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5.1: Domestic violence defined

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    Domestic Violence Defined

    Domestic violence can seem like a vague term that is used to encompass a number of abusive behaviors, so it is important to understand how it is defined. According to the Office on Women’s Health, Domestic violence is sometimes called intimate partner violence. It includes physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, as well as sexual coercion and stalking by a current or former intimate partner. An intimate partner is a person with whom you have or had a close personal or sexual relationship. (2018)

    It’s estimated that up to 5.3 million women in the U.S. will experience domestic abuse each year, though the number is hard to pinpoint exactly since it’s one of the most underreported crimes. Men can be victims of domestic violence, as well—the CDC reports one in 10 men in the U.S. experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime — however, at least 85 percent of victims of domestic violence are women.

    Domestic violence does not discriminate. Women all around the world are directly affected by this issue, regardless of skin color, age, class, or religion. Since domestic violence presents itself in many forms, a wide array of resources are needed to combat domestic violence, help survivors, and change the narrative surrounding domestic violence.

    Attribution: Domestic Violence Against Women(opens in new window) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

    Domestic Violence Against Women, Molly Cutter and Sarah Hautzinger, Saint Mary’s College

    Examples of Domestic Violence

    When people hear the word “violence,” they immediately think of physical violence such as hitting and punching. However, domestic violence is much more complicated. Just because a person doesn’t have physical bruises doesn’t mean that they aren’t a victim of domestic violence. Categories of domestic violence are outlined below:

    Verbal Abuse:

    • Demeaning language (You’re worthless. You’re stupid.)
    • Yelling and screaming
    • Constant criticism

    Threats and Intimidation:

    • Threatening to hurt your spouse/partner
    • Destruction of property such as punching walls or breaking items
    • Threatening to hurt children or pets
    • Threatening to commit suicide

    Control and Surveillance:

    • Controlling who your spouse/partner talks to, where they go
    • Using GPS to track where they are
    • Signing in to your spouse/partner’s social media accounts to track their activity

    Financial Control:

    • Forbidding your spouse/partner from working or going to school
    • Requiring a receipt for everything they purchase
    • Giving an “allowance” for their expenses
    • Not giving your spouse/partner access to financial information

    Blaming:

    • Saying the violence is “his/her/their fault”
    • Saying he/she/they is imagining it
    • Minimalizing the abuse

    Sexual:

    • Forcing your spouse/partner to engage in sexual acts against their will
    • Withholding birth control

    Attribution: The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children and Families

    The Power and Control Wheel

    Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors used to gain or maintain power and control. At The National Domestic Abuse Hotline, the frame of reference for describing abuse is the Power and Control Wheel created by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project in Duluth, MN. The Power and Control Wheel diagram below assumes she/her pronouns for survivors and he/him pronouns for partners. However, the abusive behavior it details can happen to people of any gender or sexuality.

    Moreover, the wheel diagram serves as tactics abusive partners use to keep survivors in a relationship. The inside of the wheel makes up subtle, continual behaviors over time, while the outer ring represents physical and sexual violence. Thus, abusive actions like those depicted in the outer ring reinforce the regular use of other, more subtle methods found in the inner ring.

    Power and Control Wheel Graphic

    Attribution: Power and Control


    5.1: Domestic violence defined is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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