top of page

There Is No Justification for Abuse


In the past week, allegations of abuse have surfaced against writers Junot Díaz and David Foster Wallace. In Foster’s case, his abuse of an ex girlfriend was well-known for years, yet is being re-examined in light of the #MeToo movement. In Díaz’s case, allegations of sexual misconduct only arose recently, after he published a piece detailing his childhood sexual abuse.

Two women, both women of color, publicly accused Díaz of misogynistic behavior. Novelist Zinzi Clemmons stated that Díaz cornered her and forcibly kissed her when she was a 26 year old graduate student. Writer Carmen Machao related that when she asked Díaz about his characters’ unhealthy relationships with women, he yelled at her for 20 minutes.

Similarly, author Mary Karr has stated that Wallace repeatedly abused her and stalked her. The fact of Wallace’s abuse of Karr was no secret; a biography of Wallace mentions that he “threw a coffee table” at her and tried to push her from a moving car. According to Karr, this was “about 2%” of what he actually did. He also tried to buy a gun to kill her husband — something that he openly admitted to in a letter — kicked her, climbed up the side of her house at night, followed her 5 year old son home from school, and stalked her. His biographer, D.T. Max, believes that his violence made him a “fascinating guy.” He also attributed Wallace’s best known work, the novel Infinite Jest, to Wallace’s dysfunctional yearning for Karr, calling it a “creative spiral of anger.” Wallace died by suicide in 2008.

Díaz and Wallace both share troubled pasts. Díaz recently wrote a piece for the New Yorker about his childhood rape and resulting trauma, including his suicide attempt as a result of the rape. Wallace struggled with depression, alcoholism and drug addiction throughout his adult life. These realities have been mentioned as explanations for their abuse, including — in Díaz’ case — by the men themselves. In a statement to the New York Times, Díaz said, “I take responsibility for my past. That is the reason I made the decision to tell the truth of my rape and its damaging aftermath…”.

While many factors contribute to domestic or sexual violence, including an abuser’s own history of past trauma, there is NO justification for abuse. Period. We are all responsible for our own actions. As Roxanne Gay noted in her tweet below, explanations for why a person might have behaved in a particular way do not excuse unacceptable behavior. We can have empathy for a person who may have suffered from childhood trauma or who has substance abuse or mental health issues without excusing their abuse of other people.

These issues can be complex, particularly if you are in a relationship with your abuser and are conflicted by wanting to help a person who has been hurt themselves. However, it is important to remember that no matter what type of abuse they have suffered, it does NOT justify hurting you.

If you have been or are currently a victim of violence or abuse, we are here for you. You can reach us anytime at 1-888-832-2272 or 724-836-1122. Our services are available free of charge, and are always confidential.

Learn More:

 
 
 

Since 1976, Blackburn Center has been providing services to survivors and victims of domestic and sexual violence and other types of violence and crime in Westmoreland County, and presenting education programs across this community.  You can learn more about types of abuse, our services, or ways to get help if you are a survivor or victim of violence or crime.  All of our client services are FREE of charge.

 

The official registration and financial information of Blackburn Center  may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

  • Wix Facebook page
  • Wix Twitter page

Blackburn Center

PO Box 398

Greensburg, PA 15601

24-Hour Hotline:

1-888-832-2272

The information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to take the place of professional services or medical or mental health treatment.

 

Internet Safety: Your visit to our website can be traced by another user of your computer. If visiting this site could put you in danger, please take the necessary steps to erase the records of your visit. Click here to learn more about internet safety.

 

© 2020 |  Blackburn Center Standing To End Violence | PO Box 398 | Greensburg, PA  | 15601  | 724-837-9540

Serving Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

bottom of page