Shear Haven

A few months ago, I was invited to an event with a couple of my coworkers hosted by a local salon. This event was associated with a nonprofit organization called YWCA, and for this particular night, we were shedding light on an initiative of this organization, called Shear Haven. Shear Haven caters to women or men in need from domestic abusive situations or relationships. I didn’t have much background on the organization, only that it was a training about helping those that may need help from an abusive situation. Before hand, I thought that I would go to this class for support of my coworkers, thinking that I wouldn’t learn much more than what I already knew about abuse and that the signs should be pretty obvious if I were to come across someone that was being abused.

But this class was so much more than that. It was definitely eye opening and made me think about certain clients that I may have come across. Noticing certain behaviors they displayed, mentioning certain things about their husbands, or maybe their demeanor as they sat in my chair. It made me realize how close I’m capable of getting with people because of my profession and by knowing that, I hope that I’m able to help a client if they ever needed it. It also made me think back into some of my own personal situations. Aside from the knowledge this class filled me with, it also connected me to such an amazing soul, Susanne Post, the co-founder of Shear Haven.

Susanne is a survivor of domestic violence and is dedicated to teaching the public about the signs of abuse in victims and about the resources that are made available to help these victims. Recognizing signs in someone who may be suffering from abuse in any space is so important but she has made it a point to educate professionals in the beauty industry to recognize victims displaying signs of abuse specifically in a salon setting.

“This domestic violence education program equips stylists with the knowledge and resources to recognize the signs of domestic violence, successfully navigate conversations with clients who may be in danger, and pass along tools that can help them get to safety.”

(YWCA Nashville 2019)

The YWCA provides a plethora of domestic violence services in the Middle Tennesssee area, all of which to create a safe place for women, children, and individuals in same sex relationships suffering from abuse. The Weaver Domestic Violence Center is the largest emergency DV shelter in Tennessee. They provide a 24 hour crisis and support helpline, individual therapy/counseling, support groups, transitional house and Re-New at the YWCA.

This class gave us insight of how certain signs of domestic abuse can appear, behavioral or physical, to someone on the outside. As cosmetologists, we are put in situations where we can become very personable with our clients even though we may not know them on the outside. This relationship can allow us to notice signs that may be less obvious to other people. Although, many people assume it’s very easy to know if someone is a victim of abuse, most signs are not physical. I repeat, most signs are not physical.. Emotional abuse, verbal abuse, and manipulation are just as much as abusive as physical. If you or someone you know may be in one of these situations, this hotline and website may be the first step for them towards their safety:

1-800-334-4628

https://www.ywcanashville.com/domestic-violence/

If you are a salon owner or stylist and want to host a training, you can contact Marissa Miciotto through the website above as well.

Statistics

• 1 in 4 women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime.

• 3 women are killed each day by a man who says he loves her.

• 15.5 million children witness domestic violence each year.

  In Tennessee alone

• More than half of crimes against persons are domestic violence-related.

• Tennessee ranks 5th in the nation for the rate at which men kill women.

• Metro Nashville Police respond to a domestic violence call every 20 minutes.

  (YWCA Nashville 2019)

This training is actually mandatory in some states, such as Illinois, before you can receive your cosmetology license. So let’s pass the word around and make sure we all know the signs of someone who may be suffering because you never know what someone may be going through behind closed doors. Sometimes, all they need is the tools to help them find a safe haven.