Domestic Violence: It Can Happen To You

Domestic violence is found in all societies, and cuts across all lines of race, religion, and class. Violent acts between family members is included under the broader definition of domestic violence, and these acts could include wife or husband beating, battering, domestic abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse, and elder abuse. Domestic violence not only includes physical violence, but can also include sexual abuse, emotional abuse, intimidation, economic deprivation, or threats of violence. More than 32 million Americans are affected by domestic violence. It is a preventable, major public health problem, according to the Centers for Disease Control or the CDC. Possibly as many as one third of domestic violence cases in the United States are not reflected in the official statistics, that only encompass reported cases.

When someone tries to dominate a family member, physically or not, it is considered domestic violence. Though it typically refers to violence between spouses, the term can cover co-habitants and non-married intimate couples also. Domestic violence is defined by The United States Office on Violence Against Women as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship, that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic abuse is often physical in nature, ranging from violence or the threat of violence, unwanted physical contact and rape, to even murder. Violence can also include non-physical mental and emotional abuse which chiefly involves control of the other person's money, social life, and sense of self worth. Fear of their abuser often isolates the victim in these situations.

Intimate partner violence (IPV), or simply domestic abuse and violence against women, has been a major focus of modern feminism, and has been attracting attention since the women's movement. Everyone should be free from domestic violence, but this is not the case. Domestic violence should be addressed before it even begins, although it is always difficult to talk about. The National Institute of Health provides more information about how to deal with abuse and violence; symptoms, prevention and screening; and law, policy and statistics at their website which can be accessed at www.nlm.nih.gov. Legal information and other resources for battered women can be found at www.endabuse.org and www.womenslaw.org. While the challenge of getting out of a physically or psychologically abusing relationship can be daunting, help can be found if you know where to look.

Bethany Coolen donates her time to WEAVE, a Sacramento domestic violence help and sexual abuse counseling center since 1978. They provide a 24 hour Sacramento crises intervention help line, a safehouse and are supported by skilled personnel and many caring volunteers. WEAVE also runs two Sacramento thrift stores to help support their Sacramento donation for charity.