The editors at Social Work Degree Guide decided to research the topic of:
Exposing What Happens Behind Closed Doors: Domestic Violence in the U.S.
Image compliments of Social Work Degree Guide
What is domestic violence?
Physical Abuse
– hitting
– slapping
– shoving
– grabbing
– pinching
– biting
– hair pulling
– denying a partner medical care
– forced alcohol or drug use
Sexual Abuse
– coercion of sexual contact or behavior without consent
– marital rape
– attacks on sexual parts of the body
– forcing sex after physical violence has occurred
– treating one in a sexually demeaning manner
Emotional Abuse
– undermining partner’s sense of self-worth or self-esteem
– constant criticism
– diminishing partner’s abilities
– name-calling
– damaging partner’s relationship with his or her children
Economic Abuse
– making (or attempting to make) an individual financially dependent by:
– maintaining total control over financial resources
– withholding access to money
– forbidding attendance at school or employment
Psychological Abuse
– causing fear by intimidation
– threatening physical harm to self, partner, children or partner’s family or friends
– destruction of pets and property
– forcing isolation from family, friends, school or work
Domestic violence does not discriminate
– Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender
– Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels
– Domestic violence occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships
– Domestic violence can happen to partners who are married, living together or dating
Facts
– 2004 – 3 out of every 4 people surveyed by Allstate Foundation know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence
– Approximately 33 million Americans (15%) admit that they have been victims of domestic violence
– Every 9 seconds, a woman is assaulted or beaten
– 50% of men who frequently assault their wives also frequently assault their children
– Men who witness domestic violence as children are twice as likely to abuse their wives than those who grew up in nonviolent households
– Girls who witness domestic violence are more vulnerable to becoming victims as teens and adults
– Roughly 1 in 5 high school students reports being physically or sexually abused by a partner
– Date rape accounts for almost 79% of sexual assaults reported by adolescent and college age women
– 38% of these women are between 14 and 17 years old
– Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families
– Cultural norms require men to put on a strong face while minimizing abuse by females
– men are less likely to verbalize fear
How many die from domestic violence?
– More than 3 women and 1 man are murdered by their partners every day
– 2000 – 1,247 women were killed
– 2005- 1,181 women were killed
– 2000 – 440 men were killed
– (According to 2005 study) Each year:
– Estimated 1,200 deaths and 2 million injuries among women
– Estimated nearly 600,000 injuries among men
– Intimate partner homicides make up 30% of the murders of women and 5% of the murders of men
– Most intimate partner homicides occur between spouses
– However, the number of homicides by boyfriends/girlfriends is growing
The cost of domestic abuse
– Almost $4.1 billion is spent every year for direct medical and mental health care services for victims
– About half of all female victims report injury of some kind
– About 20% seek medical assistance
– Domestic violence victims lose almost 8 million days of paid work each year
– Equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs
– Lost productivity accounts for nearly $1.8 billion
Getting help
– Only 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men report being victims of domestic violence
– On average, 21% of female victims and 10% of male victims contact an outside agency for assistance
– Of those, 45% are private agencies
– Only 70% of domestic violence is reported to law enforcement officials
– Why don’t people report it?
– 41% of male and 27% of female victims stated that victimization is a private matter
– 15% of women fear reprisal
– 12% of all victims wanted to protect the offender
– 6% of all victims believed that the police would do nothing
The Violence Against Women Act was enacted in 1994
– Strengthened federal penalties for repeat sex offenders
– Created a federal rape shield law, which prevents offenders from using victims’ past sexual conduct against them during a rape trial
– Mandates that victims, no matter income level, are not forced to pay for their own rape exams or service of protection orders
– Requires that protection orders be recognized and enforced in all states and jurisdictions within the US
– Helps communities develop dedicated law enforcement and prosecution units against domestic violence
– he VAWA funds train over 500,000 law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges and other personnel every year
There are multiple hotlines for victims of domestic violence
– Violence Hotline:
– 800.621.HOPE (4673)
– Crime Victims Hotline:
– 866.689.HELP (4357)
– Rape & Sexual Assault Hotline:
– 212.227.3000
– TDD phone number for all hotlines:
– 866.604.5350
SOURCES
– http://www.thehotline.org/get-educated/abuse-in-america/
– http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/domviolence.htm
– http://dvrc-or.org/domestic/violence/resources/C61/#hom
– http://domesticviolencestatistics.org/domestic-violence-statistics/
– http://www.safehorizon.org/index/what-we-do-2/domestic-violence–abuse-53/domestic-violence-the-facts-195.html
– http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/vawa_factsheet.pdf
– http://www.huffingtonpost.com/soraya-chemaly/50-actual-facts-about-dom_b_2193904.html
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