As October came to its 31-day calendar end, amid the Halloweekend celebrations and the fall fantasies, it’s important to take the time to acknowledge monthly observances and the communities they serve. October’s monthly commemorations include: breast cancer awareness, ADHD awareness, Down Syndrome awareness, Health Literacy awareness, and National Domestic Violence Awareness.
Domestic violence is violence committed by someone in the victim’s domestic circle. Domestic circles include family friends, family members, and ex-romantic partners. It can be manifested as forms of child abuse, senior abuse, and honor-based violence, which include honor-based killings, female genital mutilation, and forced arranged marriages. The majority of domestic violence victims are women; however, men, children, and seniors make up a proportionate amount of domestic violence cases.
Domestic violence is a behavioral pattern in which one partner abuses another within a two-person dynamic that maintains power and authority over someone through an intimate relationship. This can be physical or sexual assault, but is not limited to those. Victims can be manipulated and exploited through a multitude of tactics, including emotional abuse, intimidation, and economic abuse.
Intimate partner relationships refer to multiple partner dynamics such as married and divorced individuals, co-parents, in-laws, blood relatives, roommates, and former or current romantic partners. Intimate partner relationships are complex, as the nature of the relationship, frequency of contact, and the extent of the relationship all influence outcomes.
For 2024-2025, Florida’s domestic violence centers offered “624,269 nights of emergency shelter to 12,425 survivors and their children.” Florida requires a set of core services for domestic violence victims, but offered additional services, including a total of 74,381 crisis hotline calls, 229,076 completed safety plans with survivors, and 206,274 hours of supportive counseling.
With this in mind, it’s important to understand how to approach conversations regarding domestic violence, especially with victims. First and foremost, it’s important to never victim-blame. Victim blaming includes assuming that it’s the individual’s fault they fell victim to abuse or violence against themselves. To avoid this, it’s paramount that you avoid accusing the individual of “asking for it” based on what they were wearing or who they were with. Acknowledging that domestic violence does not affect all survivors equally and that victims cope differently is of utmost importance. It’s crucial to recognize that “abuse is rooted in power control,” meaning many abuser-abused relationships are primarily built on an abuser’s intentional tactic to harm the other person.
Although the topic of domestic violence is a heavy one, spreading awareness and understanding how to empathize with victims is essential. Domestic violence is a national problem that affects many neighborhood community members.