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SALT LAKE CITY — As gender-based violence in Utah continues to rise, two University of Utah professors called for each community member to do their part in enacting change.
"Violence is a public health problem," family and consumer studies professor Sonia Salari said during a panel discussion Wednesday. "It does leave a wound for an entire society, and it's the society that really needs to think about prevention."
Salari explained during her presentation as part of University of Utah's Women's Week that gender-based violence goes beyond being abused by one's partner or spouse, contrary to popular belief. The definition can include sexual assault, family violence, trafficking, stalking and dating violence. It can affect people of all ages and sexual minorities.
At least 24 people were killed by a partner, relative or roommate in Utah in 2022, up from 20 in 2021, according to statistics tracked by KSL.com. This counts for about a third of all homicide victims in the state.
"Gender-based violence really is an umbrella term for a complex phenomenon," said Annie Isabel Fukushima, associate dean of undergraduate studies and professor of ethnic studies, during the panel. "It is a kind of harm that is psychological, physical (and/or) emotional that is happening to a person because of their gender identity."
Between 2009 and 2016, there were 84 incidents of intimate partner-related homicide in Utah, according to the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition. Forty-nine percent of those cases were murder-suicides.
Fukushima said gender-based violence is intertwined with other forms of violence, including racially motivated crimes. Gender-based violence also appears differently in each community, meaning that local needs can vary, she said.
Forty percent of adult homicides in Utah since 2000 have been linked with domestic violence. One out of three Utah women will experience some form of domestic violence in her lifetime.
Of the number of people who are seriously injured or killed by gender-based violence, Salari said, "Even one is too many, because it really has a huge effect on the community when this type of violence takes place."
Call to action
There is much that can be accomplished on a local level, Solari and Fukushima said. Fukushima said Utah domestic violence centers are stretched thin with volunteers and resources.
Will Utah Legislature chip in to help overwhelmed domestic violence programs?
Utah groups serving victims of domestic violence say they are already stretched to meet the need — and anticipate greater demand under a Utah bill which would refer more victims to shelters."It doesn't happen with one (person)," Fukushima said. "Actually organizing to change policy really does require critical mass."
Salari said there is a great need for developing community prevention and awareness, and that people can do so without resorting to victim-blaming. She also said she'd like to see a text option implemented for victims of domestic violence, especially young people, to seek help.
Fukushima said everyone should call their local government representatives to advocate for change. They can also spread awareness of the issue of gender-based violence via social media and in their daily conversations.
Fukushima pointed out that change doesn't only happen at a legislative level: "We can enact change in the places that we work and in the places that we live in as well."
