Whether married, divorced, dating, gay, lesbian, or heterosexual--anyone can be a victim, or a perpetrator, of domestic abuse. Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, or religion; neither does it single out persons of a particular economic class, educational level, age group, or even by gender.
It is estimated that physical violence between partners occurs in "four to six million intimate relationships each year in the United States," as reported in the article, “Domestic Violence: An Overview,” written by C. J. Newton on FindCounseling.org. Domestic violence often goes unreported so the exact numbers are hard to calculate. Many victims refuse to report the abuse due to being ashamed. Another reason domestic abuse so often goes unreported is because the victim somehow feels that she, or he, is to blame for the abuse and doesn’t want the perpetrator to get into trouble with law enforcement.
Domestic Abuse Defined
Most people traditionally think of domestic violence in terms of hitting, kicking, punching, choking, and so forth; however, domestic abuse can also be threats of violence toward the victim or another person, such as the children or other family members. Additionally, abuse is name-calling and insults, public humiliation, unwanted sexual contact, criticism, or remarks, or taking away money or keys to the car. Domestic violence by definition is “behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other,” according to the website DomesticViolence.org.
Forgotten Victims of Domestic Violence
Children are frequently the forgotten victims of domestic abuse. Children from homes where there is domestic violence are more likely to suffer from abuse themselves, and frequently experience emotional trauma from witnessing the violence. The article, “The Youngest Victims of Domestic Violence,” found on 4Therapy.com, lists behaviors that may be exhibited by children who have witnessed violence between parental figures, among these behaviors are: withdrawal, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and nightmares, depression, outbursts of anger and fighting, and problems in school--just to name a few. It should be noted: children exhibiting these types of behaviors do not necessarily indicate for certain violence is present in the home; every child reacts differently to a domestic abuse situation.
Safety Tips for Leaving an Abusive Situation
Those who are victims of domestic abuse, or know someone who is in an abusive situation, should call 911, or their local police department if in immediate danger. Remember, leaving the abusive situation is dangerous so if there is time, plan out an exit strategy beforehand. Contact a local domestic violence shelter, or crisis hotline, to obtain help and support. Domestic violence counselors can aid in making a safety plan, filing for a PFA (protection from abuse order), counseling, and help in locating a safe place to go upon leaving a violent situation. The most important thing a victim can do is to get out of the abusive situation, and get out safely. No one deserves to be abused.
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Crystal Killion - Crystal Killion is a freelance writer and mother of five. She has worked with children in various capacities for over 20 years as a ...
