The Tragic Reality of Domestic Violence

 Posted on October 26, 2021 in Family Law

October is designated as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The campaign was established in 1987 as a way to raise awareness about domestic violence issues. Despite more than three decades of work by countless organizations and advocates, domestic violence is still an underreported problem, occurring to millions of victims across the country from every walk of life and every socio-economic background.

Intimate Partner Violence

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses the term intimate partner violence (IPV) to describe physical, psychological, or sexual harm that is inflicted on a spouse or partner. National statistics show that about one in three women will experience IPV in their lifetimes. Although women are the majority of domestic violence victims, it is not just women who are abused. Men and women both experience it in hetero and same-sex marriages and partnerships. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCDAV), about 20 people per minute are victims of IPV every minute in the U.S. This comes out to more than 10 million women and men each year.

Other alarming statistics provided by the NCDAV include:

• One in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.
• One in seven women and one in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner.
• One in four women and one in seven men have experienced or will experience severe physical violence.
• One in 10 women have been raped by an intimate partner. There is no credible data available on male victims.

Risk Factors

The CDC has identified certain risk factors that contribute to domestic violence. These risk, associated with the abuser, include the following traits:

• Poverty
• Depression
• Insecurity
• Emotional dependency
• Drug and/or alcohol abuse
• Poor self-esteem
• Low education level
• Anger
• Aggression
• Hostility
• Deep-rooted belief in outdated or old-fashioned gender roles
• Criminal record
• Unemployment
• Lack of friends or isolation
• Abuser was a victim of physical, psychological, or sexual abuse at an early age

There are also relationship and societal factors that can trigger domestic violence, including poor family relationships, economic stress, and dominance issues. Other factors can include living in depressed and crowded areas, having a poor relationship with neighbors (who are unwilling to report the abuse or otherwise intervene on the victim’s behalf).

Contact a Collin County Family Lawyer

If you are currently in an abusive relationship, a dedicated Frisco, TX domestic violence attorney can help you take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your children. Call The Law Office of Linda Risinger at 972-294-6533 to schedule a free and confidential consultation. Our law firm has extensive experience, knowledge, and resources for domestic violence cases and will work quickly and diligently to stop the abuse and seek justice on your behalf.

Sources:

https://ncadv.org/STATISTICS

https://ncadv.org/2021DVAM