2.9: I. North Dakota/Rural-Specific Information and Issues
- Page ID
- 47600
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)I. North Dakota /Rural Specific Information and Issues
When we discuss issues surrounding domestic violence and why victims may not leave an abusive situation, it is important to look at the particular realities of rural life. Many students in our classes will recognize the following issues as significant to the region they live or have lived in.
1. No Transportation – Rural victims may not have access to a vehicle or even a driver's license. Road conditions during winter may prohibit travel, especially on back roads where snow removal may be intermittent or completely lacking.
2. Nowhere to Go – Rural victims may not have access to a shelter, or the nearest one may be more than an hour away. Going to a shelter means uprooting children from school and extended family and it takes advance planning. It cannot be a spontaneous response.
3. Security – Many rural victims have never lived anywhere else, and leaving the security of a family is a frightening prospect.
4. Livelihood/Lifestyle – Many victims are business partners in the farming or ranching operation.
5. Generational Effects of Domestic Violence – Isolation can be pronounced in rural areas, and the family may be a closed unit. If victims grew up witnessing domestic violence, they may see domestic violence as normal.
6. Shortage of Resources – There is a lack of support services to assist victims in leaving. If they are available, there may be a lack of public awareness as to how to access them. Consider that there may not even be 911 services (Tri‑State Rural, Guide).
As you can see, isolation is a major factor in keeping victims in an abusive relationship. A victim may be alone with the abuser for several months over the winter if employment is seasonal. Also, a victim's nearest neighbor may be miles away, which increases the batterer's control over the victim. Alcohol use may increase during these periods of isolation, fueling an already volatile situation.
To make matters worse, in addition to lack of telephone or 911 services, there may be long‑distance charges for other communities that may only be a few miles away, making it difficult for victims to remain in contact with family and friends. Long‑distance charges are often monitored by the abusers. Additionally, a more accepting attitude toward ownership of weapons is common in rural communities. Hunting weapons are common, and victims are often threatened with them (Tri‑State Rural, Guide).
Native American victims living on reservations face many of the same issues as rural victims. Some of the reasons for staying which apply to victims in rural areas may also apply to Native Americans. There are also additional factors to consider:
1. Racism – Native Americans have experienced a history of prejudice from individuals and institutions; therefore, they may be hesitant in reaching out for help.
2. Inadequate Number and Capacity of Jails ‑ tribal law enforcement may have difficulty in keeping abusers in custody.
3. No Tribal Code –There may not be a tribal code that defines domestic violence as criminal conduct (Tri‑State Rural, Guide; OVC Bulletin) (for tribal sensitive resources see Attachment H).