Domestic violence is not an easy topic to
discuss. Nevertheless, it’s a lot more
widespread than most of us realize, affecting people of all socioeconomic
levels, races, and religions. We
probably all know someone who has been a victim of domestic abuse, whether we
know it or not. The overwhelming
majority of domestic abuse victims are women, but there are a few men,
too. Also, children often are involved;
even if they are not physically harmed, they suffer from being in an abusive
environment.
Personal stories are usually the best way to connect
with something important, but on this sensitive topic, it’s often hard to share
such stories publicly. That’s not
because the victims should be ashamed; they have done nothing to deserve
abuse. However, it’s understandable that
victims might not speak openly, perhaps because they fear for their safety. But the rest of us can speak out. Here are some statistics from the website of
the Partnership Against Domestic Violence:
National
·
Nearly 5.3
million intimate partner victimization occur each year among U.S. women ages 18
and older. This violence results in nearly 2 million injuries and nearly 1,300
deaths. – Centers for Disease Control, 2003
·
One in four women
experience domestic violence in their lifetime. – Centers for Disease
Control & Prevention, 2006.
·
On average, more
than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the
United States. – Catalano, Shannan. 2007. Intimate Partner Violence in the
United States. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
·
In 2008, a
24-hour survey of domestic violence programs across the nation found that over
60,000 victims were served in one day. Unfortunately, due to a lack of
resources, there were almost 9,000 unmet requests for services. – Domestic
Violence Count 07 A 24- hour census of domestic violence shelters and services
across the United States. The National Network to End Domestic Violence (Jan.
2008).
Children
·
15.5 million
children in the United States live in families in which partner violence
occurred at least once in the past year. Seven million children live in
families in which severe partner violence occurred. – Whitfield, CL, Anda
RF, Dube SR, Felittle VJ. 2003. Violent Childhood Experiences and the Risk of
Intimate Partner Violence in Adults: Assessment in a Large Health Maintenance
Organization. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
·
Boys who witness
domestic violence in their own home are three times more likely to become batterers.
– Straus, M.A., Gelles, R.J. & Steinmetz, S. Behind Closed Doors.
Doubleday, Anchor, 1980.
·
In homes where
partner abuse occurs, children are 1,500 times more likely to be abused. – Department
of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Family Violence: Interventions for
the Justice System, 1993
Teen
Dating Violence
·
One in three
teenagers report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked,
slapped, choked or physically hurt by their partner. – Liz Claiborne Inc.
study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February
2005.
·
Nearly 1 in 5
teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend had threatened
violence or self-harm if presented with a breakup. – Liz Claiborne Inc.
study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February
2005.
·
If trapped in an
abusive relationship, 73 percent of teens said they would turn to a friend for
help; but only 33 percent who have been in or known about an abusive
relationship said they have told anyone about it. – Liz Claiborne Inc. study
on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2005.
·
Nearly 80 percent
of girls who have been physically abused in their intimate relationships
continue to date their abuser. – City of New York, Teen Relationship Abuse
Fact Sheet, March 1998
In
The Workplace
·
Domestic violence
causes American employees to miss 175,000 workdays per year.
·
Abusive husbands
harass 74 percent of employed battered women at work, either in person or over
the telephone.
·
The costs of
intimate partner violence against women exceed an estimated $8.3 billion. These
costs include nearly $4.1 billion in direct costs of medical and mental health
care and nearly $1.8 billion in the indirect costs of lost productivity. – Centers
for Disease Control, 2003
Domestic
abuse victims may have needs ranging from a safe escape plan to medical
treatment to employment training. In A
Year of Centuries, I am highlighting the need for dental treatment and facial
surgery in victims of domestic abuse.
The Face to Face program of the Partnership Against Domestic Violence
provides these services free of charge.
If you would like to make a donation, please mail a check to
New Image
Dental Laboratory
1395 Southlake Parkway
Morrow, GA 30260
Please note
on your check that it is for domestic violence patients. Thank you for helping these women start
regaining their self confidence and building better lives for themselves.