Domestic Violence Awareness
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is recognized each October through educational events, community gatherings, and support groups.
In 2018, the Domestic Violence Awareness Project developed a unified theme: #1Thing. The purpose of this campaign is to remind everyone that ending domestic violence starts with just one small action, whether that is seeking help or sharing resources.
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Timeline
1850
Tennessee outlawed violence against spouses.
Other states followed suit shortly thereafter.
1978
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence was established.
The NCADV, a nonprofit, was established to serve as a voice of victims and survivors.
1987
First National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The push for change began.
1994
Major legislation was passed.
The US passed two additional Violence Against Women Acts in 2000 and 2005.
2010
Domestic violence victims total 10 million per year.
According to a CDC survey, 20 Americans experience intimate partner physical violence every minute. That totals around 10 million victims per year.
4 Signs You're Experiencing Abuse
Your partner threatens or tries to control you
This can be anything from making you feel inadequate to telling you what to wear or how to look.Your partner controls your money
Keeping cash or credit cards away from you or discouraging you from working is unacceptable.Your partner isolates you
Cutting you off from family and friends, makes you even more dependent on your partner and could be a sign of abuse.Your partner physically abuses you
This is a serious crime regardless of your relationship status.
National Statistics
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On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. This includes a range of behaviors (e.g. slapping, shoving, pushing) and in some cases might not be considered "domestic violence."
1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner.
1 in 10 women have been raped by an intimate partner. Data is unavailable on male victims.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence (e.g. beating, burning, strangling) by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point in which they felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed.
On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.
The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.
Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.
Women between the ages of 18-24 are most commonly abused by an intimate partner.
19% of domestic violence involves a weapon.
Domestic victimization is correlated with a higher rate of depression and suicidal behavior.
Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries.
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1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the United States has been raped in their lifetime.
Almost half of female (46.7%) and male (44.9%) victims of rape in the United States were raped by an acquaintance. Of these, 45.4% of female rape victims and 29% of male rape victims were raped by an intimate partner.
Physical, mental, and sexual and reproductive health effects have been linked with intimate partner violence including adolescent pregnancy, unintended pregnancy in general, miscarriage, stillbirth, intrauterine hemorrhage, nutritional deficiency, abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal problems, neurological disorders, chronic pain, disability, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Victims of domestic violence are also at higher risk for developing addictions to alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
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19.3 million women and 5.1 million men in the United States have been stalked in their lifetime.
60.8% of female stalking victims and 43.5% men reported being stalked by a current or former intimate partner.
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A study of intimate partner homicides found that 20% of victims were not the intimate partners themselves, but family members, friends, neighbors, persons who intervened, law enforcement responders, or by-standers.
72% of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner; 94% of the victims of these murder suicides are female.
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1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.
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Victims of intimate partner violence lose a total of 8.0 million days of paid work each year.
The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $8.3 billion per year.
Between 21-60% of victims of intimate partner violence lose their jobs due to reasons stemming from the abuse.
Between 2003 and 2008, 142 women were murdered in their workplace by their abuser, 78% of women killed in the workplace during this timeframe.
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Women abused by their intimate partners are more vulnerable to contracting HIV or other STI’s due to forced intercourse or prolonged exposure to stress.
Studies suggest that there is a relationship between intimate partner violence and depression and suicidal behavior.
For more information contact the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: www.ncadv.org/ statistics
Your partner threatens or controls you
This can be anything from making you feel inadequate to telling you what to wear or how to look.
Your partner controls your money
Keeping cash or credit cards away from you or discouraging you from working is unacceptable.
Your partner isolates you
Cutting you off from family and friends, makes you even more dependent on your partner.
Your partner physically abuses you
This is a serious crime regardless of your relationship status.
Power & Control Wheel
Power And Control Wheel
Using Intimidation — Making you afraid by using looks, gestures, actions such as smashing things, abusing pets, displaying weapons, using looks, actions, gestures to reinforce control, standing in front of the door or exit
Using Emotional Abuse — Putting you down by making you feel bad about yourself, calling you names, playing mind games, making you feel guilty, humiliating you, questioning your identity, or reinforcing internalized phobias and isms
Using Isolation — Controlling what you do, who you see or talk to, limiting your outside activities, making you account for your whereabouts, saying no one will believe you, or not letting you go anywhere alone
Denying, Minimizing, Blaming — Making light of abuse, saying it didn't happen, shifting responsibility, saying it's your fault, you deserved it, accusing you of "mutual abuse", saying it's just fighting not abuse, or accusing you of "making" them abuse you
Using Children — Making you fell guilty about the children, using children to relay messages, threatening to take the children, telling you that you have no parental rights, or threatening to tell your ex or the authorities to take your children
Using Privilege — Treating you like a servant, making all the "big" decisions, being the one to define the roles or duties in the relationship, using privilege or ability discredit you, cut off access to resources or use the system against you, or claim to know "what's best" for you
Using Economic Abuse — Preventing you from getting or keeping a job, making you ask for money, interfering with work or education, taking your credit cards without permission, not working and requiring you to provide support, or keeping your name off joint assets
Using Coercion & Threats — Making and/or carrying out threats to do something to harm you, threatening to leave or commit suicide, driving recklessly to frighten you, threatening others who are important to you, or stalking
Physical and sexual assaults, or threats to commit them, are the most apparent forms of domestic violence and are usually the actions that allow others to become aware of the problem.
However, regular use of other abusive behaviors by the batterer, when reinforced by one or more acts of physical violence, make up a larger system of abuse. Although physical assaults may occur only once or occasionally, they instill threat of future violent attacks and allow the abuser to take control of the woman’s life and circumstances.
The Power & Control diagram is a particularly helpful tool in understanding the overall pattern of abusive and violent behaviors, which are used by a batterer to establish and maintain control over his partner. Very often, one or more violent incidents are accompanied by an array of these other types of abuse. They are less easily identified, yet firmly establish a pattern of intimidation and control in the relationship.
For more information visit theduluthmodel.org
Other Power Wheels
Resources
There are Local and National Resources to help with Domestic Violence Situations. For Local Resources visit our Community Resources or contact counseling@nctc.edu. Know a student who needs help? Complete a CARES Report
National Resources for Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence
Though National Coalition Against Domestic Violence does not provide direct services, we are happy to refer other resources covering a wide variety of needs. We also offer resources for those working with victims and survivors of domestic violence.
National Crisis Organizations & Assistance
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)
www.ndvh.org
National Dating Abuse Helpline
1-866-331-9474
www.loveisrespect.org
National Child Abuse Hotline/Childhelp
1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
www.childhelp.org
National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-4673 (HOPE)
www.rainn.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255 (TALK)
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
National Center for Victims of Crime
1-202-467-8700
www.victimsofcrime.org
National Human Trafficking Resource Center/Polaris Project
Call: 1-888-373-7888 | Text: HELP to BeFree (233733)
www.polarisproject.org
National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
1-510-465-1984
www.nnirr.org
National Coalition for the Homeless
1-202-737-6444
www.nationalhomeless.org
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
1-800-537-2238
www.nrcdv.org and www.vawnet.org
Futures Without Violence: The National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence
1-888-792-2873
www.futureswithoutviolence.org
National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health
1-312-726-7020 ext. 2011
www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org
National Runaway Safeline
1-800-RUNAWAY or 1-800-786-2929
www.1800runaway.org
Children & Teens
Childhelp USA/National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-422-4453
www.childhelpusa.org
Children’s Defense Fund
202-628-8787
www.childrensdefense.org
Child Welfare League of America
202-638-2952
www.cwla.org
National Council on Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Child Protection and Custody/Resource Center on Domestic Violence 1-800-527-3233
www.ncjfcj.org
Center for Judicial Excellence
info@centerforjudicialexcellence.org
www.centerforjudicialexcellence.org
Love is respect
Hotline: 1-866-331-9474
www.loveisrespect.org
Break the Cycle
202-824-0707
www.breakthecycle.org
Differently Abled
Domestic Violence Initiative
(303) 839-5510 or (877) 839-5510
www.dviforwomen.org
Deaf Abused Women’s Network (DAWN)
Email: Hotline@deafdawn.org VP: 202-559-5366
www.deafdawn.org
Women of Color
Women of Color Network
1-800-537-2238
www.wocninc.org
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence
incite.natl@gmail.com
www.incite-national.org
Latina/Latino
Casa de Esperanza
Linea de crisis 24-horas/24-hour crisis line 1-651-772-1611
www.casadeesperanza.org
National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities
1-651-646-5553
www.nationallatinonetwork.org
Immigrant
The National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project
(202) 274-4457
www.niwap.org
Indigenous Women
National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
855-649-7299
www.niwrc.org
Asian/Pacific Islander
Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence
1-415-568-3315
www.api-gbv.org/
Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV)
1-212- 473-6485
www.caaav.org
Manavi
1-732-435-1414
www.manavi.org
African-American
The Black Church and Domestic Violence Institute
1-770-909-0715
www.bcdvi.org
Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Gay, Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming
The Audre Lorde Project
1-178-596-0342
www.alp.org
LAMBDA GLBT Community Services
1-206-350-4283
www.qrd.org
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
1-202-393-5177
www.ngltf.org
Northwest Network of Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian & Gay Survivors of Abuse
1-206-568-7777
www.nwnetwork.org
Trans Lifeline
877-565-8860
translifeline.org
Elder Abuse
National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life
1-608-255-0539
www.ncall.us
National Center for Elder Abuse
1-855-500-3537
aginginplace.org
Men
National Domestic Violence Hotline: Men Can Be Victims Too
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
www.thehotline.org
HelpGuide: Help for Men Who Are Being Abused
www.helpguide.org
Mayo Clinic: Recognize domestic violence against men
www.mayoclinic.org
WomensLaw.org: Male Victims
National Organizations
www.womenslaw.org/male-victims
Huffpost: Domestic Violence Resources for Male Survivors
www.huffpost.com
WebMD: Help for Battered Men
www.webmd.com
National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS)
1-720-466-3882
www.nomas.org
A Call to Men
1-917-922-6738
www.acalltomen.org
Men Stopping Violence
1-866-717-9317
www.menstoppingviolence.org
Legal
Battered Women’s Justice Project
1-800-903-0111
www.bwjp.org
Legal Momentum
1-212-925-6635
www.legalmomentum.org
Womenslaw.org
www.womenslaw.org
National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women
1-800-903-0111 x 3
www.ncdbw.org
Legal Network for Gender Equity
nwlc.org/join-the-legal-network