Domestic Violence Leading Cause of Injury to Women
On a national level the month of October is the time of year when advocates, organizations and groups concerned about domestic violence raises their voices to speak out against this crime. They do it through education, awareness, fundraisers and prayer vigils.
What is domestic violence? Domestic violence is a crime. It’s defined as a pattern of coercive tactics, which can include psychological and emotional, social, financial, physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by a family or household member, a boyfriend or significant other.
The goal of domestic violence is to establish or maintain control over the victim. Domestic violence crosses all racial, ethnic, educational, financial and spiritual backgrounds. It doesn’t know color or status. It has no boundaries. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether or not someone is in an abusive relationship. Most often the victim takes responsibility for and covers up the perpetrators behavior.
What can be even more disturbing is the fact that a victim may not even know she is in an abusive relationship. Can you imagine what thoughts that would run through your mind if you discovered you were being battered? What do you think you would do if you went to see a movie, but saw your life flash before your eyes?
What if the actress on the screen was really you? Here it is you just wanted to watch a movie. But as soon as you heard the cruel, verbal attacks you felt a lump in your throat. Perhaps you would get a nauseating feeling in your stomach at you watch her endure the beatings. Maybe you’d literally become frozen as you recall how often you are punched, slapped, hit, shoved, kicked or pushed down the stairs.
Do you think you would consider the amount of make-up you wear just to cover up the bruises, black-eyes and scars? Yet, the bruises and scars could never compare to the wounds that are taking place within the depths of your soul.Do you think your hands would start sweating as you remember the threats such as “if you tell no one will believe you”? Perhaps you’d sit their crying as you recall how often you are called everything from ugly, fat, hopeless, stupid and an unfit mother to names that you would not think about calling your worst enemy. What about the social abuse and the times that you weren’t allowed to visit family and friends only to find yourself in total isolation?
As you sit there watching this victim of domestic violence give up her paycheck do you think you’d remember when you gave up yours but still had to account for every dime you spent even though you had very little or no money?
If you’ve never experienced victimization do you think that you would watch the movie in disbelief while thinking, “This is just a movie?”
Hopefully not, but let me share some real life statistics with you.
Every 9 seconds in the United States a woman is assaulted or beaten. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women-more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined. Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Most often, the abuser is a member of her own family.
40 percent of girls age 14 to 17 reports knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend. Everyday in the United States more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends. As many as 324, 000 women each year experience intimate partner violence during pregnancy. Children are often the silent victims. In a national survey of more than 6,000 American families, 50 percent of the men who frequently assaulted their wives also frequently abused their children. Studies suggest that up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually. Nearly one-third of American women (31%) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives.
As a Tyler Perry fan, you can receive an email message written by him. In an email sent out Saturday, Oct. 3rd not only did he disclose the fact that his mother was a victim of domestic violence he talked about being verbally, physically and emotionally abused at the hands of his father. But he says that forgiveness was the key to healing his father wounds. Sometimes we tend to think that we're the only one that's been through something. Reality is, what is has already been. Someone has already traveled that same path that you are on. The Bible says there is nothing new under the sun, this includes domestic violence. Be safe. Get help or help out! There is never an excuse for abuse.
For more information visit www.crossroadwomenfamily.org
What is domestic violence? Domestic violence is a crime. It’s defined as a pattern of coercive tactics, which can include psychological and emotional, social, financial, physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by a family or household member, a boyfriend or significant other.
The goal of domestic violence is to establish or maintain control over the victim. Domestic violence crosses all racial, ethnic, educational, financial and spiritual backgrounds. It doesn’t know color or status. It has no boundaries. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether or not someone is in an abusive relationship. Most often the victim takes responsibility for and covers up the perpetrators behavior.
What can be even more disturbing is the fact that a victim may not even know she is in an abusive relationship. Can you imagine what thoughts that would run through your mind if you discovered you were being battered? What do you think you would do if you went to see a movie, but saw your life flash before your eyes?
What if the actress on the screen was really you? Here it is you just wanted to watch a movie. But as soon as you heard the cruel, verbal attacks you felt a lump in your throat. Perhaps you would get a nauseating feeling in your stomach at you watch her endure the beatings. Maybe you’d literally become frozen as you recall how often you are punched, slapped, hit, shoved, kicked or pushed down the stairs.
Do you think you would consider the amount of make-up you wear just to cover up the bruises, black-eyes and scars? Yet, the bruises and scars could never compare to the wounds that are taking place within the depths of your soul.Do you think your hands would start sweating as you remember the threats such as “if you tell no one will believe you”? Perhaps you’d sit their crying as you recall how often you are called everything from ugly, fat, hopeless, stupid and an unfit mother to names that you would not think about calling your worst enemy. What about the social abuse and the times that you weren’t allowed to visit family and friends only to find yourself in total isolation?
As you sit there watching this victim of domestic violence give up her paycheck do you think you’d remember when you gave up yours but still had to account for every dime you spent even though you had very little or no money?
If you’ve never experienced victimization do you think that you would watch the movie in disbelief while thinking, “This is just a movie?”
Hopefully not, but let me share some real life statistics with you.
Every 9 seconds in the United States a woman is assaulted or beaten. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women-more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined. Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Most often, the abuser is a member of her own family.
40 percent of girls age 14 to 17 reports knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend. Everyday in the United States more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends. As many as 324, 000 women each year experience intimate partner violence during pregnancy. Children are often the silent victims. In a national survey of more than 6,000 American families, 50 percent of the men who frequently assaulted their wives also frequently abused their children. Studies suggest that up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually. Nearly one-third of American women (31%) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives.
As a Tyler Perry fan, you can receive an email message written by him. In an email sent out Saturday, Oct. 3rd not only did he disclose the fact that his mother was a victim of domestic violence he talked about being verbally, physically and emotionally abused at the hands of his father. But he says that forgiveness was the key to healing his father wounds. Sometimes we tend to think that we're the only one that's been through something. Reality is, what is has already been. Someone has already traveled that same path that you are on. The Bible says there is nothing new under the sun, this includes domestic violence. Be safe. Get help or help out! There is never an excuse for abuse.
For more information visit www.crossroadwomenfamily.org
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