Effects of Domestic Violence
Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline if you or anyone you know needs help:
800-799-7233
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic Violence/abuse is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.
-Office on Violence Against Women
Domestic violence is a serious and widespread problem that affects all economic, educational, social, geographic, racial, ethnic, and regional groups.
-American Journal on Public Health
Types of Domestic Violence
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is defined as a type of Domestic violence where physical contact to a person causing them to have injuries such as bruises and scratches.
Physical abuse is the worst type of abuse and is the most common type of abuse.
Kicking, shoving, pushing, punching, choking are some of the examples of this type of abuse.
The aftermath can traumatize the victim for the rest of their lives.
Psychological Abuse
Psychological abuse is another form of Domestic violence where the person is emotionally abusing the other person.
This may include humiliation, yelling or swearing, intimidation, blaming, threats against you or the ones you care about.
The victim will usually suffer a very low self-esteem and self-worth.
The long term affect can result in depression, loss of self-love and trust, or suicidal thoughts.
Economic Abuse
Economic abuse is another form of domestic violence where money is usually involved.
When in an economic abuse relationship the abuser usually has full control of the victims financial status which in turns control the victim.
Things like being forced to put names on an account which destroys your credit, every amount of money you make the person gets, not including you in financial decisions, and not allowing you to access any family finances are some of the examples of economic abuse.
Stalking/Cyber-Stalking
Stalking happens when the person repeatedly follows you around without any permission or without you knowing. They can also harassment such as false accusations or being threatened usually occurs as well.
Cyber Stalking happens only on social media. Meaning this mostly occurs with the use of the internet or other electronics with social media such as Facebook, Instagram, emails, etc.
Under the law stalking and Cyber stalking is illegal and is called a criminal offense under state anti stalking and harassment laws.
Sexual abuse
The last form of Domestic violence is Sexual abuse this happens when a sexual contact is being made repeatedly and usually without the victims permission or liking
This type of abuse can be done to anybody and usually involves unwanted sex, derogatory name calling, sexual touching without permission etc.
Most victims usually suffer from long term trauma, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder
Warning Signs
Pushing for quick involvement: Comes on strong, claiming, “I’ve never felt loved like this by anyone.”
Jealousy: Excessively possessive; calls constantly or visits unexpectedly; prevents you from going to work because “you might meet someone.”
Controlling Behavior: Interrogates you intensely (especially if you’re late) about whom you talked to and where you were; keeps all the money; insists you ask permission to do anything.
Unrealistic expectations: Expects you to be the perfect mate and meet his or her every need.
Isolation: Tries to cut you off from family and friends; accuses people who support you of “causing trouble.”
Blaming others for problems or mistakes: It’s always someone else’s fault when anything goes wrong.
Making others responsible for his or her feelings: The abuser says, “You make me angry,” instead of “I am angry,” or says, “You’re hurting me by not doing what I tell you.”
Hypersensitivity: Is easily insulted, claiming hurt feelings when he or she is really mad.
Cruelty to animals or children: Kills or punishes animals brutally. Also, may expect children to do things that are far beyond their ability (whips a 3-year-old for wetting a diaper) or may tease them until they cry.
Use of force during sex: Enjoys throwing you down or holding you down against your will during sex.
Verbal abuse: Constantly criticizes or says blatantly cruel, hurtful things, degrades, curses, calls you ugly names.
Rigid roles: Expects you to serve, obey and remain at home.
Sudden mood swings: Switches from sweet to violent in minutes.
Past battering: Admits to hitting a mate in the past, but says the person “made” him (or her) do it.
Threats of violence: Says things like, “I’ll break your neck,” or “I’ll kill you,” and then dismisses them with, “I didn’t really mean it.”
Controlling behaviors using social media or technology: Listen to the following PSA.
Statistics
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten
On a typical day, domestic violence hotlines nationwide receive approximately 20,800 calls
Nearly 3 of 4 Americans (74%) of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence.
30% to 60% of perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse children in the household.
85% of domestic violence are woman
Real Stories
Real Stories
Maria E. Juarez
"I experienced Physical and Psychological abuse for over 10 years. It started with my partner telling me what to wear, yelling at me and blaming me for things I had no control of, it did not take long for it to get physical. Things escalated quickly and I was getting physically abused doing pregnancies as well, I fear for my life as well as my children's lives. After a while one begins to think its normal and no longer sees the need to seek help, that is not okay. I wish I looked for help sooner for my children's safety"
"Domestic violence has been a part of my life for about 5 years. I remember always feeling scared and hopeless. The problems were so bad at home that I feared that when I got back from school my mother would no longer be with us. I remember that many friends and family that knew what my family was going through had many opinions about us. They would say we would never be anybody in this world, or that we would end up in the same place as my father. There was never a day where I wouldn’t be compared to him or got called terrible things."
Prevention methods:
- Victims:
- Call 911
- Find a safe place (domestic violence shelter)
- Seek support
- Have a safety plan
- File for protective order
- Non-victims:
- Call police if you suspect domestic violence
- Speak out, take action, & inform others
- Reach out to support victims
Sources:
- Madrando, Autumn "I Handled it" Ms. Magazine (2012). 52-55
- Newcomb, Alyssa. "sNew Law Protects Domestic Violence Victims' After California Teacher was Fired" ABC news (2013).
- "Federal Domestic Violence Laws" accessed November 14. http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/documents/federallaws.pdf
- "Domestic Violence" accessed November 14. http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-domesticviolence.htm
- American Journal of Public Health. Mar 1993, Vol. 83 Issue 3, p458-463. 6p
- http://www.stopvaw.org/what_is_domestic_violence2
- http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/domviolence.htm
- http://www.standagainstdv.org
- http://www.gcadv.org/general-resources/common-myths
- http://www.domesticviolence.org/common-myths
- http://www.safeplace.org
- http://www.nnedv.org
- http://www.safehorizon.org
- http://www.helpguide.org
- http://www.stopvaw.org/what_is_domestic_violence2
No comments:
Post a Comment