“Domestic Violence is Normalized” – Jennifer Lovell

The murder of three-year-old Mark Tuyul Junior has pushed the issue of domestic violence to the front burner.  Domestic violence is pervasive and has become commonplace to a point where it is casually addressed in everyday conversation.  In our interview on Sunday with the biological father of the Tuyul kids, he described an incident where he was physically assaulted by Kenrick Longsworth, but not before he laid hands on the mother of his children.  It was discussed so matter-of-factly as if it was normal.  Psychotherapist Jennifer Lovell weighs in on the vicious cycle of domestic violence.

Jennifer Lovell

Jennifer Lovell, Psychotherapist

“Somehow we have become desensitized to domestic violence.  I kinda listened last night and it was so normalized, everybody talked about domestic violence and she get beat up and he, the father, you know, I box she up lee bit.  It’s very normalized.  We no longer think about, that it’s not okay to lay your hands on me.  It’s not okay to put your hand in my face and it’s definitely never okay to hit my children.  As a parent we have the ultimate responsibility to protect our children. I want women to understand, stop just jumping in with these fellows you don’t know.  It’s so important.  You’ve got to get to know people.  Now if you are in a domestic violence situation where you are being beaten, it is so important that you tell somebody.  Find a way to get out.  If you don’t have money go to Women’s Department.  Those ladies at Women’s Department will go to bat for you.”