Other than being known as the month for Halloween, October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence affects women, men, and children of every age, ethnicity, social background, and religion.
The dictionary definition of domestic violence is “a pattern of aggressive or violent behavior in any relationship to maintain control or power over another intimate partner.” The first thing that usually pops to mind when abuse is brought up is physical abuse, the most known and tangible form. But abuse can manifest in many forms, ranging from physical to sexual, emotional, physiological, and economic abuse. Here are four of the most common kinds of abuse to be aware of:
Physical abuse is any unwanted contact with your body. It doesn’t have to be painful or even leave bruises. It can include slapping, biting, hitting, strangling, kicking, slapping, shoving, hair pulling, grabbing your clothing, throwing items at you, restraining you or forcing you to go somewhere.
Sexual abuse consists of any action that attempts sexual activity without consent, and can include threats or taking advantage of victims that are unable to give consent. Refusal to use contraception, derogatory name calling, and deliberately causing unwanted pain during sex are also forms of abuse.
Emotional abuse systematically wears down at the victim’s sense of self-worth, their self-confidence, and their trust in their own perceptions. It can be done with belittling and intimidation or under the guise of “advice” and “guidance”. The criticism, humiliation, insinuations, accusations, and the underlying “I know best” mentality of the abuser eat away at the victim’s self confidence until she is incapable of judging reality for what it is. In a similar vein, physiological abuse is when the abuser uses threats, excludes the victim from meaningful events, or isolates the victim from other forms of support such as friends and family.
Economic abuse is when the abuser keeps his or her partner completely financially dependent on the perpetrator. Forbidding you to having a job, destroying your credit, demanding an account of everything you buy, or not including you in any financial decisions are just a few examples of economic abuse.
Educate yourself! Don’t hesitate to reach out and get help for yourself and your friends.
Resources:
http://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence