Sexual Violence Conference

Today, domestic violence is becoming a well-known problem, but few people realize that women in romantic relationships aren't the only victims. Domestic violence is defined as any violence that occurs in a household, whether between close family relationships or even among distant relatives who happen to be living under the same roof. The most widely publicized forms of domestic violence include that between the husband or father as abuser and girlfriends, wives, and children as victims, although it can actually occur between any family members.

Domestic abuse may occur in a wide variety of situations. It may include not only physical abuse, but also sexual abuse, in which the abuser uses force to compel the victim to participate in a sexual act. This can occur even if the victim and the abuser are married or in a romantic relationship. Although identification of physical or sexual domestic abuse is not difficult to uncover by those closest to the victims, it is often accompanied by emotional abuse. The symptoms of this type of domestic abuse are more difficult to uncover. Emotional abuse that falls under the category of domestic abuse may include financial dependence on the abuser, humiliation or embarrassment in public, or isolation from friends or family. This type of abuse makes it more difficult for victims of domestic violence to reach out for help, and leaves lasting psychological scars.

Even when those closest to the victim are aware of the situation, putting an end to the violence is a bit harder. It is all too easy to tell victims of ongoing domestic violence or verbal assaults to simply get out of the situation. Victims are often reluctant to break apart family relationships, especially if kids are involved, or have been conditioned to accept this mistreatment at the hands of their abuser. As a result, domestic violence may go on for years. In the most problematic cases, victims never leave the relationship, and may even end up dying at the hands of their abuser.

Standing up against the abuser or speaking out about the situation may be the most effective means of stopping it, but it's also the most problematic. Those who are abused are often fearful of retribution from the abuser, and instead hope that the problem will go away on its own. Many victims feel that they have nowhere to turn and no resources to get out of the situation. The longer the domestic violence and abuse continues, the more resigned victims may become to it.

The key to escaping domestic violence is empowerment and confidence. Victims of domestic abuse must realize that they do not have to remain victims. Protection from the abuser is available in many forms, including pepper sprays, stun guns, and TASER devices. The point of such self defense devices is to enable victims of violence, whether domestic violence by a close relative, or a random street attack, to fight back. With regard to domestic violence and most other violent situations, awareness is essential. You have to be aware of what is going on around you, and make the conscious decision to not become a victim of the situation.

The precise incidence of domestic violence in America is difficult to determine for several reasons: It often goes unreported, even on surveys; there is no nationwide organization that gathers information from local police departments about the number of substantiated reports and calls; and there is disagreement about what needs to be included in the definition of domestic violence. "One study estimated that more than 3% (approximately 1.8 million) of women were severely assaulted over the course of a year, while other studies indicate the percentage of women experiencing dating violence, including sexual assault, physical violence, or verbal and emotional abuse, ranges as high as 65%.

Unless a uniform definition and reporting for domestic violence is established, the exact number of survivors will be under reported because survivors don't view their experience as violence. Therein lies the reason many survivors stay in an abusive relationship. The abuse starts at a low level and continues to escalate gradually. The best definition for domestic violence includes not only the behaviors, but the underlying cause.

Domestic Violence or Battering is a pattern of behavior specifically used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation.

Domestic Violence/Battering is used when one person believes they are entitled to control another. Assault, battering and domestic violence are crimes.

Definitions - Domestic Violence/Battering includes emotional abuse, economic abuse, sexual abuse, using children, threats, using male privilege, intimidation, isolation, and a variety of other behaviors used to maintain fear, intimidation and power. In all cultures, the perpetrators are most commonly the men of the family. Women are most commonly the victims of violence.

Recent studies reveal the prevalence of male abuse to be higher than previously reported. It is now believed that male abuse is 40% of all Domestic Violence/Battering. However, as is the case with all family issues, this statistic is decidedly low, due to the prevalence of non-reporting by the survivor.

Acts of Domestic Violence/Battering include one or more of the following categories:

Physical Battering - The abuser's physical attacks or aggressive behavior can range from bruising to murder. It often begins with what is excused as trivial contacts which escalate into more frequent and serious attacks.

Sexual Abuse - Physical attack by the abuser is often accompanied by, or culminates in, sexual violence wherein the woman is forced to have sexual intercourse with her abuser or take part in unwanted sexual activity.

Psychological Battering -The abuser's psychological or mental violence can include constant verbal abuse, harassment, excessive possessiveness, isolating the woman from friends and family, deprivation of physical and economic resources, and destruction of personal property. (See "The Verbally Abusive Relationship" by Patricia Evans)

Battering escalates. It often begins with behaviors like threats, name calling, violence in her presence (such as punching a fist through a wall), and/or damage to objects or pets. It may escalate to restraining, pushing, slapping, and/or pinching. The battering may include punching, kicking, biting, sexual assault, tripping, throwing. Finally, it may become life-threatening with serious behaviors such as choking, breaking bones, or the use of weapons--including, obviously, homicide.