Last week, President Trump dismissed domestic violence incidents as “a little fight with the wife” while speaking about crime in Washington, D.C. His words, delivered casually from a podium, carry consequences far beyond political rhetoric. For survivors of domestic violence, hearing the highest office in the nation minimize abuse is not just disheartening — it is dangerous.
At The Second Step, we know domestic violence is not a private disagreement—it is a public health crisis with far‑reaching consequences.
In Massachusetts and across the country, the effects extend well beyond individual households. On average, domestic violence costs businesses more than $8 billion each year in lost productivity, wages, and health care expenses. It is also a strong predictor of other forms of community violence, putting entire neighborhoods at risk.
Domestic violence is not a minor dispute to be brushed aside.
It is a persistent cycle of coercion and control in which one partner inflicts harm on the other. Nearly one in three women and one in five men will experience intimate partner abuse in their lifetime. What happens “within the home” does not stay there—it affects survivors’ health, their children’s safety, their economic stability, and the well‑being of entire communities.
Comments that frame abuse as “a little fight” perpetuate the myths The Second Step works daily to dismantle. Comments like these tell survivors that their experiences are normal. This then reinforces the silence that abusers rely on and perpetuating the stigma and disbelief that prevent survivors from reaching out.
However, even when public leaders minimize domestic violence, there are effective ways for individuals and communities to support survivors.
Here are three impactful strategies:
- Believe survivors
- Validate survivors’ experiences, letting them know their feelings are real and the abuse is not their fault.
- Provide survivors with options and resources instead of telling them what to do. Empowerment comes from offering information, support, and respecting their choices, not controlling their next steps.
- Educate yourself and others
- Challenge dismissive attitudes by deepening your understanding of domestic violence.
- Raise awareness through conversations, social media, and events.
- Encourage your community to support survivors. The Second Step offers specialized trainings for workplaces and organizations to increase access to vital resources.
- Advocate for Change
- Use your voice to demand accountability and shift domestic violence from a “private matter” to a public crisis.
- Stay informed about advocacy opportunities through The Second Step’s newsletter and contact elected officials to support policy changes.
- Counter minimization by amplifying survivor stories and the fundamental truth: domestic violence is a crime, and everyone deserves safe, healthy relationships.
Every year in Massachusetts, lives are cut short because abuse behind closed doors escalated to lethal violence. We work with hundreds of individuals and families each year who are seeking restraining orders, safety plans, counseling, and legal protection to survive. To dismiss this reality is to deny survivors their dignity and minimize their danger.
At The Second Step, we understand the trauma that survivors of domestic abuse endure.
Our experienced attorneys, advocates, and educators stand with survivors, helping to carve their path toward a life free from abuse, while also raising awareness of domestic violence to create healthier, safer communities.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact us to speak with advocate.
Call: 617-965-2538 | Email: info@thesecondstep.org