Domestic Violence

What is Domestic Violence? -Physical, verbal, disrespect or sexual violence (rape) by family members or your partners like a husband or wife, former husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend, or your date. Signs -Physical abuse is hitting, slapping, kicking, choking, pushing, punching, beating, or forcing you to leave and locking you out of the house. - Verbal abuse is Constant criticism, making humiliating remarks, using abusive language, not responding to what you are saying, mocking, name-calling, yelling, swearing, interrupting and changing the subject. -Disrespect is interrupting, changing topics, not listening or responding, twisting your words, telling you what to think and how you should feel, putting you down in front of other people, saying bad things about your friends and family. -Blaming is making light of behavior and not taking your concerns about it seriously, saying the abuse didn't happen, shifting responsibility for abusive behavior, saying you caused it. -Sexual violence is forcing sex on an unwilling partner; demanding sex that you do not want to have, degrading treatment. -Isolation is preventing or making it hard for you to see your family and friends, taking phone calls, reading your mail, controlling where you go, and by them taking your car keys. -Harassment is when they stalk you, embarrassing you in public; checking up on you, or them refusing to leave when asked. -Abusing trust is lying, breaking promises made, withholding important information, being unfaithful, being jealous, not sharing same amount of responsibilities. -Authority abuse is ALWAYS saying your right; telling you what to do or what not to do; and making big decisions on your own. -Vandalism is destroying furniture, punching walls and/or doors, throwing stuff, breaking dishes, kicking or hurting your pets. -Economic control is not paying your bills, refusing to give others money, hiding or withholding your financial history, not letting you work, interfering with others jobs, taking others car keys so they won’t use the car, refusing to work for your family. -Threat or intimidation is threatening to harm others, your children or family members and pets; using your size to scare others, shouting; standing in the door way during a argument to stop someone from leaving; keeping weapons and threatening to use them on someone. Statistics - 4 million American women experience assault by an intimate partner during an average of one year. -28% of annual violence against women is perpetrated by intimates -5% of all annual violence against men is perpetrated by intimates -575,000 men were arrested for committing violence against women. About 49,000 women were arrested for committing violence against men. -Women ages 19-29 reported more violence by intimates than any other age group. -In a 1990 restraining order study, the age of abusers ranged from 17 - 70. Two-thirds of the abusers were between the ages 24 and 40. -90 - 95% of domestic violence victims are women. -As many as 95% of domestic violence perpetrators are male. -Much of female violence is committed in self-defense, and inflicts less injury than male violence. -Male perpetrators are 4 times more likely to use lethal violence than females. -The prevalence of domestic violence among Gay and Lesbian couples is approximately 25 - 33% -Each year, between 50,000 and 100,000 Lesbian women and as many as 500,000 Gay men are battered. -Immigrant women may suffer higher rates of battering than U.S. citizens because they come from cultures, which accept domestic violence, or because they have less access to legal and social services than U.S. citizens. In addition, immigrant batterers and victims may believe that the penalties and protections of the U.S. legal system do not apply to them. -Past and current victims of domestic violence are over-represented in the welfare population. The majority of welfare recipients have experienced domestic abuse in their adult lives, and a high percentage is currently abused. -Abused (past or current) welfare recipients experience higher levels of health or mental health problems such as a physical disability, or serious or acute depression. -15 - 50% of abused women report interference from their partner with education, training or work. How to get out or spot an abusive relationship? • Spot the warning signs that a partner is an abuser. • Establish firmer boundaries and develop a stronger sense of self. • Cope with the anger, stress, and insecurities that force abuse. • Confront the abuser when he or she becomes abusive. • Stop blaming and start taking responsibility. • Determine whether or not the relationship is worth saving. • Prevent domestic abuse in the future. Emotional abuse is when someone hurts you on the inside. When he or she does something like control your life or when your partner gets jealous when you talk to some other guy or girl. Physical abuse is when someone hurts you by using his hands, legs, throwing something at you or anything that’s hurts physically. Verbal abuse is when someone calls you names, talks about how you look or says mean things about you.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 February 2010 22:24