Discussing domestic violence through Netflix’s “Maid” - Hawai‘i State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Still shot of the characters Alex carrying Maddy, who play mother and daughter in the movie MAID, as they smile, standing in front of a metal fence and body of water.

On October 1, 2021, the first day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (“DVAM”), Netflix released the miniseries Maid starring Margaret Qualley, Andie MacDowell, Nick Robinson, and Anika Noni Rose. Inspired by Stephanie Land’s memoir, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, the miniseries is a deeply moving portrayal of one woman’s cycle of abuse from the people around her and the systems meant to protect her.

Though statistically most, if not all, people know someone who has experienced domestic violence (1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men in the United States), we often aren’t aware of the reality of the situation, or the everyday toll that abuse has on a victim or survivor. Maid invites viewers to confront the harsh circumstances that thousands of survivors experience every day, including the physical, psychological, financial, and relational impacts that an abusive partner can have on someone.

HSCADV has created a discussion guide to help you engage in a thoughtful conversation with friends and family about domestic violence:

What does it look like?
What barriers do victims face when trying to leave abusive relationships?
How can we better support victims and survivors?

Download the discussion guide and enjoy!

Chelsey Stewart (Training & Technical Assistance Specialist) and Vanessa Corwin (Program Director)