Okay For Pets Not For Partners Initiative
Domestic abuse has come to the foreground of public discourse in recent years, notably in the case of Yeardley Love and her ex-boyfriend, George Huguely. Love, a lacrosse player at the University of Virginia, was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend Huguely in 2010. In response, the organization One Love was created, a national program designed to raise awareness about the signs of domestic abuse in honor of Yeardley Love. One Love, a global organization that Polly Carter ‘16 turned into a Derryfield club, has had various fundraisers and special events to raise money for the foundation. For National Respect Week during the second week of February, One Love has created another creative way to get involved.
You might have seen the Ok for Pets Not Partners memes around school -- this was put into motion by the One Love foundation and brought here to Derryfield by our very own chapter. The memes are designed to raise awareness about what unhealthy relationships look like, because behavior that you might see between an owner and their pet is not acceptable between romantic partners. Annalise Groves ‘17 has spearheaded this project, stating that the Pets Versus Partners Campaign allows us to “gain a better understanding of what is okay and what isn't in a relationship by juxtaposing one's relationship with a pet versus a partner.” For instance, it is acceptable to control how much food your dog eats or when he or she can go outside, but in a healthy relationship, a person should not be controlling their partner this way. Groves also adds, “The idea is that the way pets are treated . . . is okay because we are doing it to protect them, but it's not okay to control a person in the same manner.” Approximately one in every three women and one in every four men will experience relationship abuse in their lifetime, making it crucial to raise awareness in communities such as Derryfield where relationships with family, friends, and partners are constantly growing and developing.
If you want to create your own pet meme and help raise awareness about violent relationships, visit the One Love website and send your meme to 17agroves@derryfield.org. It is important that we all come together to recognize relationship abuse and how to prevent it.
Richie Tarpey is currently a senior at Derryfield and is Lamplighter's Management Editor