October 2023 is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Learn more about domestic violence so you can help those who are suffering
October 2023 is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is a time to educate ourselves and to break the silence and stigma that surrounds domestic violence. By perpetuating the stigma against domestic violence, it keeps women in abusive relationships longer, afraid of speaking out.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence,
On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. This includes a range of behaviors (e.g. slapping, shoving, pushing) and in some cases might not be considered "domestic violence."
1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner.
1 in 10 women have been raped by an intimate partner. Data is unavailable on male victims.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence (e.g. beating, burning, strangling) by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point in which they felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed.
On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.
The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.
Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.
Women between the ages of 18-24 are most commonly abused by an intimate partner.
19% of domestic violence involves a weapon.
Domestic victimization is correlated with a higher rate of depression and suicidal behavior.
Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries.
These statistics are troubling, and illustrate just how much of a problem domestic violence is in our society today. As we raise awareness and share the facts about domestic violence, sharing our stories is important too. When survivors speak out, it can help to create empathy within the wider community. We can let people know how difficult it is to leave an abusive relationship, and how much it means to have support.
When we can talk to others about domestic violence, we can help to tip the scales in favor of justice for perpetrators, and compassion for victims. The more we support victims, the more they will be able to find strength to leave an abusive situation.
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Financial Abuse in Relationships
Learning how to start a conversation with a friend or family member who you suspect may be in an abusive relationship can help them to feel safe in speaking to you about their situation. When victims have someone in their lives to talk to, they feel less isolated. The sense of isolation is a huge contributing factor in why victims stay. By showing them that they aren’t alone, we can help them find the strength to leave.
As someone who was in an abusive relationship for years, I can tell you that the reasons why people stay aren’t always as clear cut as we imagine. Often, there are financial ties between the victim and the perpetrator which can make leaving difficult. Financial abuse is a less talked about form of abuse that is often present with physical or emotional abuse.
When you help someone who is experiencing domestic violence, you are making a huge impact in their lives for the positive. Make sure you always take the time to listen to them and empathize with their needs. Safety planning is also crucial, since leaving an abusive relationship can cause additional danger.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline: