Domestic violence is a repetitive pattern of abusive behavior used by one person to exert power and control over another, often through fear and intimidation.
This abuse can be perpetrated by anyone close to you, such as a current or former spouse, partner, or family member, or anyone residing or who has resided in your home.
Although 95% of reported cases involve men abusing women (which is why abusers are often referred to as “he”), domestic violence also occurs in same-sex relationships, and women can be abusers too. However, the dynamics differ, and women’s abuse of men is not directly comparable to men’s abuse of women.
When women resort to physical violence, it is often in self-defense. Women who, in desperation, kill their abusive husbands may face harsher penalties than men who kill their wives or partners. Men who report abuse by a female partner may be dismissed or encouraged to “discipline” her, whereas women reporting abuse are more likely to be urged to reconcile with their abuser.
Abusers maintain control through various forms of abuse:
Physical Abuse:
This includes actions like grabbing, pinching, punching, shoving, slapping, hitting, pulling hair, scratching, biting, throwing objects at the victim, preventing access to medical care, or coercing them to use drugs or alcohol.
Sexual Abuse:
Forcing or attempting to force any sexual activity without consent, including rape (even within marriage), or subjecting the victim to sexual humiliation.
Economic or Financial Abuse:
Establishing financial dependence by controlling all financial resources, withholding money, restricting access to funds, demanding detailed accounts of spending, preventing the victim from earning money, or denying access to finances.
Emotional and Psychological Abuse:
This involves undermining the victim’s self-worth through constant criticism, name-calling, public or private humiliation, damaging relationships with children, intimidation, threats of harm, destruction of property, isolation from family and friends, harming pets, extreme jealousy, possessiveness, or stalking.
Verbal Abuse:
This includes name-calling, constant yelling, swearing, and speaking to the victim as though they are a child or as though the abuser owns them.
Domestic violence is a serious issue that manifests in many forms, all of which aim to control and dominate the victim.