Article published May 29, 2007
YWCA TEACHES UNDERSTANDING TO HELP WOMEN
Hair stylists receive training in handling domestic violence
Denise Soto, right, owner of Salon Professional Academy in Perrysburg, talks to students about domestic violence awareness.
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THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
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By JENNIFER FEEHAN
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Holly Tedrick always had heard people say that their hair stylist was their therapist, but she didn't think that meant clients would talk about an abusive relationship.
"It's so hush-hush," the 23-year-old said.
That is one of the attitudes Lynn Jacquot hopes to change through classes like the one she led last week at the Salon Professional Academy in Perrysburg. Ms. Jacquot, director of the YWCA Battered Women's Shelter in Toledo, told the group of 20 soon-to-graduate stylists it was important for them to understand domestic violence so they would be in a position to help clients in need.
"I think empowering women with knowledge is the best thing you can do," Ms. Jacquot told the students.
Since last year, Denise Soto, owner of the academy, has been inviting the YWCA staff to speak with students about domestic violence. The need for such training hit home last May when a client of Ms. Soto's, Patricia Saunders of Swanton, was stabbed by her husband, who then killed their two children and shot a sheriff's deputy before killing himself.
After the horrific tragedy, Ms. Soto said she was disturbed to find employees didn't know what to say to Ms. Saunders. And she heard people in the salon talking about how Ms. Saunders was somehow at fault for what happened to her children."After Patty Saunders, I thought, 'I have to get involved.' I have 130 students who are almost all women," Ms. Soto said. "How many of them are affected by domestic violence?"
Her next graduating class will be the third to have undergone four hours of training that is divided into a segment on domestic violence and a second session on healthy relationships.
"The hairdresser is the first person women talk to," Ms. Soto told the students. "… You are part of the first generation of hairdressers who can go out and make a change."
Her idea is not unique. A program called CUT IT OUT has been used to train salon professionals and raise awareness about domestic violence across the country since 2002. Among its sponsors are the National Cosmetology Association and Clairol Professional.
Deputy Mary Ann Robinson, a domestic violence specialist with the Wood County Sheriff's Office, applauded the efforts.
"I think it's an excellent idea. I was just at the salon a week and a half ago and the woman who cuts my hair was saying, 'I can't believe the women who come in here and the stories they tell us,'•" said Deputy Robinson, who is also president of Alicia's Voice, a domestic violence organization formed in Bowling Green in the wake of the March 29 murder of Alicia Castillon and her boyfriend. Castillon's ex-boyfriend, who had a history of stalking and assaulting her, has been charged with both murders.
"It's all about education," Deputy Robinson said. "The more education a person can get, the better."
During the presentation at the Salon Professional Academy, Carrie Rawson, a sexual assault nurse examiner and YWCA volunteer, asked the girls what pink ribbons stand for. All of them seemed to know they represented breast cancer awareness.
"But you know what?" Ms. Rawson asked. "Domestic violence kills more women than breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer - all of the women's cancers combined."
When one student asked why there wasn't more public awareness about domestic abuse, Ms. Rawson said she believed it was because of the "public shame" historically associated with it.
"People want to interpret this as an intimate family issue," Ms. Jacquot interjected. "This is a community issue, and we cannot let people brush this off. We have to give people permission to talk about it."
The students had plenty of questions, many of which had to do with just what they should do if they suspect or know a client is in an abusive relationship.
"Don't feel like this is all on your shoulders," Ms. Jacquot told them. "If you don't want to do this, don't. But if you feel like something's going on, you can direct them to the information."
"You have no obligation to report anything," Ms. Rawson added. "Your only obligation is to have the information and say, 'Here's a place you can call if you feel threatened or unsafe. Here's a number to call.'•"
Ms. Soto cautioned the young women about getting too involved with their clients' personal lives and problems. They can listen, show concern, and direct them to a resource like the YWCA to get help, she said. But that's as far as it should go.
"If you don't help anyone else in the whole wide world, if you never talk to anyone, I don't care," Ms. Soto said. "But if this helps you have a healthy relationship, if this keeps your children safe, it will be worthwhile."
Jillian Thomas, 19, of Grand Rapids said she decided to become a hair stylist in part because it meant working closely with people and making that kind of connection.
"I think [the domestic violence training] was very good," she said. "We're in an industry to help women out."
Contact Jennifer Feehan at:
jfeehan@theblade.com
or 419-353-5972.
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