Domestic
violence are behaviors in an intimate relationship in which one partner uses
physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or economic threats or actions to
gain or maintain power and control over their significant other. It is a social
problem which does not discriminate against age, sex, race, culture, education,
religion, sexuality, marital status, social class, or employment status.
It is
estimated that 1 in 4 women will experience some form of domestic violence in
her lifetime; approximately 4 million women a year. Although the vast majority
of recorded incidents of domestic violence are women, men also suffer from domestic
violence. According
to a national study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S.
Department of Justice released in December, 2011, an estimated 5.4 million men were victims of
intimate partner violence. Approximately 2.3 million were victims of serious
physical violence.
What are some signs of being abused or in an
abusive relationship?
· Physical abuse
is any unwanted aggressive physical behavior such as hitting, biting, choking,
kicking or restraining you.
· Emotional abuse
is name-calling, insults, threatens to hurt you or loved ones, humiliation or
criticism.
· Sexual abuse
includes, but is not limited to, sexual assault, rape, pressured sexual
situations, forced prostitution and being hurt during sex.
· Psychological abuse is when someone
threatens you or someone you care about, stalking, destroying personal property
and use of fear.
· Economic abuse
is controlling the finances, refusing to share money, interfering with
education or financial obligations.
