I started my volunteering at the YWCA last Tuesday and I went in having no idea what I was going to be doing but was incredibly excited to learn more about the organization. I had a very open mind and was prepared to ask lots of questions and be as helpful as possible.
I spent most of my time with a legal advocate and learned a lot about what her job entails as well as information about domestic violence. A legal advocate is just what the title means, a person who helps advocate for a victim in the court and police systems. She helps victims file for Personal Protection Orders against their perpetrators and she reviews domestic violence police reports to see if the YWCA can offer them any services. She will go to court with victims, visit them in jail, and provide any other support that she can.
The most interesting thing I learned was that women who are charged with domestic violence statistically spend more time in jail then men charged with the same thing. Also, if a woman kills her abuser she most likely will get the harshest sentence, life, whereas a man who kills his wife usually receives a lesser sentence like 20 years. I found that information to be astounding! Even though our society is generally pretty equal between sexes that shows how men still have upper hands in many aspects.
My next post will explain what I did the next day which included spending time with a crisis counselor and helping in the donations center.
I was not aware of the differences in sentences for men and women! That's really interesting. It sounds like you're learning a lot from volunteering!
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