DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: AN OFTEN SILENT EPIDEMIC

from the National Domestic Violence Hotline

A Horrifying Reality
  • One in four women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime.
  • Young women ages 16 to 24 experience the highest rate of domestic violence: 16 out of every 1,000 have been subjected to it.
  • Domestic violence has been estimated to cost U.S. employers between $3 billion and $13 billion each year.

What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.

Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen in couples who are married, living together or dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.

You may be in an emotionally abusive relationship if your partner:
  • Calls you names, insults you or continually criticizes you
  • Does not trust you and acts jealous or possessive
  • Tries to isolate you from family or friends
  • Monitors where you go, who you call and who you spend time with
  • Does not want you to work
  • Controls finances or refuses to share money
  • Punishes you by withholding affection
  • Expects you to ask permission
  • Threatens to hurt you, your children, your family or your pets
  • Humiliates you in any way

Next »