This month I want to raise awareness of domestic violence in homes across the nation.
I also want to talk about the fact that women are also perpetrators of physical violence - something that isn't talked about a lot.
Some statistics about domestic violence:
About one in four women will be a victim of domestic violence and almost 8% of men. Domestic violence does not always mean beating, hitting, pushing or punching. Verbal tirades, menacing gestures and threats are also part and parcel of violence in the home.
It can happen to anyone - gay, or straight, married or not, and to men, women and children.
According to a Department of Justice report, 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are physically beaten by an intimate partner every year in the United States.
One third of female murder victims was killed by her husband or boyfriend and most had a history of abuse by the husband or boyfriend before they were murdered by them.
What is rarely talked about are the women who are beating men. Hundreds of thousands of men are battered every year by their intimate partner, many of these partners being women. Men are less likely to report violence for many reasons. They feel they are less manly - that they should be able to defend themselves better and fear police may not pursue charges - or worse - laugh at them. They fear the woman's denials may be believed simply because she's a women and the general consensus is that men do not suffer from domestic violence which is wrong - they do.
For more information and support for men and domestic abuse click here http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/help-for-battered-men
Women do make up the higher percentage of victims, however.
Help Guide.org has a list of signs and symptoms of domestic violence. You can read them all here: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_types_signs_caus...
Nobody deserves to be mistreated, verbally abused, intimidated, threatened or hit - for any reason. For ANY reason! It is not normal, it is not a part of life we just have to live with and there is help for everyone - including children. We need to be aware that adults who batter other adults in the home are also far more likely to batter children. Children are not 'better off' remaining in in-tact homes where there is violence. They are likely to become victims themselves or repeat the violence they witness. We need to end the cycle.
If you need help, or know someone who does, here is further information:
The National Domestic Violence Helpline -
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
This toll free number is available in all 50 states with translation available and help is offered for both men and women. Visit their website here: http://www.ndvh.org/
The Feminist Majority Foundation offers a detailed list of shelters, hotlines, networks and phone numbers in all 50 states. You can find all this here: www.feminist.org/911/crisis.html
Tell Us-
Has domestic violence affected you or someone you know?