SAFETY ALERT – If you are in danger, call or text 911.
What Is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is behavior that harms a current or former spouse or dating partner. It also impacts family members, children, and other people in the home. Domestic violence can happen between people of any gender or sexuality. Examples of domestic violence include:
- Beating, hitting, kicking, or shoving you, your children, or your pets.
- Putting pressure on your neck or chest to make it hard for you to breathe.
- Threatening you with physical force or with a weapon.
- Playing mind games, putting you down, or saying mean words.
- Taking away your freedom or privacy or keeping you from spending time with your family or friends.
- Trying to control your access to money or jobs.
- Using religion, culture, or immigration status to threaten you.
- Trying to make you do sexual activities against your will.
- Keeping you from using birth control or forcing you to keep or end your pregnancy.
- Following you or showing up uninvited at places or events where you are.
- Misgendering you or calling you by the wrong name or pronouns as if your identity doesn’t matter.
- Threatening to tell people about your sexuality or gender identity.
Domestic violence is rooted in gender bias, prejudice, and racism. It has negative impacts on communities and society. People define and respond to domestic violence in many ways based on culture, values, and other factors. Some people in our society have been oppressed in ways we must consider as we respond to and help those impacted by domestic violence.
- 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence from an intimate partner. This includes slapping, pushing, and shoving.
- In the United States, nearly 20 people every minute are physically abused by an intimate partner; that’s more than 10 million women and men a year.
- 1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner, but only 34% of people injured by partners receive medical care for those injuries.
- 1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point they felt fearful or believed they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed.
- On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.
- Women between the ages of 18-24 are the most common victims of abuse by an intimate partner.
- Victims of intimate partner violence are at an increased risk of developing chronic pain, neurological disorders, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), high blood pressure, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. These victims are also at higher risk for developing addictions to alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs.
- The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.
It is important to remember that you do not deserve abuse. You are not to blame. You are not alone, and help is available.
- Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline: 703-360-7273
- Anger & Domestic Abuse Prevention & Treatment (ADAPT)
- Advocacy Services
- Counseling Services
- Crisis Intervention, Emotional Support, and Options Counseling
- Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC)
- Housing and Economic Support
- Safety Planning
- Shelter