Why Is Domestic Violence Rising During The Pandemic?
As the world grapples with the outbreak of the covid-19 virus and governments move to take extraordinary measures to prevent its spread, one of the many social symptoms is the rise of domestic violence, particularly in the United States.
The reasons may seem obvious for those whose lives have been touched by domestic violence (and that’s a lot– according to a National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, more than 1 in 3 women and more than 1 in 4 men in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime). But for people without a personal experience, the question looms: why? How does a dangerous virus result in more intimate partner violence?
Every instance of domestic violence is uniquely complicated, but there are a few main reasons why this particular pandemic is causing so many concerns about a rise in abuse.
Economic insecurity derails escape plans.
Abuse includes the use of physical and sexual violence, threats and intimidation, emotional abuse and economic deprivation. The last of these– economic deprivation– is felt more strongly than ever as people across the country are faced with increasing job and financial insecurity while the effects of quarantine ripple through every…
