Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence (DV) can be defined as “a pattern of abusive behaviors in any relationship used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another in an intimate, dating or formerly dating relationship”. This violence is committed by a person who is in, wants to be in or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with another. DV includes physical, sexual, emotional/verbal, economic, and psychological abuse.  
Examples of these forms of domestic violence include (but are not limited to):

​PHYSICAL ABUSE

Shoving, hitting, pinching, grabbing, biting, hair pulling, etc; denying a partner medical care; forcing alcohol and/or drug abuse; physical intimidation (e.g. blocking doors, throwing objects); use of weapons.

SEXUAL ABUSE

Coercion or attempting to coerce any sexual acts/behaviors without consent; unwanted touching; threats to find someone who will do what he or she wants sexually; forced sexual activities even after physical violence has occurred; treating one in a sexually demeaning manner; rape.

EMOTIONAL/VERBAL ABUSE

​Put-downs, insults, and rumors/constant criticism; humiliation/diminishing one’s abilities; accusations; threats; possessiveness; over dependence; withdrawal of attention; threats to find another who will do what abuser wants sexually; isolation from friends or family.

ECONOMIC ABUSE

​Maintaining total control over financial resources; withholding access to money; forced absences at school and/or place of employment.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE

​Causing fear through intimidation; threats of physical harm to self or other love ones; destruction of property and pets; forced isolation from family, friends, school and/or work.

STATISTICS

  • 1 in 3 adolescents in the U.S. experiences physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner which far exceeds rates of all other types of youth violence.  25%) of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.​
  • 21% of college students report having experienced domestic violence by a current partner while 32% have experienced dating violence by a previous partner.

OBSTACLES

​Young girls face a variety of obstacles that can delay, hinder or prevent them from leaving an unhealthy relationship. We must identify them to prepare a proper course of action, sometimes called “safety planning”, on the journey to recovery. Here are a few:

Teens

  • Lack of relationship experience
  • Embarrassment and fear of social consequences
  • Fear of losing independence
  • Isolation from support network
  • Distrust of adults
  • Desire to stay in their relationship or protect their partner
  • Co-attendance of school with abuser
  • Parents lack of awareness of teens’ abuse
  • Belief that domestic violence is normal in relationships
  • Limited legal protections and recognitions depending on state
  • Abuse being viewed as a “private” matter
  • Fear of retaliation from abuser

College-Aged Women

  • Feeling trapped by the social networks and/or environment of the campus 
  • Feeling isolated from their personal support networks and resources for help
  • Having a small/limited social network due to the campus atmosphere
  • Belief that domestic violence is normal in relationships
  • Fear that if parents finding out they will be taken out of school
  • Not being able to afford supportive services
  • Not defining their experience as “abusive”
  • Fear of the abuser especially when the atmosphere of the campus makes it easier
  • Social networking sites provide easy access for perpetrators
  • Desire of confidentiality, especially if abuser has prominent status on campus
  • Lack of awareness (not knowing what resources are available to them)
END THE SILENCE ON DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE