Domestic violence and sexual assault have much in common. Both are about power and control, humiliation and dominance. The need to address prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault is not just a women’s issue, and it is not just an individual or family problem. Violence against women is a human issue, and a social problem. It’s up to the community to take a stand against abuse, hold abusers accountable for their behavior and protect victims.
Domestic violence is the actual or threatened physical, sexual, emotional or economic abuse of an individual by someone with whom they have or have had an intimate relationship. Abuse in intimate relationships is very common and most often women are the victims, but men can be abused too. It happens to individuals from all backgrounds. Everyone knows an abused victim or survivor – at school, in the neighborhood, at work, in the family.
All abuse is perpetrated without concern for the physical or mental well being of the victim. Abusers disregard/minimize the consequences of the violence to the victim. The abusers goal is to gain control by dominating the victim.
In a violent relationship, regardless of the form of abuse that occurs, the incidents of abuse are recurrent and often escalate in severity and frequency.
DOES YOUR PARTNER OR FORMER PARTNER…..
Always have to be right?
Constantly accuse you of being unfaithful?
Control all finances and force you to account for all you spend?
Discourage your relationships with family and friends?
Hit, punch, slap, kick or push you or your children?
Destroy personal property or sentimental items?
Prevent you from working or attending school?
Use or threaten to use a weapon against you?
Constantly criticize you for little things?
Anger easily when drinking or on drugs?
Threaten to hurt you or your children?
Force you to have sex against your will?
Humiliate you in front of others?
Stalk you, or check up on you all the time?
Try to control where you go, who you see, what you do?
If you are being hurt by or feel afraid of someone you are close to, or you know someone who is, there is help available.