Janine Perez
Professor Green
English 1A
November 27, 2017
Research Paper
Domestic Violence
Every year in the United States 10 million women and men are victims to domestic violence. That means 24 individuals are being harmed by an intimate partner per minute. Last month was national Domestic Violence Awareness month. October is the month dedicated to connect those who work on helping end domestic violence. By raising awareness and through education, domestic violence can be prevented to stop this vicious nationwide epidemic for generations to come.
Domestic violence affects both women and men. In the US every nine-seconds a women is beaten or assaulted. (NCADV) One in every four women experience violence from an intimate partner. While one in every seven men experience domestic violence. Every day, three women are killed by an abuser. One in every five teenage girls in a relationship says their boyfriend threatened violence or self harm if they were to breakup. Studies have shown that 10 million children have witnessed some form of domestic violence. Men who witnessed domestic violence as children are more likely to do the same to their own partners than children who did not. According to the article of Domestic Violence is Underreported by a Sacramento Observer who remains anonymous argues that although these statistics are extremely high, most victims do not report the abuse because they are too afraid to do so.
A big misconception about domestic violence is that people usually think it solely means physical abuse. Domestic violence includes physical abuse, emotional abuse, economic abuse, sexual abuse, and psychological abuse. An intimate partner who threats, stalks and cyber stalks is also considered as domestic violence. Physical abuse can include hitting, slapping, shoving, punching, or any type of violent behavior to inflict harm on the victim. Forcing drug/alcohol use as well. Abusers will also prevent victim from leaving or even moving. (195 Hunter).
Sexual abuse occurs when the abuser forces the victim into having any type of sexual contact or behavior without his or hers consent. Sex without consent is rape even if it is with a partner. Sexual abuse includes forcing victim to strip off their clothes against their will. Hurtful sex and forced sex with someone other than the abuser. (12, Wilson) The abuser may become jealous, accuse or assume the victim is having sex with other people. (197 Hunter)
Emotional abuse involves the abuser to attack the victims self-esteem and self-worth. This can take many forms such as put downs, name calling and involving their children (if any). Emotional abuse includes abuser to be constantly jealous, continuous shouts and screams. Harassment of past relationships victim had or never had before correct relationship. (196 Hunter) Abusers will keep their partner up all night, often interrogating them about daily activities or their past(11, Wilson) Economic abuse occurs when the abuser controls the victims financial resources and spending habits. The abuser may also restrict the victim from working or going to school.
Psychological abuse can include the abuser intimidating the victim, threatening to physically harm themselves, the victim, children, or family members. Isolating the victim from their friends or family is common. Spiritual abuse occurs when abuser prevents its victim from attending worship. Forcing victim to do things against their beliefs and even blaming Satan for their actions instead of taking responsibility. (197 Hunter)
Stalking involves the abuser to spy, follow, harass and watch the victim. Many times the abuser will show up uninvited whenever the victim may be at all hours of the day including work and school hours. Repeated text messaging and phone calls can also be considered stalking. Lastly cyberstalking is when the abuser constantly check the victims social media profiles. Abusers do this to gain information to use against the victim. Cyberstalking can include constant emails/messaging and even hacking into private accounts.
In order to be able to prevent domestic violence from continuing to affect millions of people one must know the warning signs and the profile of an abuser. An abuser can be a male or female. Although both male and females experience domestic violence, it is more common for men to be perpetrators.(Nurse Standard) They will look like the average person but their behaviors will be what you need to be aware of. “Perpetrator†or abusers will early on be jealous and possessive. They will begin to jokingly behave jealous or possessive and excuse it by saying it is only because they really love you. Being controlling of what the victim does, spends their money on, wears, and can go as far as what they eat. Abusers lack trust in their partner. Therefore they constantly check up on their victim by calling them often and accuse them of infidelity. Perpetrator usually cannot control their emotions nor their temper. This is when they become violent and strike physically. Abusers put their needs ahead of their partners. They will make sure their victim also puts them first no matter the situation. If the abuser is male, he will be sure to draw definite roles between men and women. He will behave extremely masculine, and aggressive while expecting the woman to be gentle, graceful and obedient. This does not only apply to heterosexual intimate partners. If the victim calls the abuser out on their behavior it will be dismissed by saying to lighten up, it was just a joke, or that the victim is being too sensitive. The perpetrator will then do whatever it takes to keep the relationship from ending. They will beg for forgiveness, send flower and gifts, and make promises.
The victim sees how their abuser is “trying†to change and is putting in the effort to make the relationship work but this only leads them into the cycle of abuse. There are three distinct phases in the cycle that are designed to maintain control in the relationship.(203, Hunter) The first phase is the Honeymoon Period. This is after abuse when the perpetrator becomes loving and extremely affectionate. He then makes promises he only sticks to for a short period of time. He does whatever it takes to reel the victim back into the relationship to makeup or prevent her from leaving. The next phase is the Tension-Building Period. This is when the perpetrator feels his victim is now at ease about the relationship when he starts behaving as he was before. He becomes even more jealous and possessive as he was before. He will become angry at the victim for the effort he had to make in the Honeymoon Phase in order to keep her in the relationship.(Hendrix) Lastly the last phase is the Serious Batting Incident. This is when the abuser attacks his victim and blames them for their actions. The perpetrator once again apologizes and sucks the victim back in by the Honeymoon Phase leading her into the vicious cycle.
In a Huffpost by Soraya Chemaly says that sixty percent of people know someone who has survived domestic violence. Many young people face domestic violence due to lack of life experience. Through education and raising awareness to domestic violence can drastically decrease. Health education for preteens and teens do not often enough include the topic of intimate partner violence or domestic violence which is a big problem. Though most of us have children, younger siblings who would highly benefit the knowledge of DV(domestic violence). By communicating in an age appropriate manner, this can be extremely affective. This may be a heavy topic to discuss on an everyday basis but it is real. Knowing warning signs, and being aware of them when you see them can put a stop to the relationship before it escalates to a much darker place.
Most victims become aware of the toxic relationship they are in, but are intimidated and terrified of the outcome if their abuser finds out they are seeking help. If you or someone you know is a victim to domestic violence there are countless resources that offer help and support. There are many twenty-four hour hotlines and websites that provide local referrals, safety planning, and additional education. Many victims will need a safety plan to escape the abuse. Victims fear they have no where to go and will be left in the street. Battered women’s shelters are available for those who need it. Those with children can also seek help by referring specifically to a shelter that is child friendly.