By the time you finish reading this article, thousands of women across the world would have been victims of domestic violence – just in this short amount of time.
One of the most horrific, yet unaddressed problems of the world is domestic violence. According to a report by WHO, 94% victims of domestic violence are women, and women worldwide are more likely to die by the hand of an intimate partner rather than by disease or accidents. Yes!
We have collected a list of things women everywhere should know about domestic violence, to help them recognize the problems, and seek help when needed:
#1. More than 1 billion women worldwide get abused every year
According to NCADV, 10 million women and men in USA face physical abuse in a relationship every year. And this is just for US, the worldwide estimate takes to about 300 million women and men getting abused annually.
And top of that, these are just the cases which are reported and registered in police stations and courts. According to a study by MIC, only 30% of the cases are reported while 70% cases go unreported. That puts the number of physically abused people to 1 billion every year!
#2. Abuse is not always physical
Violence is not always physical – at times it takes many different forms such as sexual assault, emotional abuse, abandoning, coercion, power play, threatening, manipulation, mind games, gaslighting, financial abuse by taking away your money or not providing sustenance.
#4. Abuse can happen in dating as well
What might start as a pang of jealousy or possessiveness, can soon turn into something toxic and abusive. During dating, men often refuse to treat their women partners as equals, and seek to take control of their lives. When women refuse to budge, men engage in violence and abuse and manipulation.
According to abuse prevention activists, women of ages 17-24 are most vulnerable to such atrocities as they are often dating older men who are usually more patriarchal and violent.
#5. Men are victims too
Even though 94% victims of domestic abuse are women, there are a few men as well who face violence at the hands of their partner. Men often don’t speak up about it and don’t seek help because society further shames and embarrasses them for being “weak” and “getting beat up by a woman.”
#6. Queer relationships are not free of abuse, either
Queer relationships are obviously more progressive and the partners are more or less equal in the relationship. But even in queer relationships, abuse can happen.
A partner might threaten to “out” their partner, cut off their support system by manipulating their friends, use their gender identity to play victim and justify the abuse, sometimes throw in fancy buzzwords to justify their toxic behaviour.
#7. Friends and family have the most important role
#8. Understand that leaving is not easy but it can be done
Many people assume that someone in an abusive relationship should just walk out and leave, and it’s that easy. Truth is much more complex than that. Most women who leave an abusive relationship abruptly, are the ones who get into more danger since the abusive man can get even more violent and vindictive – and often engages in rapes, acid attacks, or even murder to take revenge.
Many women in abusive relationships are not financially independent, or don’t get support from their families, and their support system consists of other women who are also in similar situations of abuse – so women can’t just leave and venture out into the world without having any safety net at all.
#9. Please understand that it’s not your fault
Our social norms of “men will be men” often goes beyond harmless chivalry and takes a trip into dangerous territory. Social norms often say that men are naturally aggressive and women shouldn’t do anything to anger men – this line of thought places the blame on women for their own abuse and trauma at the hands of men.
#10. Red flags are not always noticeable
#11. Always put yourself and your self-care first
#12. Reach out for help, and help others when you can
Don’t hesitate to reach out to family, friends, your therapist, or anyone you trust – and ask for help. Share your feelings instead of bottling them up, and try to leave when you think it’s safe and you can afford to do so.
If someone reaches out to you for sharing their problems or asking for help, be there for them if you can. Being considerate and caring for each other is the only way out, and it helps in healing from the trauma after you have escaped the abusive relationship.
Featured Image Courtesy: BBC
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