Four Types of DA:

Physical: Includes shoving, pushing, choking, restraining, hitting or kicking. It can occur frequently or infrequently, but usually escalates in intensity over time.

Sexual: Any time one partner forces sexual acts which are unwanted or declined by the other partner. This constitutes sexual assault.

Psychological: Includes isolation from family and friends, financial dependence, verbal, emotional, or spiritual abuse, threats, intimidation, stalking, and control over where the partner goes or what they do.
Attacks against property and/or pets: Destruction of or threatening destruction of property, which may include pets, household objects, or the house itself (hitting walls, etc).

FYI about DA:

Domestic violence is NOT a marital conflict, a lovers' quarrel, or a private family matter, and sexual assault is not about sex. It is about power and control over another person, whether that person is a child or an adult. Women suffering in domestic violence relationships usually leave eight times, returning to the home each time, before they finally leave for good.

Its still abuse if:

-The incidents of physical abuse seem minor when compared to those you have read about, seen on television or heard other women talk about. There isnt a better or worse form of physical abuse; you can be severely injured as a result of being pushed, for example. -The incidents of physical abuse have only occurred one or two times in the relationship. Studies indicate that if your spouse/partner has injured you once, it is likely he will continue to physically assault you. -The physical assaults stopped when you became passive and gave up your right to express yourself as you desire, to move about freely and see others, and to make decisions. It is not a victory if you have to give up your rights as a person and a partner in exchange for not being assaulted!

-There has not been any physical violence. Many women are emotionally and verbally assaulted. This can be as equally frightening and is often more confusing to try to understand.

SIGNS THAT YOURE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

Your Inner Thoughts and Feelings

Do you: feel afraid of your partner much of the time? avoid certain topics out of fear of angering your partner? feel that you cant do anything right for your partner? believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated? wonder if youre the one who is crazy? feel emotionally numb or helpless?

Your Partners Belittling Behavior

Does your partner: humiliate or yell at you? criticize you and put you down? treat you so badly that youre embarrassed for your friends or family to see? ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments? blame you for their own abusive behavior? see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person? Your Partners Controlling Behavior Does your partner: act excessively jealous and possessive? control where you go or what you do? keep you from seeing your friends or family? limit your access to money, the phone, or the car? limit your access to money, the phone, or the car? constantly check up on you?

Your Partners Violent Behavior or Threats Does your partner: have a bad and unpredictable temper? hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
threaten to take your children away or harm them? threaten to commit suicide if you leave? force you to have sex? destroy your belongings?

Abusers use tactics:

Dominance Abusive individuals need to feel in charge of the relationship. They will make decisions for you and the family, tell you what to do, and expect you to obey without question. Your abuser may treat you like a servant, child, or even as his or her possession. Humiliation An abuser will do everything he or she can to make you feel bad about yourself or defective in some way. After all, if you believe you're worthless and that no one else will want you, you're less likely to leave. Insults, name-calling, shaming, and public put-downs are all weapons of abuse designed to erode your self-esteem and make you feel powerless. Isolation In order to increase your dependence on him or her, an abusive partner will cut you off from the outside world. He or she may keep you from seeing family or friends, or even prevent you from going to work or school. You may have to ask permission to do anything, go anywhere, or see anyone. Threats Abusers commonly use threats to keep their partners from leaving or to scare them into dropping charges. Your abuser may threaten to hurt or kill you, your children, other family members, or even pets. He or she may also threaten to commit suicide, file false charges against you, or report you to child services. Intimidation Your abuser may use a variety of intimidation tactics designed to scare you into submission. Such tactics include making threatening looks or gestures, smashing things in front of you, destroying property, hurting your pets, or putting weapons on display. The clear message is that if you don't obey, there will be violent consequences. Denial and blame Abusers are very good at making excuses for the inexcusable. They will blame their abusive and violent behavior on a bad childhood, a bad day, and even on the victims of their abuse. Your abusive partner may minimize the abuse or deny that it occurred. He or she will commonly shift the responsibility on to you: Somehow, his or her violent and abusive behavior is your fault.

What do the abused think while being abused?

Theyll change. Theyre getting help. Its my fault. I need to help them. Nobody understands them like I do. Theyll hurt me. I will suffer financially. I wont see my kids.

Signs that the Abuser is not Changing:

He minimizes the abuse or denies how serious it really was. He continues to blame others for his behavior. He claims that youre the one who is abusive. He tells you that you owe him another chance. You have to push him to stay in treatment. He says that he cant change unless you stay with him and support him. He tries to get sympathy from you, your children, or your family and friends. He expects something from you in exchange for getting help. He pressures you to make decisions about the relationship.

Domestic Abuse Video:

Woman's Testimony

Statistics about DA:

The Victims 25% women will experience DA. Women-4 million physical assaults and rapes because of their partners. Women more likely be killed by intimate partner than anyone else Women ages 20 to 24 are at greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence. Every year, 1 in 3 women who is a victim of homicide is murdered by her current or former partner.

Statistics about DA:

The Families Every year, more than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes. A 2005 Michigan study found that children exposed to domestic violence at home are more likely to have health problems, including becoming sick more often, having frequent headaches or stomachaches, and being more tired and lethargic. A 2003 study found that children are more likely to intervene when they witness severe violence against a parent which can place a child at great risk for injury or even death.

The Consequences According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families. In New York City, 25% of homeless heads of household became homeless due to domestic violence. Survivors of domestic violence face high rates of depression, sleep disturbances, anxiety, flashbacks, and other emotional distress. Domestic violence contributes to poor health for many survivors. For example, chronic conditions like heart disease or gastrointestinal disorders can become more serious due to domestic violence. Among women brought to emergency rooms due to domestic violence, most were socially isolated and had fewer social and financial resources than other women not injured because of domestic violence. Without help, girls who witness domestic violence are more vulnerable to abuse as teens and adults. Without help, boys who witness domestic violence are far more likely to become abusers of their partners and/or children as adults, thus continuing the cycle of violence in the next generation. Domestic violence costs more than $37 billion a year in law enforcement involvement, legal work, medical and mental health treatment, and lost productivity at companies.

Statistics about DA:

Create
Create a PSA/Presentation about DA. Describe the different types of DA. Describe the cycle of DA. Include statistics regarding DA. Include any additional information about DA.