The Big Picture: Welcome to a New Year

Monday, January 3, 2011

Welcome to a New Year

Welcome to a new year. As we have done in the past, we'd like to take the next week or two to recap some Domestic Violence 101 for our newer readers. You might like to start with one of our classic DV 101 posts:

Staying and Leaving

Effects of Domestic Violence on Children

or, try searching our blog for posts labeled "DV 101".

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Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is the establishment of control and fear in a relationship through physical, sexual, emotional, and/or financial abuse. Both men and women are capable of misusing power and perpetrating violence, and male victims are often just as afraid to call the police. More resources for female survivors exist, however, because overwhelmingly women and children suffer the most severe consequences (medical, legal, social, and financial) and therefore require the most intensive interventions.

Many women choose to stay in abusive relationships because they do not want their relationship to end...just the violence. Women often remain in, or return to, abusive relationships because their partners threaten to harm them and their loved ones if they attempt to leave. Commonly, women choose to leave when they become convinced that their life is at risk, or that their children are in danger.

Domestic violence is not just a "family matter". The violence will not stop until men and women come together with a common attitude of non-tolerance. We must speak out for those who may not feel safe speaking up, and our children must learn through our words and example that violence is never justified.