The Caribbean Diaspora has reached out, populating lands far from its islands of origin.  With the spread of these people comes the diffusion of ideas, customs, and other cultural sentiments. Additionally comes mixed responses of community members in their new lands of both assimilation and retention of their culture.  Amongst these responses, new media outlets arise to help immigrants as well as the second generation to stay in touch with their homeland.  They report on everything from island politics, to global events, but also provide inflection on what problems exist in the islands from a new outside perspective.  

 

One problem that has been plaguing the Caribbean is domestic, as well as sexual violence perpetrated primarily against women. Three of the world’s top ten highest rape rates exist in Caribbean countries (unwomen.org). In one study of over 3,000 women from Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica and Tobago reported 68% of women saying they had experienced violence at least once from their partner (unwomen.org).  Domestic abuse rates are even reflected in some calypsoes where references to a wife’s duty include accepting corporal punishment from their husbands when deemed necessary (theintegrationestcaribbean.org).

A woman who experienced domestic abuse from their partner

Fortunately, the community has not been ignoring these issues. Increasing rates of publication alongside the formation of organizations helps to raise awareness in the population as well as discourage a culture lending a blind eye to negative gender relations. A crime committed in one island can make headlines all across the world wherever diasporic media outlets exist. This global outcry is a necessary step towards reform that is needed, reform not merely in policy, but in the actual hearts and minds of the people.

 

The Hatin Times, for example, helped make aware the gang rape of a sixteen year old girl, sparking a nationwide manhunt lending authorities an enumerable set of extra eyes (haitiantimes.com).  The Haitian Times is a News is a media source designed for diasporic communities in major United States cities such as New York and Boston. Other sites like barbadosunderground.com feature articles pronouncing November 25th as the day to stand against violence against women and girls. The necessity of such a day reflects on exactly how deeply rooted the problems regarding gender violence run; however, it is the acknowledgment of this defeat that will ultimately help the community to make progress.

Dominica News Online also features a similar notion; however, they ran an article for a whole month dedicated to domestic violence awareness. They pushed for the notion of ending the “silence” regarding the subject amongst the victims. In countries such as Guyana t is suspected that only 5.9% of women report their abuse to the local authorities.  This alarmingly low number is suspected to stem from financial dependence and familial pressure to maintain appearances (theintegrationistcaribbean.org). It is also under these circumstances of severe under reporting that these distanced, but active diasporic media sources play their role in letting victims know they are not alone and it is not their fault.

 

The BBC’s Caribbean specific website has also has articles addressing the issue of  domestic violence in the Caribbean.  In one article they chronicle the efforts and findings of the Professional Organization for Women in Antigua and Barbuda (POWA). This organization has built shelters as well as gathered anecdotal data about domestic violence in the area.  They found that some women reported police not showing intervention because they had moral concerns about intruding into the family life. This is the type of mentality that needs to be addressed on a societal level if the Caribbean countries wish to stay up to speed with other modern countries. The country of Trinidad has enacted the Domestic Violence Act giving police more specific guidelines as well as power to act in reported cases of domestic violence. This was initially met with resistance from men saying that women would lie to incriminate their spouses if they were simply not content; however, the overwhelming majority of cases are all completely legitimate (BBC Caribbean). This is a step in the right direction from a structural standpoint, however, it will be up to the younger generations to adopt a modified culture without tolerance for these  heinous acts.

 

Another organization showing activism for women’s rights is the the Caribbean Women’s Health organization (CWHA) were founded to advance the education and treatment of Caribbean women in many arenas, including mental health and relationships. They provide workshops, services, as well as social centers and hotlines to call for any women in a health crisis, including domestic abuse.  They have locations throughout New York City and provide other health services such as STD testing and education along with assistance to expecting mothers.  All their information is available online at their website which can be accessed by anyone with internet connection.

 

Gender based violence is an ongoing issue in many Caribbean countries, but it does not have to be.  As knowledge diffuses and people become more educated, victims will learn that they do not have to remain silent, and potential perpetrators may think with a new perspective before they decide to commit the crime. The publication of the issue of gender based violence is one crucial step in informing the population and educating them on the fact that this is indeed not acceptable.  Diasporic media plays its role through its articles, stories, announcements and webpages.  

 

 

-http://haitiantimes.com/2017/02/05/gang-rape-of-teen-girl-in-haiti-highlights-need-for-solutions-to-gender-based-violence/

-http://caribbean.unwomen.org/en/caribbean-gender-portal/caribbean-gbv-law-portal/gbv-in-the-caribbean

-http://www.theintegrationistcaribbean.org/functional-cooperation/confronting-gender-based-violence-in-the-caribbean/

-http://nacla.org/blog/2012/1/26/discussing-domestic-violence-caribbean

-http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/family/docs/egm15/Gibbonspaper.pdf

-http://www.cwha.org/services.php?a=violence

-http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/dominica-observes-domestic-violence-awareness-month/

-https://barbadosunderground.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/domestic-violence-and-children-in-the-caribbean/

-http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2011/03/110302_arch_s_domestic-violence.shtml

-http://www.caribbean360.com/news/eu-funds-project-fight-domestic-violence-caribbean