Change Your World Week Fall 2021 (Archived)

Domestic violence is abuse in a domestic setting with a pattern. For example, in a marriage or relationship. This type of violence usually happens in intimate relationships. There are five different types of domestic violence: emotional, sexual, spiritual, economic, and physical. A big part of domestic violence is showing dominance. The abuser needs to feel like they are in control. It was first recognized in the 1920s as “wife beating” and it had been made illegal. Even though it was illegal it was not recognized and people thought they needed to keep to themselves. As the 1970s came around, domestic violence became a serious crime. 

If you decide to reach out to an abuse victim, try to do it when times are calm. Because being involved when tensions are flaring can put you in danger. Also, make you set aside time to hear them out if they open up to you, plus don’t make them feel judged due to the fact they need someone to be on their side, plus of all the fear and frustration they have built inside of them. And if they ask you to help them don’t hesitate to help due to a fact they might only have one choice. And don’t make them feel like a charity case because you want to rescue the person, they need to make the final say if they really want the help or not, so keep that in mind the whole time.

 Getting help with domestic violence can be a hard thing for a victim to do. If you or someone you know is getting abused, you can call the domestic violence hotline. The phone number is 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or  1-800-787-3224 (TTY). There are also many places all over the state of Michigan where you can seek help. 

 When it comes to domestic violence, the signs are not always noticeable. A very common sign is when the abuser is very controlling. When the victim shows any sign of indepdence the abuser might get jealous, authoritative, or angry. One sign that can be noticeable is when the abused is getting physically abused. Bruises from being hit, choked, or being thrown are signs of abuse. At times the abused, if visible, might try and cover up the evidence of abuse. Another sign is when the victim does not have many acquaintances. 

• Most domestic violence incidents are never reported.

• Every year, more than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes.

• Survivors of domestic violence face high rates of depression, sleep disturbances, anxiety, flashbacks, and other emotional distress.

• Every year, 1 in 3 women who is a victim of homicide is murdered by her current or former partner.

• A 2005 Michigan study found that children exposed to domestic violence at home are more likely to have health problems. This includes becoming sick more often, having frequent headaches or stomach aches, and being more tired & lethargic.

• Black women are 35% more likely to experience domestic violence than white women.

• On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States—more than 12 million women and men over the course of a year, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. 

Children who witness domestic abuse are more likely to also experience abuse. Depending on the age of the child will play a part on their feelings toward it. Younger preschool aged children could start having old habits that they had when they were even younger, such as wetting the bed, not sleeping at night, or separation anxiety. Middle ages children might blame themselves or feel like it is their fault. Older children (teens) may start to change their behaviors. The change in behavior is most likely going to be negative. Their behaviors could involve breaking the law, having unprotected sex, or doing drugs. Not all children are affected the same way. When it comes to overcoming the trauma, everyone copes in a different way. Some may be more sensitive and some are quick to recover. The time it takes to recover can depend on many things, for instance having a strong support system is a major key in having a successful recovery. There are many ways on making the child feel safe. Some ways are by talking to them about the issue, getting help from a professional, or setting boundaries. 

• Encyclopedia.com. (2021, November 2). ." encyclopedia of crime and justice. . encyclopedia.com. 25 Oct. 2021 . Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved November 2, 2021, from https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/law/crime-and-law-enforcement/domestic-violence. 
• NCADV: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The Nation's Leading Grassroots Voice on Domestic Violence. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2021, from https://ncadv.org/STATISTICS. 
• Brown. (2017, April 22). 5 common signs of domestic violence. VKOOL Reviews: Bitcoin, Cryptocurrencies, Finance, Lifestyle and Health Reviews. Retrieved November 3, 2021, from https://vkool.com/signs-of-domestic-violence/#:~:text=5%20Common%20Signs%20Of%20Domestic%20Violence%201%20The,You.%205%20The%20Abused%20Partner%20Gets%20Visible%20Injuries. 
• Facts about domestic violence. New Hope, Inc. (2019, June 20). Retrieved November 3, 2021, from https://www.new-hope.org/fa. 
• The facts about domestic violence. Doorways. (2021, September 7). Retrieved November 3, 2021, from https://www.doorwaysva.org/our-work/education-advocacy/the-facts-about-domestic-violence/. 
• T, B. (2020, July 5). 9 ways to help a domestic violence victim. Verywell Mind. Retrieved November 5, 2021, from https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-help-a-victim-of-domestic-violence-66533.