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Domestic violence is intentionally abusive or controlling
behavior that one person uses against a person with whom they
have an intimate relationship. In 95 percent of all domestic
violence incidents, the abuser (or batterer) is a man. Batterers
can use many different forms of abuse to gain power and control
over their victims. Some forms of abuse are:
- Verbal
abuse
- Emotional
abuse
- Intimidation
- Threats
- Economic
abuse
- Sexual
abuse
- Physical
abuse
- Isolation
Each year,
three to four million women in the United States are battered.
They are from all races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds,
and many suffer abuse repeatedly at the hands of their batterers.
Abuse seldom happens just once.
Many women
who are victims of domestic violence deny or minimize the
incidents to others. They feel too ashamed or unsafe to tell
friends or loved ones what is happening at home. Over time,
a violent relationship may lead the battered woman to develop
alcohol or drug problems, depression, anxiety or sexual problems.
She may end up disabled or dead. In the United States, 2,000
women die every year from domestic violence.
Children
are not safe in an abusive household. Child abuse often occurs
in a household that is violent, and pregnant women are at
high risk for abuse. Other groups who are at high risk are:
- Psychiatric
patients.
- Mothers
of abused or neglected children.
- Women
with alcohol or substance abuse problems.
- Women
who are trying to leave a violent relationship.
This
page was last updated on 04/23/2001
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