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What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic Violence is not a private matter. It is a serious crime, that can include physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse of a current or former intimate partner by another. You can be a victim, no matter how old you are, what your racial or cultural background may be, what type of education you have, how much money you have, or what your religious beliefs may be.
Domestic violence is usually not a single event and often becomes more severe and frequent over time. Many factors may contribute to abuse. Some batterers lack the ability to control their actions and do not know how to react nonviolently to stress and dissatisfaction. A need for power and control, an abusive family background, feelings of inadequacy, and stress all may contribute to abusive behavior. Alcoholism or drug abuse do not cause domestic violence, but being drunk or high does intensify existing violent behaviors.
If You Are a Victim of Domestic Violence, the most difficult step for you to take is to admit that you are being or have been abused by your partner. Remember, your partner's violence is the problem, not you. You do not deserve it. You may feel trapped, alone, and that you have lost control of your life. You are not alone, do not lose hope, there are people that can help.
Parent-Child Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-215-3040
The base of violence is POWER-CONTROL-TERROR of one person over another:
Physical - push, hit, slap, kick, bite, excessive tickling, throwing objects, bruised or broken bones, grab, shake, claw, reckless driving, refusing to help spouse when spouse is ill, and abandoning spouse.
Sexual - Demeaning jokes or remarks, jealous or mistrustful, withholding of affection and sex, forces sex/sex acts, compares victims to others and victim is always inadequate, demands sex after a physical or emotional beating and being unfaithful.
Emotional - destruction of pets, property, ignores others feelings, insults valued beliefs, withholds affection, approval, isolates, keeps money, uses lies or contradictions to embarrass, tells lies and uses half-truths to manipulate.
Verbal - words and accusations that hit as hard as fists, body language, hate mail, constantly correcting and interrupting, never listens to spouse (tunes out), and why did I marry someone like you.
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