Abusive Relationships: Get Help, Get Out

Many people think of an “abusive relationship” as one in which a male routinely hits or beats a female. However, the phrase covers a wide variety of unhealthy relationships—not always physically violent—where the male is sometimes the victim in a controlling, manipulative situation. This installment of the long-running PBS series In The Mix presents several stories of people involved in abusive relationships—either the victim, or a family member of the victim—through simple, talking-head interviews that mostly focus on recognizing the symptoms of an abusive relationship (and explaining why the victim often stays, even under dramatically deteriorating conditions), while also touching on options for help and support in getting out of an abusive situation. Because the biggest challenge is having both an exit strategy and the will to leave, the program perhaps should have spent more time on this aspect, and less on abuse stories. As it is, the interviewees end up sounding more like victims than successful survivors (however, providing the male point of view is a welcome addition). Optional. Aud: J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)