Battered women find ‘voice’ on stage
Battered Utah women shared their feelings and experiences with an audience Tuesday night, as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The Community Abuse Prevention Services Agency (CAPSA) offered women therapy using music and other artistic creations to overcome their experiences and trials. Soon their experiences became an educational performance.
The program was started by Elizabeth York, associate professor and director of music therapy at Utah State University, and CAPSA after being awarded a research grant from the American Association of University Women.
York said they wanted to help women through music. When the program started they had 30 volunteers, 10 of whom perform with “Finding Voice,” a musical performance, while the others contribute their time and talents with the program in other ways.
“They share common experiences, abuse was not simply just their experience,” York said. “Many women have situations where they felt threatened and afraid, as well as their children.”
She said many of the women had been held back from their talents, and when they were able to use them it became a powerful healing tool.
She said she wanted to use music therapy with the women. York said she was “interested in exploring the effect” of women’s self-esteem and the process of women.
CAPSA has several programs for women who have been victims, she said. They have worked with the children at CAPSA with music before and wanted to “explore the emotions” of women through music therapy, she said.
“It’s very real; the performance reflects a healing process,” York said. “The audience is struck by the degree to which the women have healed from the experience.”
She said they have broken through stereotypes with many audiences.
“One person in the audience said one woman didn’t fit the part of a battered woman,” York said. “It could be one’s next door neighbor or a person one sits next to you in church.”
It can become personal to one who listens to the performance, York said.
“It gives a great deal of hope to the audience,” she said. “Women who have these experiences can transcend and transform it.”
Janet Osborne, director of the Women’s Center, said the program is great for Utah State University. She said the performance is a “powerful learning tool.”
“Lectures have their place,” Osborne said. “Programs such as ‘Finding Voice’ is another way to teach. I much prefer these tools over a lecture.”
Osborne said when she heard about York’s program she wanted to be updated constantly. She said the women performing are courageous for sharing their experiences.
The Women’s Center wanted to have “Finding Voice” participate in Domestic Violence Awareness Month, she said.
October is the national month for domestic violence awareness; Osborne said the Women’s Center uses the month to provide awareness experiences for the community and USU.
Osborne said she was curious to see how many men would attend the performance. When someone is a victim of abuse it affects everyone in their lives. Men should be educated about domestic violence, she said.
Johnathon Case, a sophomore majoring in occupational therapy, said his fiancée wanted to go to the program. He said “it was informative” and he has respect for the women sharing their experience publicly.
“It’s a shame what they have gone through,” he said.
Ashely Carr, an undeclared freshman, agreed.
“I’m happy they were brave to share stuff, but it’s sad those things happen,” she said.
Carr said the program could help someone suffering from domestic violence become brave and “do something about it.”
Bruce Saperston, the music department head, said the music department is proud of their music therapy program. He said York has proven once again the powerful impact music therapy can do to help people in despair.
“York is a pioneer using music therapy for battered and abused women,” he said.
York said “Finding Voice” has been traveling in Utah and sharing their message with others. She said audiences suggest after performances they should make a CD. She said they are working on that.
-srkrebs@cc.usu.edu
Sharilee Guest performs with USU professor Elizabeth York during “Finding Voice (Photo by John Zsiray)