family
regardless of cultural or socioeconomic background. However, some researchers
argue, domestic violence may be found more often among unemployed and poor
people. When a man is unemployed, they reason, he may feel useless because he
regards himself as unable to meet his social role as “breadwinner.”
Consequently, he develops psychological problems which may exacerbate domestic
violence – a phenomenon observed in Greece during the recent financial crisis.
Domestic
violence can be many forms of intimidation or violence – physical, emotional,
psychological, verbal, sexual or financial – carried out by a partner. As
Tsoukalis tells me, “in an abusing relationship the cycle of give and take of
love is disrupted or totally replaced by hatred as seen in bursts of violence
with the purpose of hurting the other emotionally or physically.”
Quite often an abused woman feels
like everything she does is wrong. According to Tsoukalis, “She may blame
herself and feel guilty, trapped, humiliated, hopeless and helpless, frightened
and powerless, confused and shocked. She may suffer from stress disorders,
anxiety attacks, low self-esteem, anger, depression, and may even attempt to
commit suicide.”
Tsoukalis’ suggests “When you feel
that your partner has abused you psychologically or physically, even once,
always consult a specialized helpline or a psychologist.” When my friend was
abused she had to first admit to herself that she lived in a toxic relationship
and then to decide she would no longer put up with that abusive behavior. The
Greek police recommend avoiding any confrontation with the abuser. Break the
silence and talk to someone you trust about what is happening. The police point
out that physical assault is a crime. Seek help from women’s groups, family
help centers, social service organizations, or doctors.
Statistics show that men who have
abused their partners in the past are highly likely to abuse again. The day my
friend confided her ordeal to me I wondered in what way I could help her.
Today, months later, I have learned that when we suspect one of our friends is
being abused we should approach her politely and ask if there is anything she
needs. At first, she may feel ashamed and embarrassed to talk, but she will
soon realize there are people around who are willing to help.
Now, my friend lives a happy life
away from her abusive ex-husband. Her case, and the case of many in
These final remarks from Tsoukalis
leave me hopeful: “Many survivors become able not only to overcome their trauma
with the help of a trusted, loving adult or a caring professional, but they can
also thrive, become stronger, independent and most importantly, they can help
many others who experience the trauma of abuse.”