The iconography depicted is a purple-colored necklace made in the style of a silver choker necklace with a broken clasp and a purple ribbon coming from the hands. The purple is representing the color chosen to depict domestic violence and was adopted from the women’s suffragette movement. The broken chain is used to represent breaking the cycle of abuse and violence by either being able to leave the situation or by sharing stories about abuse to help others come to their own realization. Within abusive relationships, strangulation can oftentimes be an episode of physical abuse that places the person being abused at higher risk of death at the hands of the abuser. Strangulation is utilized as a form of control, both psychologically as the image of a loved one forcing their hands over a victim’s throat, and physically as the abuser does not allow the victim’s life to continue unless they wish it to by removing their hands. I have chosen to depict this imagery as a choker due to the style of a choker resting in the area where strangulation would occur and because often victims are left traumatized at the idea of anything around their necks after going through such a harrowing ordeal. The idea is to give abuse victims jewelry that gives them empowerment and showcasing the strength had in overcoming such an ordeal through something that could be considered beautiful and also has a ribbon for domestic violence. The final aspect, the purple ribbon, coming from the hands, is used to represent the many victims that have suffered this violence and have created a space to share and help each other.
