What is Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior used by one partner to gain and maintain power and control over another.
Domestic violence does not have to mean physical violence.
Domestic violence includes ANY behavior that intimidates, manipulates, humiliates, isolates, frightens, terrorizes, coerces, threatens, blames, hurts, injures, or wounds someone.
Domestic violence is about POWER and CONTROL – the purpose is to instill fear.
Domestic Violence does not discriminate and can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender identity.
Domestic Violence crosses all borders including socioeconomic backgrounds, education levels, and geographic boundaries
Different Types of Domestic Violence
Physical Abuse
Hitting, slapping, shoving, grabbing, pinching, biting, hair-pulling, throwing objects, etc.
Emotional Abuse
Undermining an individual’s sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem. This may include, but is not limited to constant criticism, diminishing one’s abilities, name-calling, or damaging one’s relationship with his or her children.
Economic Abuse
Making or attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding one’s access to money, or forbidding one’s attendance at school or employment.
Psychological Abuse
Causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partner’s family or friends; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family, friends, or school and/or work.
Sexual Abuse
Coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact or behavior without consent. Sexual abuse includes, but is certainly not limited to marital rape, attacks on sexual parts of the body, forcing sex after physical violence has occurred, or treating one in a sexually demeaning manner.
Technological Abuse
Using technology (such as phones, computers, GPS tracking apps, social media, etc.) to control, coerce, or intimidate another person. It can involve stalking, harassment, doxing, and other forms of controlling behavior.
Hitting, slapping, shoving, grabbing, pinching, biting, hair-pulling, throwing objects, etc.
Undermining an individual’s sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem. This may include, but is not limited to constant criticism, diminishing one’s abilities, name-calling, or damaging one’s relationship with his or her children.
Making or attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding one’s access to money, or forbidding one’s attendance at school or employment.
Causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partner’s family or friends; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family, friends, or school and/or work.
Coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact or behavior without consent. Sexual abuse includes, but is certainly not limited to marital rape, attacks on sexual parts of the body, forcing sex after physical violence has occurred, or treating one in a sexually demeaning manner.
Using technology (such as phones, computers, GPS tracking apps, social media, etc.) to control, coerce, or intimidate another person. It can involve stalking, harassment, doxing, and other forms of controlling behavior.