Definition: Domestic violence: The abuse, mental or physical of one person by another person with whom the abused has a significant and intimate relationship. Domestic violence can occur in relationships whether the couple:

    Is living together or not living together

    Is married, divorced, separated or not married

    Has children or does not have children

    Is a heterosexual or homosexual couple

Types of Abuse:

Verbal Abuse: Actual threats of harm to her or someone else, threats to take the children, or to commit suicide; put downs, name-calling; ridiculing her for her religious beliefs or ethnic background.

Intimidation: Smashing things, destroying her property, putting fist through wall, handling of guns or other weapons, intimidating body language (angry looks, raised voice), hostile questioning, reckless driving.

Emotional Abuse: manipulation, denial, withdrawal, control, extreme jealousy.

Isolation: Controlling what she does, who she talks to, where she goes; keeping her from making any friends, talking to her family; having a job, having any money.

Physical Abuse; Pushing, shoving, hitting, slapping, choking, hair-pulling, punching, grabbing, kicking, beating, biting, shaking, burning, using a weapon against her: i.e. knives, guns, heavy objects.

Sexual Abuse: forcing her to perform sex acts she doesn’t want to do or that cause pain or humiliation; rape; physically attacking the sexual parts of her body; forcing her to have sex with others.

Denial of Rights: Not allowing her any privacy, locking her up in a room, tying her to a chair, forcing her to go without food or water, not allowing her access to family finances, not allowing her to bathe, hiding necessary medications.

General

A woman is beaten by her partner every 15 seconds in the US.

Four women are murdered by their partners every day; 42% of all murdered females re killed by an intimate male partner.

At least 25% of domestic violence victims are beaten while pregnant.

The first 60-90 days after a domestic violence victim leaves an abusive relationship is the most dangerous time for her.

Every month, over 50,000 women seek protective and restraining orders in the U.S.

Domestic violence causes 1000,000 days of hospitalization, 30,000 emergency room visits, and 40,000 trips to the doctor every year.

92% of women who are physically abused by their partners never discuss the incident with their physicians; 575 never tell anyone.

40% of all police calls are domestic violence-related.

In addition to the problems mentioned above, domestic violence takes a toll on the lives of children and adds to costs to employers through missed work and the community through police and other agency work.

If you or someone you know is being abused, contact the number below for assistance:

SLO WOMEN’S SHELTER PROGRAM 781-6400

Return to Soc 311