People are horrified over the episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashian's in which Kim Kardashian takes a closed fist swing at husband Kris Humphries. Despite the entire scenario being caught on camera, many viewers are still wondering -- is this domestic violence?
How is this a disputable question? Though some have tried to downplay her violent reaction by calling it "playful," throwing a fist at your husband is not playful and technically falls under the category of domestic violence. It seems that because Kim is a woman people are confused as to whether or not her action falls into the "domestic violence" category. My answer: yes, it absolutely does.
Here is the dictionary definition of domestic violence "violence committed by one family or household member against another -- see also restraining order." They are husband and wife therefore it certainly qualifies. If they were strangers and she did this is would still be labeled violence just not domestic violence.
Are people quick to defend her because she is physically smaller and weaker than her husband therefore he should be able to "take it?" No man deserves the humiliation and pain that goes along with being beat up by a woman despite whether or not he can physically "take it." The emotional and psychological impact lasts long after the physical bruises have faded. Men are often silent victims when it comes to being victims of rape and/or domestic violence. Male victims of domestic abuse and rape deal with even more societal stigmatization than female victims, who have it rough as it is. Society unfairly labels men who "complain" about violence from a partner as "not real men" or just plain weak. This is wrong. Anytime a person is abused by a family member it is domestic violence whether it is a female or male throwing the punches.
The most alarming thing in this Kardashian scenario is that her immediate reaction was to throw a closed fist punch at him. If it was as "playful" as her public relations team would like you to believe, she may have just swatted him away or lightly smacked him. Those reactions are not necessarily acceptable, but certainly not as shocking as throwing a punch. And imagine how outraged Americans would be if it was the other way around: Kris throwing the punch at Kim. What do you think?
Need help standing up to domestic abuse? In the U.S., call The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE(7233).
More articles on abusive relationships can be found at Hayley's Comments