FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2020
Contact: Jason Hogue, Director of Marketing Communications, 402-872-2429
Peru, Nebraska - Victims' rights advocate and creator of the viral hashtag, #WhyIStayed, Beverly Gooden
will visit Peru State College as part of the campus's Distinguished Speaker Series.
Gooden will speak on March 2 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.
Beverly Gooden breaks down the myths and misunderstandings around domestic violence
to illuminate the complex reasons why victims stay in abusive relationships and what
you can do to help. Recently the “me too” movement has shown us what our society considers
acceptable can be changed by the work of many individuals coming together to speak
with a unified voice.
About Beverly Gooden
Known for creating the viral Twitter hashtag #WhyIStayed in the wake of several high-profile
domestic violence incidents, Beverly sparked a national conversation about how society
views victims, while calling for a community response to this important social issue.
Drawing on her own gripping tale of overcoming an abusive relationship, Beverly provides
you with a personal account of how it feels to live in fear and why it’s so difficult
for individuals to leave those who exert physical and emotional control over them.
On stage, Beverly lays the groundwork for critical conversation about the dynamics
of abusive relationships, while revealing ways that you can help, including the important
questions to ask those who you suspect are being abused. With unguarded honesty and
palpable passion for changing lives for the better, she empowers audiences to expose
their own stories and discover their role in ending domestic violence.
Why I Stayed: The Complexity of Domestic Violence
"Why I Stayed" is a revolutionary speech by Beverly Gooden, renown social activist
and creator of the #WhyIStayed hashtag and global movement. In this radical talk,
Gooden challenges the question “Why did he/she stay?” and reveals how the current way we interact with survivors is a house of cards. From
faulty blame attribution, to designating only men as abusers, it’s easy to overlook
the sheer volume of domestic violence when the issue has historically been framed
as “them” and not “us”.
That’s why, as Beverly argues, domestic violence is a community issue. Victims of
violence can be women and men, LGBTQ and heterosexual, or even children. Victims of
violence may have fought back, or remained silent. There is no perfect victim and
no specific type of abuser. Beverly discusses her personal domestic violence story,
reveals the most important questions to ask victims, and outlines how we all can help.
About the Distinguished Speaker Series
Peru State established the Distinguished Speaker Series in 2010 as part of a commitment
to student engagement and success. The intent of the Series is to bring diverse, nationally
and internationally recognized speakers to southeast Nebraska to enrich the educational
experience of students while also providing regional communities more opportunities
to engage in interesting and relevant topics.
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