Victimizing Rihanna

ON BEHALF of the Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts, I write to address the disturbing trend noted in the March 13 article "Many Hub teens surveyed say Rihanna is at fault for assault" (Metro). That nearly half of teens polled about the recent incident in which musician Rihanna was allegedly beaten by her boyfriend, musician Chris Brown, blame her is a sad commentary on the lack of support for victims of domestic violence. It's all the more alarming because of the prevalence of domestic violence in relationships between young people.

According to a study published in 2005, 42 percent of the victims of violence committed by a boyfriend or girlfriend were in the 18-24 age group. Blaming victims will only reinforce the painful cycles of violence afflicting women, making it impossible for them to leave abusive relationships or to believe that they do not deserve to be abused.

For decades, brave individual women as well as organizations like ours have spoken out against domestic violence, advocated for laws to protect victims, and provided resources for victims trying to flee abusers and prosecute the offenses. We are faced with a painful reminder that now is not the time to assume that the job is done.

Michelle Peirce
President
Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts
Boston