Definition & Types of Abuse
It is defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one person to control another person in an intimate relationship. The abusive behaviors include verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual, physical mistreatment, property destruction and financial control.
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Source: People of Faith in Virginia say- Violence Is Wrong. Faith Advisory Group of Virginia Family Violence & Sexual Assault Hotline.
Sponsored by VA DSS.
What Is The Cost Impact of Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is NOT an isolated family matter. It negatively and silently impacts the entire society.
Nationally:
Lost productivity and earnings due to intimate partner violence accounts for almost $1.8 billion each year.
Intimate partner violence victims lose nearly 8.0 million days of paid work each year - the equivalent of more than 32,000 full-time jobs and nearly 5.6 million days of household productivity.
The health-related costs of rape, physical assault, stalking, and homicide by intimate partners exceed $5.8 billion each year.
To Employers:
68% of senior executives surveyed agreed that their company’s financial performance would benefit from addressing the issue of domestic violence among its employees.
78% of Human Resource Directors identify domestic violence as a substantial employee problem.
60% of senior executives said that domestic violence has a harmful effect on their company’s productivity.
Of the approximately 1.7 million incidents of workplace violence that occur in the US every year, 18,700 are committed by an intimate partner: a current or former spouse, lover, partner, or boyfriend/girlfriend.
To Individuals/ Employees:
85-95% of all domestic violence victims are female.
5.3 million women are abused each year.
Domestic violence/abuse is the leading cause of injury to women.
96% experience problems at work due to abuse.
56% are late to work due to abuse.
28% leave work early.
54% miss entire days of work.
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Source: American Institute on Domestic Violence- 2001
Marriage/ Partner Abuse Signs
To AVOID or PREVENT abusive behaviors are you aware of some of the warning signs?
- PUSHES FOR QUICK INVOLVEMENT: Comes on strong, cla
 iming, "I've never felt loved like this by anyone." An abuser presses for an exclusive commitment almost immediately.
- JEALOUS: excessively possessive; calls constantly or visits unexpectedly; prevents you from going to work because "you might meet someone"; checks the mileage on your car.
- CONTROLLING: Interrogates you intensely (especially if you're late) about whom you talked to and where you were; keeps all the money; insists you ask permission to go anywhere or do anything.
- UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS: Expects you to be the perfect mate and meet his or her every need.
- ISOLATION: Tries to cut you off from family and friends; accuses people who are your supporters of "causing trouble." The abuser may deprive you of a phone or car, or try to prevent you from holding a job.
- BLAMES OTHERS FOR PROBLEMS OR MISTAKES: It's always someone else's fault if something goes wrong.
- MAKES OTHERS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER FEELINGS: The abuser says, "You make me angry," or "You're hurting me by not doing what I tell you."
- HYPERSENSITIVITY: Is easily insulted, claiming hurt feelings when he or she is really mad. Rants about the injustice of things that are just a part of life.
- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS OR CHILDREN: Kills or punishes animals brutally. Also may expect children to do things that are far beyond their ability (whips a 3-year-old for wetting a diaper) or may tease them until they cry. Sixty-five percent of abusers who beat their partner will also abuse children.
- "PLAYFUL" USE OF FORCE DURING SEX: Enjoys throwing you down or holding you against your will during sex; finds the idea of rape exciting.
- VERBAL ABUSE: Constantly criticizes or says blatantly cruel things; degrades, curses, calls you ugly names. This may also involve sleep deprivation, waking you with relentless verbal abuse.
- RIGID GENDER ROLES: Expects you to serve, obey and remain at home.
- SUDDEN MOOD SWINGS: Switches from sweet to violent in minutes.
- PAST BATTERING: Admits to hitting a mate in the past, but says the person "made" him (or her) do it.
- THREATS OF VIOLENCE: Says things like, "I'll break your neck," or "I'll kill you," then dismisses them with "Everybody talks that way," or "I didn't really mean it."
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Teen Dating Abuse Statistics
- Each year approximately one in four adolescents reports verbal, physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
- Approximately one in five adolescents reports being a victim of emotional abuse.
- Approximately one in five high school girls has been physically or sexually abused by a dating partner.
- Dating violence among their peers is reported by 54% of high school students.
- One in three teens report knowing a friend or peer who has been physically hurt by his or her partner through violent actions which included hitting, punching, kicking, slapping, and/or choking.
- 80% of teens believe verbal abuse is a serious issue for their age group.
- Nearly 80% of girls who have been victims of physical abuse in their dating relationships continue to date the abuser.
- Nearly 20% of teen girls who have been in a relationship said that their boyfriend had threatened violence or self-harm in the event of a break-up.
- Nearly 70% of young women who have been raped knew their rapist; the perpetrator was or had been a boyfriend, friend, or casual acquaintance.
- The majority of teen dating abuse occurs in the home of one of the partners.
- More than half of victims say they have compromised their own beliefs to please a partner.
- Among 11- to 14-year-olds who have been in relationships, 62% of them know friends who have been verbally abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend.
- Approximately one in five teen girls have been physically or sexually abused by their partner.
- 70% of teen girls who have been sexually assaulted knew their attacker. The attacker was a friend, boyfriend or casual acquaintance.
- Many teens think this is normal.
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