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Beyond Ray Rice: #WhyIStayed hashtag personalizes domestic violence

In the wake of disturbing video footage released this week, in which NFL player Ray Rice is seen assaulting his now-wife Janay in an elevator, one North Carolina woman found herself livid at some of the reactions bubbling up online.Beverly Gooden, who says she herself had been a victim of domestic violence, couldn't believe the criticism she saw being leveled at victims like Janay. So she took to
FILE - In this May 23, 2014, file photo, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, right, speaks alongside his wife, Janay, during a news conference at ...
FILE - In this May 23, 2014, file photo, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, right, speaks alongside his wife, Janay, during a news conference at the team's practice facility in Owings Mills, Md. A new video that appears to show Ray Rice striking then-fiance Janay Palmer in an elevator last February has been released on a website. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)Patrick Semansky / AP file

In the wake of disturbing video footage released this week, in which NFL player Ray Rice is seen assaulting his now-wife Janay in an elevator, one North Carolina woman found herself livid at some of the reactions bubbling up online.

FILE - In this May 23, 2014, file photo, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, right, speaks alongside his wife, Janay, during a news conference at ...
In this May 23, 2014, file photo, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice speaks alongside his wife, Janay, during a news conference at the team's practice facility.Patrick Semansky / Today

Beverly Gooden, who says she herself had been a victim of domestic violence, couldn't believe the criticism she saw being leveled at victims like Janay. So she took to Twitter to vent.

All+these+folks+trashing+women+for+staying+in+abusive+situations+have+NO+clue+what+happens+the+moment+you+reach+for+a+door+handle.

—+Beverly+Gooden+(@bevtgooden)+September+8,+2014+

“That day I was upset and I was angry,” Gooden, a 31-year-old human-resources manager at a nonprofit, told TODAY.com. “I just wanted to say something to anybody that would listen."

After Gooden retweeted other Twitter users’ domestic violence stories, she decided to share her own — adding the hashtag #WhyIStayed. "I hashtagged it so that if anybody wanted to join in, we could form some kind of community and keep the talk going, and then all of a sudden it just blew up," she says.

I+tried+to+leave+the+house+once+after+an+abusive+episode,+and+he+blocked+me.+He+slept+in+front+of+the+door+that+entire+night.+#WhyIStayed

—+Beverly+Gooden+(@bevtgooden)+September+8,+2014+

The hashtag lit the Internet on fire: Within an hour of posting, Gooden started retweeting powerful stories from other users who'd been through similar experiences.

I+thought+I+wasn't+worthy+of+any+other+kind+of+love.+#WhyIStayed

—+Tae+Phoenix+(@TaePhoenix)+September+8,+2014+

Because+I+was+raised+in+a+society+that+says+it's+the+woman's+fault.+#WhyIStayed

—+Victrix+(@girlvanized)+September+8,+2014+

Because+I+didn't+know+emotional+abuse+was+domestic+violence+#WhyIStayed

—+Crystal+S.+(@SeymoreCrystal)+September+8,+2014+

I+thought+I+could+heal+their+wound.+#WhyIStayed

—+Dr.+G.+Love+(@DrGLove1)+September+8,+2014+

As+a+Blk+queer+radical+feminist+activist+I+was+afraid+2+tell+community+I+was+living+the+reality+I+was+trying+to+dismantle+#WhyIStayed

—+Paris+Hatcher+(@parishatcher)+September+8,+2014+

He+threated+to+take+my+son,++made+me+feel+like+I+deserved+it+and+made+me+feel+ashamed+it+even+happened+#WhyIStayed

—+Brittney+Shackelford+(@5ft_Hurricane)+September+8,+2014+

Because+before+you+know+it,+everything+is+in+his+name+and+he+can+take+it+away+when+he's+mad.+#WhyIStayed

—+Brittany+(@dearminerva)+September+8,+2014+

I+didn't+want+to+be+a+failure+#WhyIStayed

—+Lye+N.+Ess+(@MistyPrest)+September+8,+2014+

He+was+everywhere.++He+stalked+me+online,+at+work,+and+at+home.++I+felt+like+no+matter+what+I+did+he+would+find+me+anyway+#WhyIStayed

—+Kori+(@MsLoweToYou)+September+8,+2014+

#WhyIStayed+because+i+thought+taking+his+abuse+was+necessary+in+order+to+help+him+get+over+his+own+abuse+as+a+child

—+rachael+(@raycholebunny)+September+8,+2014+


Though she is excited at the attention this hashtag has brought to the issue of domestic violence, Gooden says she couldn't help but have mixed feelings about the explosive response, because of what it meant.

"I felt good, that there were so many people that related to it, but at the same time I felt bad that there were so many people that related to it," she said. “They’ve lived it and I’ve lived it, so there’s strength in community, but at the same time it’s like, wow, it’s such a big issue – so, it’s a combination of the two.”

The topic trended to the extent that it caught the attention of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which alerted Twitter users to the organization's services.

Powerful,+brave+stories+#WhyIStayed.+Thank+you+to+all+who+are+sharing.+We+are+here+for+you.

—+Natl+DV+Hotline+(@ndvh)+September+8,+2014+


On Monday afternoon, Gooden also took to her website to elaborate on the inspiration for her hashtag. "The internet exploded with questions about [Janay Rice]," she wrote. "Why didn't she leave? Why did she marry him? Why did she stay? I can't speak for Janay Rice, but I can speak for Beverly Gooden. Why did I stay? … Leaving was a process, not an event. And sometimes it takes a while to navigate through the process. I believe in storytelling. I believe in the power of shared experience. I believe that we find strength in community. That is why I created this hashtag. I hope those tweeting using #WhyIStayed find a voice, find love, find compassion, and find hope.”

The #WhyIStayed hashtag started trending nationally within hours of Gooden’s first use, and remained a trend on Tuesday afternoon.

I+hope+the+women+tweeting+in+#WhyIStayed+feel+powerful+and+heard.+So+thankful+that+you+are+here+to+tweet+your+voice.

—+Beverly+Gooden+(@bevtgooden)+September+8,+2014+


Gooden told TODAY.com that, on Tuesday, she finally watched the video of Rice and Palmer's elevator altercation.

“It reminds me of my ex-husband,” she said. “She reminds me of me. I feel like it was me. I feel like I was there. I feel like I know what she was thinking.”

TODAY senior editor Meena Duerson contributed to this report. Follow TODAY.com writer Chris Serico on Twitter.