The Impact and Action of Domestic Violence

by Healthy Woman OBGYN

Only 70% of Domestic Violence is ever reported.

What is domestic violence? The definition may surprise you. Although most think of physical abuse being the only thing that ‘counts’ as domestic violence, the lasting impression it has on its victims cuts much deeper. Understanding the definition of domestic violence can help with changing the lives of it’s victims.

Domestic Violence Defined

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), ‘Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another,’ it is important to continue the definition, ‘It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically.’

Who is Affected and How?

Domestic violence brings out the worst in ones character, and may include injuries, trauma and has the possibility of being fatal. Often times people think they are not susceptible to it, but domestic violence and abuse does not discriminate. ‘Domestic violence is an epidemic affecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion or nationality (NCADV).’

Different types of domestic abuse and violence include acts of sexual assault, stalking and homicide, producing physical, mental and economic effects.

How Can We Combat Domestic Violence in the Community

Know Who It Affects:  According to NCADV,

• ‘Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.’
• ‘Intimate partner violence is most common among women between the ages of 18-24.’

Use Your Resources

We spoke with Marcia Fishkin of Providence House in Ocean County, NJ who told us about the 24-Hour hotline at: 877-871-7551. She said, ‘…is our hotline if someone knows of someone or has a question about going through a crisis.’ Fishkin went on to explain that Providence House speaks to members of the community about the ‘Power of Control Wheel’ and the ‘Cycle of Violence’ that has three individual parts. Providence house services are free, make use of them if necessary.

Learn as much as possible

Erin (Shealy) Forsell, Community Liaison at Providence House in New Jersey told us this astounding statistic: ‘According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime.’

Share Your Knowledge of Community

We also spoke with Janet Lee MSW, LCSW, DV Group Supervisor of 180nj – Turning Lives Around about how she thinks domestic violence can be stopped, “Knowing that all of this is available to Monmouth County, spreading the word,” she mentioned are good ways to help women become more aware, “people can train to become advocates should they be dedicated.”

180NJ is an organization that offers a wide variety of programs that can help women get involved and bring the issue of DV to the forefront.  Offering resources like a communal living space known as their safe house, a hotline, children’s programs like Amanda’s Easel, family court assistance and more, Lee says it’s important that people understand the process is tough. ‘They really need guidance and support,’ she said ‘there are some abusers that will respect the law and others that just look at it as a piece of paper’ when referring to a court order. The process can be terrifying.

Children’s programs like Amanda’s Easel are so pertinent to the community.  Lee says that the programs are opportunities for the kids to take what they see happening to their parents and turn it into a learning experience. In this program the children get play therapy, ‘focusing on healthy relationships and how kids can learn how to handle a range of big emotions and conflicts that come with being exposed to abuse’ said Lee, ‘with the hopes that when they become older they don’t consider the same pattern.’

Lee also made it clear that sometimes an aggressor or abuser can show violence toward a pregnant woman more often, making them high risk.  Often times there can be disputes over the use of birth control or a condom, giving them an off-putting threating feeling.  It is possible that this can lead to sexual abuse.

One of the problems that Lee expressed is that Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the same month as Domestic Violence Awareness Month so often DV Awareness is overshadowed.  ‘No one has to suffer domestic violence alone,’ she reiterated ‘our motto is believe that change is possible.’

‘On average, nearly 20 people per minute are victims of physical violence by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men,’ according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Let’s all stand together and help stop Domestic Violence.

For more information on the programs featured in the article, please visit them: 180NJ, Providence House.
About the Author: Healthy Woman is Monmouth and Ocean County New Jersey’s first choice for OBGYN services. Your health and well-being are their top priority. Healthy Woman stays on the cutting edge of women’s health to deliver the best that modern medicine has to offer, including robotic surgery; Essure, a permanent birth control procedure; Cryoablation services; and in-office ultrasounds.

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