Domestic Violence Facts

Domestic violence is an ugly reality faced by most women and sometimes even men. It refers to the abuse between spouses, non-married intimate people, same sex relations and strangers. It is an act of physical and non-physical assault. Domestic violence does not consider gender, race, education, socio-economic and culture factors, it just perpetrates its victim with fear, loss of pride and sometimes even life. The ironic thing about this form of abuse is that it doesn't end with the victims death, it evolves itself and engulfs the victims family in a vicious cycle of pain, depression and hurtful memories.

Domestic Violence Facts

Women through ages have been subjected to domestic abuse more than men, it only came to national attention when this malaise resulted in large number of deaths and suicides among the abused women. The purpose of domestic violence is to threaten, coerce, humiliate, injure, intimidate, manipulate and control the victim. Domestic violence can be perpetrated in many forms, such as:

Physical Abuse: The intentional use of physical force for hitting, shoving, slapping, biting, gabbing, denying medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use.

Sexual Abuse: Attempting to force sexual contact without consent, which includes marital rape, molestation, date rape or any demeaning sexual act.

Economic Abuse: Withholding money and other economic resources like employment from the victim making them economically handicapped and dependent on the abuser. Even working women are susceptible to such harassment.

Emotional Abuse: Here the abuser aims to diminish the victims self-worth and esteem by constantly criticizing, calling names or undermining competence, either privately or publicly.

Psychological Abuse: Sometimes also known as mental abuse, it includes intimidation, destruction of property, isolating the victim from family, friends and colleagues, threatening physical harm to self, victim or the children in the house.

Stalking: This form of abuse involves unwanted attention by the abuser. Here the abuser ensures that the victim knows that she or he is being followed and watched constantly.

Domestic abuse against women is a violation of human rights. This global culture of discrimination cannot be justified by any cultural, political and religious grounds. Domestic violence is not just restricted to United States alone, but is a worldwide phenomena. Acid burning, dowry deaths, honor killings, female genital mutilation are just a few instances of abuse against women.

Many women who have been or are being abused have long-term health and psychological problems. Besides that, domestic violence has a lasting negative impact on the families and friends of the victims, especially children. Frequent exposure to abuse at home exposes children to numerous social, psychological and physical problems. It leads them to believe that violence is a normal way of life and being an abuser or a victim is acceptable.

Myths About Domestic Violence

Abuse within the family is a rare occurrence: The statistics never show the right figure which is extremely high, simply because most crimes do not get reported.

The abuser is mostly the stranger: Most reported crimes show the perpetrator of domestic violence as family members or known people.

Women say 'No' when they actually mean 'Yes': This is the most common excuse made by sexual violators. The truth couldn't be far from this. Women say 'no' because they mean 'no'.

Women like to be battered, depraved and confined, otherwise they would leave: A large number of abused women would like to leave but they are restrained by social and economic realities. Women with children often have the fear of losing them to the abusers.

Domestic abuse is often committed by people of the lower income class: Reported crimes have shown that violence has nothing to do with one's socio-economic and educational status.

Alcohol and drugs cause violence: It has been observed that individuals under the influence of alcohol and drugs abuse their victims physically and sexually. However, the abuser needs to have a stable state of mind in order to exploit the victim economically and emotionally. This psychological abuse may be attributed to his conduct and not the influence of alcohol.

Prevention Against Domestic Abuse

The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) is a United States federal law, which was passed by President Bill Clinton on 13th September, 1994. Penalties for violations depend on the extent of the bodily injury to the victim. Penalties include prison time, fines, monetary compensation to the victims, community service or probation and compulsory domestic violence treatment programs. Penalties also differ from state to state.

The state and many NGO's are working independently and collectively to support and rehabilitate battered women and families. They provide legal assistance and protection, shelter, employment and counseling to the victims. But much more needs to be done to eliminate societal violence against all women and children.

The effects of domestic violence on human society are enormous, they cost the entire nation much more than legal and rehabilitation cost. Hopelessness, pessimism and an entire generation of abusers and victims who will continue this cycle, will be the price to pay, if this malaise is not curtailed immediately.