Domestic Violence Awareness Through Media

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Domestic violence is a pervasive issue that affects millions of individuals and families worldwide. It is a serious public health concern and a profound violation of human rights. One of the most effective strategies for combating domestic violence is education. By increasing awareness and providing resources and programs, education plays a crucial role in preventing domestic violence and supporting survivors.

Therefore, this Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we put together a list of books, movies, and TV shows that portray domestic violence in realistic and educational ways. Understanding domestic violence is not just about learning the statistics or definitions; it’s about recognizing the real, human impact it has on individuals and communities.

Fiction Books

  • The Color Purple by Alice Walker – The story of Celie, a Black woman in the early 20th-century South, who overcomes oppression and abuse and finds her sense of self-worth. See also: The Color Purple (1985) and The Color Purple (2023) Movies
  • Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty – Explores the impact of domestic violence in an affluent community. See also: Big Little Lies TV Show
  • Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks – The story of a young woman who escapes an abusive relationship and finds love and safety again in a new community.
  • It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover – Although this book is polarizing in literary spaces, this novel explores the complexities of love, domestic abuse, and the difficult choices one must make to break the cycle.

Nonfiction Books

  • No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us by Rachel Louise Snyder – Explores the realities of domestic violence and the systematic failures that allow it to continue.
  • The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van der Kolk – Explores how trauma affects the body and mind, offering insights into the long-term effects of domestic violence.
  • Surviving: Why We Stay and How We Leave Abusive Relationships by Beverly Gooden – Offers personal and research-based insights into why survivors stay in abusive relationships and how they eventually leave.
  • The Black Woman’s Guide To Overcoming Domestic Violence by Shavonne J. Moore-Lobban – Explores the unique challenges faced by Black women in abusive relationships.

Memoirs

  • Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land – The story of the author’s escape from an emotionally abusive relationship and her struggles to make ends meet. See also: Maid TV Show
  • In the Dreamhouse by Carmen Maria Machado – Explores the complexities of an abusive same-sex relationship based on the author’s personal experiences.
  • Escape Points: A Memoir by Michele Weldon – The story of the author’s journey of escaping an abusive marriage while raising three sons.
  • Goodbye, Sweet Girl by Kelly Sundberg – The story of the author’s experience with domestic violence and her healing journey.
  • Tornado Warning: A Memoir of Teen Dating Violence and Its Effect on a Woman’s Life by Elin Stebbins Waldal – Explores teen dating violence and its effects on relationships into adulthood.

YA Books

  • What Kind of Girl by Alyssa B. Sheinmel – A novel that examines the impact of dating violence on young women.
  • Dreamland by Sarah Dessen – The story of a young girl in an abusive relationship.
  • Bitter End by Jennifer Brown – The story of a young girl’s realization that she is in an abusive relationship and how she escapes it.

Kid’s Books

  • A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret M. Holmes – Helps children process and cope with traumatic events, such as domestic violence.
  • The Big Bad Wolf in My House by Valérie Fontaine – Helps children understand domestic violence and its effects.
  • Some Days He Growled by Nicole Kimball Ostrowski – Explores the emotions children might feel when witnessing domestic violence.
  • Anger is Okay, Violence is Not by Julie Federico – Teaches children about the difference between healthy anger and harmful violence.

Movies

  • Waitress (2007) – The story of a woman in an abusive marriage who finds solace in hobbies and friendship. (Also a musical written by Sara Bareilles)
  • I, Tonya (2018) – The true story of figure skater Tonya Harding, which explores the cycle of abuse from childhood to adulthood, and includes depictions of domestic violence.
  • The Color Purple (1985) (2023) – The movie and movie musical adaptations of the fiction book by Alice Walker, in which a Black woman in the early 20th-century South overcomes abuse and finds her sense of self-worth.
  • Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) – The story of a woman who escapes her abusive marriage and is then stalked by her husband.

TV Shows

  • MAID – Based on the memoir by Stephanie Land, the story of a woman’s escape from an emotionally abusive relationship and her struggles to make ends meet. See also: Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land
  • Big Little Lies – A drama series that explores the impact of domestic violence in an affluent community. See also: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
  • ‘Til Death Do Us Part – True-crime series that tells the stories of marriages that ended in violent outcomes.

Education is one of the most powerful tools in advocating for victims and/or breaking the cycle. If you have questions or need help, call our 24/7/365 hotline at 1-800-373-1043.