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I was born & raised in rural/Northern Ontario.
I've done work to end violence against women for 17 yrs.
Some quick facts you should know about violence against women in a rural Canadian context:
I've done work to end violence against women for 17 yrs.
Some quick facts you should know about violence against women in a rural Canadian context:
1- Guns. Guns. Guns.
I grew up in a house of guns and I literally did not know a single person growing up who did not have guns in their house.
Domestic violence gets cranked up to 11 when you know the man has access to a firearm.
I grew up in a house of guns and I literally did not know a single person growing up who did not have guns in their house.
Domestic violence gets cranked up to 11 when you know the man has access to a firearm.
2- Confidentiality is largely a joke.
Everyone knows everyone. Everyone knows you. Everyone knows your abuser.
The officer assigned to your case might be the same guy who busted you for underage drinking when you were 15.
Everyone knows everyone. Everyone knows you. Everyone knows your abuser.
The officer assigned to your case might be the same guy who busted you for underage drinking when you were 15.
3- Resources are limited or non existent.
Shelters that might be hours away from your house, limited beds, long wait times, etc.
Because funding from government is on a per capita basis, fewer people = less money, even though the cost-per-victim is actually higher.
Shelters that might be hours away from your house, limited beds, long wait times, etc.
Because funding from government is on a per capita basis, fewer people = less money, even though the cost-per-victim is actually higher.
4- Poverty, poverty, poverty.
Because Canada has shifted to an urban country, the youth migration, dying of old industries, etc. has meant that most rural communities have incredibly high levels of poverty and often, intense dichotomies with no real middle class.
Because Canada has shifted to an urban country, the youth migration, dying of old industries, etc. has meant that most rural communities have incredibly high levels of poverty and often, intense dichotomies with no real middle class.
5- Limited transportation options.
If you don't have a car and money to gas it up, you're screwed in a rural context. Public transit is non-existent or extremely limited.
If you don't have a car and money to gas it up, you're screwed in a rural context. Public transit is non-existent or extremely limited.
6- The few resources that do exist, have massive catchment areas.
For example, the sexual assault centre in Renfrew County has a catchment area the size of Prince Edward Island.
Which means it's actually long distance to call from one end of the county to another. It's HUGE.
For example, the sexual assault centre in Renfrew County has a catchment area the size of Prince Edward Island.
Which means it's actually long distance to call from one end of the county to another. It's HUGE.
Add all these obstacles in an already difficult situation and we can't be surprised by what happened in Wilno in 2015 or what happened in Nova Scotia earlier this year.
Rural women face so many barriers to a life of safety and I desperately want urban feminists to pay attention.
Rural women face so many barriers to a life of safety and I desperately want urban feminists to pay attention.
This is by no means an exhaustive list.
But if you're a feminist who cares about the rights of women to live in safety, then please include rural women.
Finally, remember that shelters & sexual assault centres are essential workers. They could use your donations right now!
But if you're a feminist who cares about the rights of women to live in safety, then please include rural women.
Finally, remember that shelters & sexual assault centres are essential workers. They could use your donations right now!
