#dvchallenge – Let’s Get at the Roots of Domestic Violence!

October 19^th, 2014 – During Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The internet is the angernet. Research has shown that anger spreads more quickly than joy online. Anger can divide, but it can also raise awareness, but only if it comes paired with compassion and wisdom. There’s plenty to be angry about, and plenty of targets for our attention. I hope to increase awareness of misogyny, domestic violence, and the issues of Asian American women and men with my new book (Asian American Anger: It’s a Thing! on Kindle, Createspace, Amazon and also iBooks), and with the #dvchallenge, raise funds to combat domestic violence and heal its effects in the Asian American community. Go to http://bit.ly/APIIDV and find an organization in your area that deals with domestic violence, and make a one-time or recurring donation. Get, and stay, involved. Together, we can help improve the lives of women and children around the world. All proceeds from the sale of these books will go to Narika and Maitri, focused on domestic violence in the South Asian community of the Bay Area, and to Asian American arts and cultural organizations.

We are beset with tragic news of violence and abuse against women. From the Jyoti Singh rape case in India, to Steubenville, to Elliot Rodger’s rampage at Isla Vista, to domestic violence in the NFL – there is growing evidence and awareness about the threats that women face.

This summer, I was asked to give a talk about these issues. Jarring. Breathtaking. Important. These are the words readers have used to describe the resulting essay, "Asian American Male Anger: The Fast and the Furious”. I explore anger and domestic violence in the Asian American community from the viewpoint of tragic outcomes, made glaringly clear with statistics and stories. Ultimately, this is a call for a renewal of relationship between Asian American men and women, and for a new level of safety and empowerment for all women and girls. Understanding emotional and cultural pressures is the first step in that renewal.

This talk comprises the lead essay in the volume. The book also contains two additional essays about anger in the Asian American community, as well as a striking new essay on internet rage, “The Social Network is an IndigNation”. As a poet, sometimes I find that only poetry can take us to the depths of a powerful feeling – to that end, I’ve included a dozen poems about anger.

Join me in starting the #dvchallenge! I look forward to your comments about the essays. I hope to further the conversation, and foster change in all our communities.

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#dvchallenge - get "AA Anger - It's a Thing" at http://bit.ly/APIanger and donate against Domestic Violence http://bit.ly/APIIDV

© 2014 Ravi Chandra, M.D. All rights reserved.

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