The Prevalence Of Domestic Violence
Why would someone willingly choose to stay in a home where they are experiencing domestic violence? Why wouldn’t they try to escape this dangerous situation? These are both questions that may be brought up when talking about domestic violence. To people who haven’t experienced it, the answers to these questions may be difficult to understand because every case of domestic violence is different. This is why it’s important to learn about domestic violence and its prevalence. In addition, it’s important to know how you can help someone if they ever find themselves in this situation.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 20 people in the United States are physically abused per minute, which equates to a total of 10 million women and men per year. Each day, over 20,000 phone calls are made to nationwide domestic violence hotlines. Out of this staggering number of people that face domestic violence, the largest percentage of them are women between the ages of 18–24. It is also important to note that a weapon is used in 19% of domestic violence incidents (“National Statistics”).
Simply looking at statistics isn’t enough to help explain how domestic violence can physically, mentally, and emotionally affect those who experience it. Physically, domestic violence can cause bruises, broken bones, fatigue, and changes in sleeping patterns. Mentally, it can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Emotionally, domestic violence can cause its sufferers to become hopeless, unmotivated, and discouraged about the future. All of these effects need to be taken seriously, and it is important to know that this list isn’t all encompassing — some people who are facing domestic violence will only experience a few while others may encounter a wider variety.
So why is it that when someone is in a dangerous situation involving domestic violence, they find it hard to leave? As stated by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, leaving an abuser is often the most dangerous part of domestic violence. Abusers will go to great lengths to stop the victim from leaving them. Another reason why it can be hard to leave is because of the fear that the abuser will act on their threats. For example, they may threaten to kill the victim or their kids, so the sufferer wouldn’t want to risk the possibility that the abuser will actually follow through with their threats. In addition to these points, there are many other reasons why people choose to stay with their abusers, such as having an unsupportive family, having nowhere to go, not being financially stable, and fearing what society will think of them.
Even if you have never personally been in a situation of domestic violence, there are still ways you can help those who are. Most of these things — such as looking out for the signs, lending an ear, and checking in regularly — take little time, but they can greatly impact someone who is suffering (“10 Ways You Can Help Prevent Domestic Violence Locally”). Please, don’t be afraid to spread awareness and contact hotlines if needed, for yourself or your friends and family. You might not think you are making a difference in the life of someone experiencing domestic violence, but more than likely, you are helping them and providing them with the support they need.
Action Links:
Use this link to find domestic violence shelters around you to donate to:
https://www.domesticshelters.org/fundraisers/wish-lists
The National Domestic Violence Hotline:
Donate to DomesticShelters.org:
