"I'd like
everyone to leave here with a better understanding of domestic
violence," MacMaster began, speaking to a crowd of teachers, school
counselors, state officials and parents.

"Domestic violence is
so deeply embedded in our society. We've come a long way, but not long
enough," he continued. He referenced the archetypal image of a caveman
dragging around a woman, while brandishing a giant club, as well as the
fact that English Common Law stipulates, via the rule of thumb, that a
man may beat his wife with a device no wider than his thumb.

In
order to put a human face to domestic violence, MacMaster described the
real-life story of Carla, a woman who was physically and
psychologically tortured by her husband for years. Along with her
children, she lived in constant fear, and her home was a virtual
prison. She was repeatedly strangled, assaulted with knives and thrown
down the stairs.

After describing her situation, MacMaster asked the audience what they would ask Carla if she were present at the meeting.

"Why
didn't she just shoot him?" one audience member asked. "Why did she get
married?" asked another. In essence, why didn't she leave him?

In
order to answer these questions, MacMaster showed a video in which
Carla described her situation. She emphatically stated that her reason
for staying with her husband boiled down to the total fear he instilled
in her. "I don't think anyone understands what it's like to be in
tremendous fear of another person…I lived in an environment of
constant battering," she said.

He kept Carla from going to
friends, family or authorities, by threatening to kill her and
attempting to use her children against her. Furthermore, she mentioned
that he didn't display overt signs of abuse until a few weeks before
her marriage.

MacMaster added that fear is the main ingredient
abusers use to keep their victims from speaking out or reporting them.
According to MacMaster, domestic abuse victims are caught in a cycle of
"learned helplessness,"-a phrase coined by psychologist Martin
Seligman-in which they are conditioned to feel completely helpless.

Other
barriers to leaving a domestic abuse situation include love for the
abuser, culture/religion, the abuser's financial control and
embarrassment.

According to MacMaster, 1 in 4 women experience
domestic violence within their lifetime, 37 percent of women receive
hospital care as the result of domestic violence (reported cases), and
there are 3 times more shelters for animals than women.

In order
to provide advice to the teachers and counselors in the audience,
MacMaster outlined signs of domestic abuse in children. He noted that
signs of domestic abuse aren't always apparent to teachers. When
children act exceedingly well-behaved, when they are "almost too
perfect," it could be out of fear of being abused. Other signs include
being underweight, seeming too pale after summer vacation and not
having any friends.

MacMaster also noted that there is a
direct correlation between domestic violence and teen dating violence.
Males who are abused at home are more likely to become abusers, and
females who are abused at home are more likely to become victims.
According to Massachusetts law, domestic violence and teen-dating
violence are treated the same.

MacMaster proceeded to outline
the specific state rules governing domestic violence and related crimes
such as assault, criminal harassment, and stalking.

"We know that kids are resilient, but how do we expect them to be resilient in the face of domestic violence?" he asked.

He
described how schools can implement programs that foster self-esteem,
respect, social skills, and set high expectations. According to
MacMaster, if a child has a high degree of self-esteem and a strong
support system, he/she is more likely to escape a domestic abuse
situation.

MacMaster emphasized that adults should take any
child's report of domestic abuse seriously, and to make clear to the
child that the abuse is not his/her fault. Furthermore, the adult is a
"mandated reporter" or legally obligated to report the abuse to social
services.

MacMaster ended on a positive note, praising
Somerville Police Chief Anthony Holloway for his efforts in curtailing
domestic abuse. "Chief Holloway is deeply invested in [preventing]
domestic violence…he deserves a lot of credit," he said.