By Domestic violence is prevalent across the country. There is no denying that it is one of the major health concerns for the US citizens. It’s important to take some strict actions against domestic violence. However, in order to do that, one should have clear understanding of the definition of domestic violence and different manifestations of the same.
It is unfortunate that many abusers are unaware that the kind of abuse they are inflicting on others is nothing but domestic violence. On top of that, the victims won’t be able to take actions against the abusers if they don’t realize the kind of behavior they are receiving and tolerating is kind of domestic violence.
They Need Help
The victims of domestic violence need help and support from their loved ones in addition to legal assistance from the experienced lawyers. The victims need to be rescued from domestic violence and should be taken to places where they will feel safe and comfortable. Therefore, not only the victims but people close to them should also understand how domestic violence is actually defined as well as how it manifests itself in different forms.
Types of Violence
According to the United States Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, domestic violence is defined as a kind of abusive behavior one partner inflicts on another in order to establish or maintain supremacy. Remember that such violence may happen in any relationship. Followings are different types of domestic violence:
Physical Abuse: It includes hitting, slapping, biting, battering, punching, shoving, pulling hair, cutting, pinching and burning.
Emotional Abuse: It involves undermining or deflating the victim’s self-esteem. Emotional abuse can be of different forms such as, name calling, constant criticism, humiliating the victim in front of the children, interfering with or demeaning the victim’s abilities.
Sexual Abuse: It happens when the abuser forces the victim for intercourse or sexual behavior. It often takes the form of attacking sexual body parts, physical violence or marital rape followed by forced sex, sexually humiliating the victim or telling vulgar jokes despite the victim’s protest.
Psychological Abuse: It occurs when the abuser invokes fear into the victim through intimidation, threatening to physically hurt oneself, the victim, children, family or friends of the victim or even pets, keeping the victim away from his/her children or loved ones., damaging or destroying property or threatening to do so.
Economic Abuse: It happens when the abuser creates or tries to create a situation for the victim to be financially dependent. This form of abuse often seeks to establish or maintain total control over the victim’s financial resources, prohibits the victims from accessing to funds or going to colleges or workplace.
Stalking: It involves following the victim, watching, harassing the victim, appearing at the victim’s home or work, collecting information, sending gifts, leaving messages in writing, calling over phones. Individually, there is no typical illegality in these acts but if pursued continuously, any of these will be considered ‘stalking’ crime.
Cyber stalking: It involves online action or regular emailing that might inflict substantial emotional stress on the recipient.
