This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Ohio U chapter.
Picture: “I am wearing purple for the fighters, the survivors, and those who lost the battle.” A purple ribbon is used to symbolize domestic violence awareness.
October is an event-packed month: Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Columbus Day, Halloween, Homecoming, and other events, but many people do not realize it is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is important for people to be educated in order to protect and help themselves and others from abuse.
Domestic abuse is any sort of abuse that takes place within a home environment. The abuse often occurs in order for one individual to exert power and control over another individual. Abuse is often associated with physical violence, but it can also be emotional or psychological. Generally the abuse worsens as time goes on. Domestic violence also does not only apply to abuse between intimate partners. Abuse between any members in the home, such as between family members, is considered domestic violence.
About 3 women are killed by their intimate partners daily. 1 out of 3 women globally have been abused by their partners. Around 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men claimed to be physically abused, raped, and/or stalked by a partner in the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (CDC) 2010. In the Allstate Foundation National Poll on Domestic Violence (2004), 3 in 4 respondents claimed to know a victim of domestic violence (thehotline.org).
Many teenagers and young adults do not realize the warning signs of a violent relationship. It is crucial to be aware of these red flags in order to end the relationship and the violence before it becomes dangerous.
Possibly the initial warning is for the person craving control to feel the need to stay in constant contact with the potential victim. Texts, calls, and face-to-face communication that is lengthy and constant each day is a problem. It is also very detrimental to the relationship if the person becomes angry or agitated when contact is broken even for a short time.
Often times, intense jealousy is an early sign of abuse. Jealousy is a natural emotion, but excessive jealousy is unhealthy. The abuser may constantly ask what you are doing or where you are. The person wants to know who you are with and why. Your phone and social media may be checked constantly, even obsessively, by the abuser.
Another indication of a harmful relationship is isolation. The victim may be slowly pulled away from friends and family by the abuser. This gives the abuser control over the victim. The victim will be spending more time with the person who has the power. The victim may even begin missing work or school just to avoid trouble from the partner.
Other signs of abuse are often more noticeable. Acts of violence, such as punching walls or other objects, physically harming the victim, slamming doors, breaking objects, and forced sex are (individually or combined) a part of a domestically violent relationship. Other abuse includes constant screaming at the victim, making the victim feel guilty, suicide threats, murder threats, stalking, and verbal degrading.
The signs of domestic violence should not be ignored. If you or someone you know is experiencing an abusive relationship, you should seek help. Fear and attachment often prevent victims from reporting abuse. It is important to help yourself and others gain the courage to stop the violence occurring in homes, not only during the month of October, but all of the time.
For an emergency, dial 911.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Online Resources:
ncadv.org abuseandrelationships.org