Time to Raise Domestic Violence Awareness. Speak Up.
“The first time he slapped me, I said: This is not going to be me. […] This is not my future, I swore. He came back with apologies and purple roses — my favorite color. I accepted the apology. I thought it meant he wasn’t going to do it again. I was wrong” [1]. So starts the story where ‘again’ becomes consistent. The woman behind those words had to go through punching, kicking, and strangling. Threats of complete isolation grew into threats to her life. One day he beat her and she thought she might die.
This woman is a victim of domestic violence and she is not alone. The definition of the phenomena is simple: such violence involves abuse in a domestic environment. The abuser in domestic violence is an intimate partner or a family member. Domestic violence comes in different forms and is not limited to acts of physical assault only. Domestic violence also takes place in threats of physical assault, emotional and psychological abuse, stalking and financial abuse [2].
Anyone can become a domestic violence victim or perpetrator. Regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender, anyone can physically harm or intimidate or become a victim of harm and intimidation. Abusive relationships occur from the desire of one person to maintain power and control over another, and what what significantly complicates this pattern of behavior is a domestic environment [3]. In other words, domestic violence takes place at home and comes from someone the victim is most emotionally connected to.
The domestic violence statistics are shocking, indeed. 6,488 is the number of Americans killed in Afghanistan and Iraq between 2001 and 2012; 11,766 is the number of women murdered by their intimate partners in the U.S. during that same time period [4]. The domestic violence death rate, then, is almost twice as much as war casualties. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experienced sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by their intimate partner. At some point in their lives, nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men were victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner. Victims of domestic violence report feeling fearful, concerned for their safety, and are more likely to experience a mental disorder [5].
Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the “Day of Unity” in October 1981. The intent to establish such a day came from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and its main purpose was to bring together the advocates who worked to prevent domestic violence. The Day soon turned into a week devoted to raise domestic violence awareness, mourn those who died because of domestic violence, and celebrate the survivors, while connecting advocates to end domestic violence. In 1987 the first National Domestic Violence hotline started operating; two years after, October officially became Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989 [6].
The message this month brings up is clear and straightforward: by raising awareness and encouraging victims to speak up we continue our journey to the end of domestic violence. Psychological and legal help can be provided with respect to the victim’s safety and privacy. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides advocacy 24/7. If domestic violence is happening to you or someone you know, say something.
References:
[1] Jeltsen, Melissa “You Can either Have Your friends And Your Family, Or You Can Have Me.” “Why Didn’t You Just Leave?” series, HuffPost. September 11, 2014. Accessed September 25, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/12/why-didnt-you-just-leave-isolation_n_5806280.html
[2] “Domestic Violence Statistics and Facts.” SafeHorizon. Accessed September 25, 2018. https://www.safehorizon.org/get-informed/domestic-violence-statistics-facts/#definition/
[3] “What Is Domestic Violence?” The National Domestic Violence Hotline. Accessed September 25, 2018. https://www.thehotline.org/is-this-abuse/abuse-defined/
[4] Vegianos, Alanna “30 Shocking Domestic Violence Statistics That Remind Us It’s An Epidemic”. HuffPost. Accessed September 25, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/23/domestic-violence-statistics_n_5959776.html
[5] “The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey”. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention. April 28, 2017. Accessed September 25, 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs/infographic.html
[6] “Domestic Violence Awareness Month History.” Domestic Violence Awareness Project. Accessed September 25, 2018. https://nrcdv.org/dvam/DVAM-history
