Advocates conduct domestic violence experiment on base Published Oct. 31, 2011 By 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Staff Writer EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- When Lynn Stanley reported to work with a black eye and what appeared to be an angry handprint around her neck, she wondered what her co-workers would think. As it turned out the majority of people she ran into that day didn't say anything to her about her appearance. A few did ask however, and they wanted to know what caused the bruising. The cause, in a word, was makeup. Stanley and 13 other volunteers used makeup to make it look like they had been bruised and battered -- possibly victims of domestic abuse -- in an experiment to see how many people would ask about their injuries and offer help. The experiment was conducted by the Edwards' Advocacy Outreach Program as part of national Domestic Violence Awareness Month to spread the word that no one should live in fear of another person. To participants, the experiment results were surprising. Stanley, a health systems specialist with the 95th Medical Support Squadron, reported coming into contact with 39 people and said 14 of them responded to her made-up plight. "A few just said, 'Wow what happened?'" Stanley said. "But three people that know me personally actually 'went there' and asked...if Ben [Stanley's husband] did that to me, even though they know my husband," Stanley said. The rest of the people Stanley came into contact with during the experiment either didn't notice or simply chose not to get involved. Staff Sgt. Kevin Falvey, an aircraft armament systems specialist with the 412th Maintenance Group, was made up with bruises on his right cheek from his temple down to his lower jaw and more bruises around his neck. Falvey said he came face to face with 37 people throughout the day and only three of them inquired about his bruises. "One person asked about the bruises on my cheek. One asked if my wife hit me, and one asked if I was all right," Falvey said. He said he was surprised to discover that most people chose not to get involved. "I figured a lot of people would want to know what happened. It opened my eyes as to how many people don't want to get involved." Like Falvey, Stanley said the experiment raised her level of awareness about domestic abuse and made her a believer that people should get involved. It's about people helping people, she said. "If someone comes into my office with a black eye, I'll ask what happened." She also said she didn't think by asking that simple, direct question she would be invading that person's privacy . "If it is, they'll say so. If it's abuse I'll introduce them to Family Advocacy," Stanley said. And that's part of what the experiment was about -- the volunteers were instructed to introduce those who inquired about their injuries to the program and to thank them for getting involved. Educating the base about domestic violence is a priority for the Edwards Family Advocacy team. Psychologists say most victims of domestic abuse are reluctant to report the crime because they either consider it a private matter or are embarrassed about it, especially when it turns out that the man of the house is being physically abused by his wife. Family advocates said they had hoped more people would be willing to get involved. People sometimes don't ask about bruises or other signs of abuse thinking that it's none of their business. But that is part of the message of this exercise -- people need to be willing to get involved, family advocates say. "Abuse can happen to the people we least expect," said Elaine Estacio, manager of the Family Advocacy Outreach Program. "We need to use the wingman approach and look out for each other. Ask those tough questions." she said. Family Advocacy's theme during Domestic Violence Awareness Month was, "It Stops with Me...Domestic Violence." The program's goal is to increase individual awareness of others in the workplace or community. Estacio says if abuse is suspected of a member of Team Edwards then Family Advocacy should be contacted. All active duty members, civilian and contract employees are required -- by AFI 40-301 -- to report all incidents of suspected family maltreatment. Whether it is domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, they need to call Family Advocacy. "Let us know. We're here to help," she said. Anyone who knows of -- or is -- a victim of domestic abuse should call Family Advocacy at 277-5292 for help.