INTRODUCTION:

Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, child

abuse or intimate partner violence (IPV), can be broadly defined as a pattern
of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such
as marriage, dating, family, friends or cohabitation. Domestic violence has
many forms including physical aggression (hitting, kicking, biting, shoving,
restraining, slapping, throwing objects), or threats thereof; sexual
abuse; emotional abuse; controlling or domineering; intimidation; stalking;
passive/covert abuse (e.g., neglect); and economic deprivation. Domestic
violence may or may not constitute a crime, depending on local statutes,
severity and duration of specific acts, and other variables. Alcohol
consumption and mental illness can be co-morbid with abuse, and present
additional challenges when present alongside patterns of abuse.

Awareness, perception and documentation of domestic violence differs from

country to country, and from era to era. Estimates are that only about a third
of cases of domestic violence are actually reported in the United States and
the United Kingdom. According to the Centers for Disease Control, domestic
violence is a serious, preventable public health problem affecting more than
32 million Americans, or over 10% of the U.S. population

Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, yet the problem is often
overlooked, excused, or denied. This is especially true when the abuse is
psychological, rather than physical. Emotional abuse is often minimized, yet
it can leave deep and lasting scars.

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Noticing and acknowledging the warning signs and symptoms of domestic
violence and abuse is the first step to ending it. No one should live in fear of
the person they love. If you recognize yourself or someone you know in the
following warning signs and descriptions of abuse, don’t hesitate to reach
out. There is help available.

HISTORY:

The first attested use of the expression "domestic violence" in a modern

context, meaning "spouse abuse, violence in the home" was in 1977.
Violence between spouses has long been considered a serious problem. The
United States has a lengthy history of legal precedent condemning spousal
abuse. In 1879, law scholar Nicholas St. John Green wrote, "The cases in the
American courts are uniform against the right of the husband to use any
[physical] chastisement, moderate or otherwise, toward the wife, for any
purpose." Green also cites the 1641 Body of Liberties of the Massachusetts
Bay colonists -— one of the first legal documents in North American history
—- as an early de jure condemnation of violence by either spouse.

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Popular emphasis has tended to be on women as the victims of domestic
violence. Many studies show that women suffer greater rates of injury due to
domestic violence, and some studies show that women suffer higher rates of
assault. Yet, other studies show that while men tend to inflict injury at higher
rates, the majority of domestic violence overall is reciprocal. However,
the National Institute of Justice points out that the "studies that find that
women abuse men equally or even more than men abuse women are based
on data compiled through the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS), a survey tool
developed in the 1970s. CTS may not be appropriate for intimate partner
violence research because it does not measure control, coercion, or the
motives for conflict tactics; it also leaves out sexual assault and violence by
ex-spouses or partners and does not determine who initiated the violence."
Moreover, "national surveys supported by NIJ, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, and Bureau of Justice Statistics that examine more serious
assaults do not support the conclusion of similar rates of male and female
spousal assaults. These surveys are conducted within a safety or crime
context and clearly find more partner abuse by men against women."
Michael Flood and Michael Kimmel separately argue that the men's rights
movement "tells the lie that domestic violence is gender-equal or gender-
neutral – that men and women assault each other at equal rates and with
equal effects."

Modern attention to domestic violence began in the women's movement of

the 1970s, particularly within feminism and women's rights, as concern
about wives being beaten by their husbands gained attention. Only since the
late 1970s, and particularly in the masculism and men's movements of the
1990s, has the problem of domestic violence against men gained any
significant attention. Estimates show that 248 of every 1,000 females and 76
of every 1,000 males are victims of physical assault and/or rape committed
by their spouses. A 1997 report says significantly more men than women do
not disclose the identity of their attacker. There is no evidence however that

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male victims are more likely to under-report than female victims. In fact,
men tend to over-estimate their partner’s violence and under-estimate their
own, while women do the reverse (Kimmel 2001, 10-11). A 2009 study
showed that there was greater acceptance for abuse perpetrated by females
than by males. Several studies have confirmed that women’s physical
violence towards intimate male partners is often in self-defense (DeKeseredy
et al. 1997; Hamberger et al. 1994; Swan & Snow 2002, 301; Muelleman &
Burgess 1998, 866).

DEFINITION:

The term "intimate partner violence" (IPV) is often used synonymously with
domestic abuse/domestic violence. Family violence is a broader definition,
often used to include child abuse, elder abuse, and other violent acts
between family members. Wife abuse, wife beating, and battering are
descriptive terms that have lost popularity recently for at least two reasons:

Acknowledgment that many victims are not actually married to the abuser,
but rather cohabiting or other arrangement.

Abuse can take other forms than physical abuse and males are often victims
of violence as well. Other forms of abuse may be constantly occurring, while
physical abuse happens occasionally.

These other forms of abuse have the potential to lead to mental illness, self-
harm, and even attempts at suicide.

AMARTYA SEN calculated that more than 100 million females and follow up
studies showed that between 60 million and 107 million women are missing
worldwide.

The U. S. Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) defines domestic

violence as a "pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by
one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate
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partner". The definition adds that domestic violence "can happen to anyone
regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender", and that it
can take many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional,
economic, and psychological abuse.

The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in the United
Kingdom in its "Domestic Violence Policy" uses domestic violence to refer to
a range of violent and abusive behaviours, defining it as:

Patterns of behaviour characterised by the misuse of power and control by

one person over another who are or have been in an intimate relationship. It
can occur in mixed gender relationships and same gender relationships and
has profound consequences for the lives of children, individuals, families and
communities. It may be physical, sexual, emotional and/or psychological. The
latter may include intimidation, harassment, damage to property, threats
and financial abuse.

In Spain, the 2004 Measures of Integral Protection Measures against Gender

Violence defined gender violence as a violence that is directed at women for
the very fact of being women. The law acknowledges that aggressions
against women have a particular incidence in the reality of Spain and that
gender violence stands as the most brutal symbol of the inequality persisting
in Spain. According to the law, women are considered by their attackers as
lacking the basic rights of freedom, respect, and power of decision.

UNDERSTANDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ABUSE:

Domestic abuse, also known asspousal abuse, occurs when one person in an
intimate relationship or marriage tries to dominate and control the other
person. Domestic abuse that includes physical violence is called domestic
violence.

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Domestic violence and abuse are used for one purpose and one purpose
only: to gain and maintain total control over you. An abuser doesn’t “play
fair.” Abusers use fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and
keep you under his or her thumb. Your abuser may also threaten you, hurt
you, or hurt those around you.

Domestic violence and abuse does not discriminate. It happens among

heterosexual couples and in same-sex partnerships. It occurs within all age
ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and economic levels. And while women are
more commonly victimized, men are also abused—especially verbally and
emotionally, although sometimes even physically as well. The bottom line is
that abusive behavior is never acceptable, whether it’s coming from a man,
a woman, a teenager, or an older adult. You deserve to feel valued,
respected, and safe.

RECOGNISING ABUSE IN THE FIRST STEP:

Domestic abuse often escalates from threats and verbal abuse to violence.
And while physical injury may be the most obvious danger, the emotional
and psychological consequences of domestic abuse are also severe.
Emotionally abusive relationships can destroy your self-worth, lead to
anxiety and depression, and make you feel helpless and alone. No one
should have to endure this kind of pain—and your first step to breaking free
is recognizing that your situation is abusive. Once you acknowledge the
reality of the abusive situation, then you can get the help you need.

SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP:

There are many signs of an abusive relationship. The most telling sign is fear
of your partner. If you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around your
partner—constantly watching what you say and do in order to avoid a blow-
up—chances are your relationship is unhealthy and abusive. Other signs that

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you may be in an abusive relationship include a partner who belittles you or
tries to control you, and feelings of self-loathing, helplessness, and
desperation.

To determine whether your relationship is abusive, answer the questions

below. The more “yes” answers, the more likely it is that you’re in an
abusive relationship.

Your inner thoughts and feelings

Do you:

 feel afraid of your partner much of the time?

 avoid certain topics out of fear of angering your partner?
 feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
 believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
 wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
 feel emotionally numb or helpless?
Your Partner’s Belittling Behavior
Does your partner:
 humiliate or yell at you?
 criticize you and put you down?
 treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family
to see?
 ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
 blame you for his own abusive behavior?
 see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?

Your Partner’s Violent Behavior or Threats

Does your partner:
 have a bad and unpredictable temper?
 hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
 threaten to take your children away or harm them?
 threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
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  force you to have sex?
 destroy your belongings?
Your Partner’s Controlling Behavior
Does your partner:

 act excessively jealous and possessive?

 control where you go or what you do?

 keep you from seeing your friends or family?

 limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?
 constantly check up on you?

PHYSICAL ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:

When people talk about domestic violence, they are often referring to the
physical abuse of a spouse or intimate partner. Physical abuse is the use of
physical force against someone in a way that injures or endangers that
person. Physical assault or battering is a crime, whether it occurs inside or
outside of the family. The police have the power and authority to protect you
from physical attack.

SEXUAL ABUSE IS A FORM OF PHYSICAL ABUSE:

Any situation in which you are forced to participate in unwanted, unsafe, or

degrading sexual activity is sexual abuse. Forced sex, even by a spouse or
intimate partner with whom you also have consensual sex, is an act of
aggression and violence. Furthermore, people whose partners abuse them
physically and sexually are at a higher risk of being seriously injured or
killed.

It Is Still Abuse If . . .

 The incidents of physical abuse seem minor when compared to those

you have read about, seen on television or heard other women talk

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 about. There isn’t a “better” or “worse” form of physical abuse; you
can be severely injured as a result of being pushed, for example.

 The incidents of physical abuse have only occurred one or two times in
the relationship.Studies indicate that if your spouse/partner has injured
you once, it is likely he will continue to physically assault you.

 The physical assaults stopped when you became passive and gave up
your right to express yourself as you desire, to move about freely and
see others, and to make decisions. It is not a victory if you have to give
up your rights as a person and a partner in exchange for not being
assaulted!

 There has not been any physical violence. Many women are
emotionally and verbally assaulted. This can be as equally frightening
and is often more confusing to try to understand.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE:

When people think of domestic abuse, they often picture battered women
who have been physically assaulted. But not all abusive relationships involve
violence. Just because you’re not battered and bruised doesn’t mean you’re
not being abused. Many men and women suffer from emotional abuse, which
is no less destructive. Unfortunately, emotional abuse is often minimized or
overlooked—even by the person being abused.

Understanding emotional abuse: The aim of emotional abuse is to chip

away at your feelings of self-worth and independence. If you’re the victim of
emotional abuse, you may feel that there is no way out of the relationship or
that without your abusive partner you have nothing.

Emotional abuse includes verbal abuse such as yelling, name-calling,

blaming, and shaming. Isolation, intimidation, and controlling behavior also
fall under emotional abuse. Additionally, abusers who use emotional or

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psychological abuse often throw in threats of physical violence or other
repercussions if you don’t do what they want.

You may think that physical abuse is far worse than emotional abuse, since
physical violence can send you to the hospital and leave you with scars. But,
the scars of emotional abuse are very real, and they run deep. In fact,
emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse—sometimes
even more so.

Economic or financial abuse - A subtle form of emotional abuse:

Remember, an abuser’s goal is to control you, and he or she will frequently

use money to do so.Economic or financial abuse includes:

 Rigidly controlling your finances.

 Withholding money or credit cards.

 Making you account for every penny you spend.

 Withholding basic necessities (food, clothes, medications, shelter).

 Restricting you to an allowance.

 Preventing you from working or choosing your own career.

 Sabotaging your job (making you miss work, calling constantly)

 Stealing from you or taking your money.

VIOLENT AND ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR IS THE ABUSER’S CHOICE:

Despite what many people believe, domestic violence and abuse is not due
to the abuser’s loss of control over his or her behavior. In fact, abusive
behavior and violence is a deliberate choice made by the abuser in order to
control you.

Abusers use a variety of tactics:

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Dominance – Abusive individuals need to feel in charge of the
relationship. They will make decisions for you and the family, tell you what
to do, and expect you to obey without question. Your abuser may treat you
like a servant, child, or even as his or her possession.
Humiliation – An abuser will do everything he or she can to make you feel
bad about yourself or defective in some way. After all, if you believe you're
worthless and that no one else will want you, you're less likely to leave.
Insults, name-calling, shaming, and public put-downs are all weapons of
abuse designed to erode your self-esteem and make you feel powerless.
Isolation – In order to increase your dependence on him or her, an
abusive partner will cut you off from the outside world. He or she may keep
you from seeing family or friends, or even prevent you from going to work
or school. You may have to ask permission to do anything, go anywhere, or
see anyone.
Threats – Abusers commonly use threats to keep their partners from
leaving or to scare them into dropping charges. Your abuser may threaten
to hurt or kill you, your children, other family members, or even pets. He or
she may also threaten to commit suicide, file false charges against you, or
report you to child services.
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Intimidation – Your abuser may use a variety of intimidation tactics
designed to scare you into submission. Such tactics include making
threatening looks or gestures, smashing things in front of you, destroying
property, hurting your pets, or putting weapons on display. The clear
message is that if you don't obey, there will be violent consequences.
Denial and blame – Abusers are very good at making excuses for the
inexcusable. They will blame their abusive and violent behavior on a bad
childhood, a bad day, and even on the victims of their abuse. Your abusive
partner may minimize the abuse or deny that it occurred. He or she will
commonly shift the responsibility on to you: Somehow, his or her violent
and abusive behavior is your fault.

ABUSERS ARE ABLE TO CONTROL THEIR BEHAVIOR:

Abusers pick and choose whom to abuse: They don’t insult, threaten,
or assault everyone in their life who gives them grief. Usually, they save
their abuse for the people closest to them, the ones they claim to love.
Abusers carefully choose when and where to abuse: They control
themselves until no one else is around to see their abusive behavior. They
may act like everything is fine in public, but lash out instantly as soon as
you’re alone.
Abusers are able to stop their abusive behavior when it benefits
them: Most abusers are not out of control. In fact, they’re able to
immediately stop their abusive behavior when it’s to their advantage to do
so (for example, when the police show up or their boss calls).
Violent abusers usually direct their blows where they won’t show:
Rather than acting out in a mindless rage, many physically violent abusers
carefully aim their kicks and punches where the bruises and marks won’t
show.
THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE IN DOMESTIC ABUSE:

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Domestic abuse falls in to a common pattern or cycle of violence:
Abuse – Your abusive partner lashes out with aggressive, belittling, or
violent behavior. The abuse is a power play designed to show you "who is
boss."
Guilt – After abusing you, your partner feels guilt, but not over what he's
done. He’s more worried about the possibility of being caught and facing
consequences for his abusive behavior.
Excuses – Your abuser rationalizes what he or she has done. The person
may come up with a string of excuses or blame you for theabusive
behavior—anything to avoid taking responsibility.
"Normal" behavior — The abuser does everything he can to regain
control and keep the victim in the relationship. He may act as if nothing
has happened, or he may turn on the charm. This peaceful honeymoon
phase may give the victim hope that the abuser has really changed this
time.
Fantasy and planning – Your abuser begins to fantasize about abusing
you again. He spends a lot of time thinking about what you’ve done wrong
and how he'll make you pay. Then he makes a plan for turning the fantasy
of abuse into reality.
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Set-up – Your abuser sets you up and puts his plan in motion, creating a
situation where he can justify abusing you.
Your abuser’s apologies and loving gestures in between the episodes of
abuse can make it difficult to leave. He may make you believe that you are
the only person who can help him, that things will be different this time, and
that he truly loves you. However, the dangers of staying are very real.

The Full Cycle of Domestic Violence - An Example:

A man abuses his partner. After he hits her, he experiences self-

directed guilt. He says, "I'm sorry for hurting you." What he does not say is,
"Because I might get caught." He then rationalizes his behavior by saying
that his partner is having an affair with someone. He tells her "If you weren't
such a worthless whore I wouldn't have to hit you." He then acts contrite,
reassuring her that he will not hurt her again. He then fantasizes and
reflects on past abuse and how he will hurt her again. He plans on telling
her to go to the store to get some groceries. What he withholds from her is
that she has a certain amount of time to do the shopping. When she is held
up in traffic and is a few minutes late, he feels completely justified in
assaulting her because "you're having an affair with the store clerk." He has
just set her up.

RECOGNIZING THE WARNING SIGNS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND

ABUSE:

It's impossible to know with certainty what goes on behind closed doors, but
there are some telltale signs and symptoms of emotional abuse and
domestic violence. If you witness any warning signs of abuse in a friend,
family member, or co-worker, take them very seriously.

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General warning signs of domestic abuse:

People who are being abused may:

 Seem afraid or anxious to please their partner.

 Go along with everything their partner says and does.
 Check in often with their partner to report where they are and what
they’re doing.
 Receive frequent, harassing phone calls from their partner.
 Talk about their partner’s temper, jealousy, or possessiveness.
Warning signs of physical violence:
People who are being physically abused may:

 Have frequent injuries, with the excuse of “accidents.”

 Frequently miss work, school, or social occasions, without
explanation.
 Dress in clothing designed to hide bruises or scars (e.g. wearing long
sleeves in the summer or sunglasses indoors).
Warning signs of isolation:
People who are being isolated by their abuser may:

 Be restricted from seeing family and friends.

 Rarely go out in public without their partner.
 Have limited access to money, credit cards, or the car.
The psychological warning signs of abuse:
People who are being abused may:

 Have very low self-esteem, even if they used to be confident.

 Show major personality changes (e.g. an outgoing person becomes
withdrawn).
 Be depressed, anxious, or suicidal.

Speak up if you suspect domestic violence or abuse

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If you suspect that someone you know is being abused, speak up! If you’re
hesitating—telling yourself that it’s none of your business, you might be
wrong, or the person might not want to talk about it—keep in mind that
expressing your concern will let the person know that you care and may
even save his or her life.

SUGESSION FROM NYS OFFICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC

VIOLENCE:

Do's and Don't's

Do:

Ask if something is wrong.

Express concern.

Listen and validate.

Offer help.

Support his or her decisions.

Don’t:

Wait for him or her to come to you.

Judge or blame.

Pressure him or her.

Give advice.

Place conditions on your support.

Talk to the person in private and let him or her know that you’re concerned.
Point out the things you’ve noticed that make you worried. Tell the person
that you’re there, whenever he or she feels ready to talk. Reassure the
person that you’ll keep whatever is said between the two of you, and let him
or her know that you’ll help in any way you can.
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Remember, abusers are very good at controlling and manipulating their
victims. People who have been emotionally abused or battered are
depressed, drained, scared, ashamed, and confused. They need help to get
out, yet they’ve often been isolated from their family and friends. By picking
up on the warning signs and offering support, you can help them escape an
abusive situation and begin healing.

COUNSELING FOR VICTIMS:

Due to the extent and prevalence of violence in relationships, counselors and

therapists should assess every client for domestic violence (both
experienced and perpetrated). If the clinician is seeing a couple for couple’s
counseling, this assessment should be conducted with each individual
privately during the initial interview, in order to increase the victim’s sense
of safety in disclosing DV in the relationship. In addition to determining
whether DV is present, counselors and therapists should also make the
distinction between situations where battering may have been a single,
isolated incident or an ongoing pattern of control. The therapist must,
however, consider that domestic violence may be present even when there
has been only a single physical incident as emotional/verbal, economic, and
sexual abuse may be more insidious.

Another important issue in assessing clients for DV lies in differing definitions

of abuse – the therapist’s definition may differ from that of the client, and
paying close attention to the way the client describes their experiences is
crucial in developing effective treatment plans. The therapist must
determine if it is in the best interest of the client to explain that some
behaviors (such as emotional abuse) are considered domestic violence, even
if she did not previously consider them as such.

If it becomes apparent to the therapist that domestic violence is taking place

in a client’s relationship, there are several statements the clinician can make
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that have been shown to be effective in rapport-building and immediate
crisis intervention with clients. Firstly, it is essential that the therapist believe
the victim’s story and validate their feelings. It is recommended that the
therapist acknowledge them for taking a risk in disclosing this information,
and assure them that any ambivalent feelings they may be having are
normal. The therapist should emphasize that the abuse they have
experienced is not their fault, but should keep their feelings of ambivalence
in mind and refrain from blaming their partner or telling them what to do. It
is unreasonable for the therapist to expect that a victim will leave their
perpetrator solely because they disclosed the abuse, and the therapist
should respect the victim’s autonomy and allow them to make their own
decisions regarding termination of the relationship. Finally, the therapist
must explore options with the client (such as emergency housing in shelters,
police involvement, etc.) in order to uphold their obligation to protect the
welfare of the client.

SAFETY PLANNING:

Safety planning allows the victim to plan for dangerous situations they may
encounter, and is effective regardless of their decision on whether remain
with their perpetrator. Safety planning usually begins with determining a
course of action if another acute incident occurs in the home. The victim
should be given strategies for their own safety, such as avoiding
confrontations in rooms where there is only one exit and avoiding certain
rooms that contain many potential weapons (such as kitchens, bathrooms,
etc.). The victim can then be given a list of items that they should have
available (extra money, keys, important documents) in a convenient and
hidden place, so that they are able to leave the home suddenly if they need
to. Safety planning can also include thinking of ‘code words’ the victim can
use with children in order to have the children call the police, determining

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contacts the victim may have if they needs to leave the situation, and setting
up a way to signal an emergency with a trusted neighbour.

COUNSELING FOR OFFENDERS:

The main goal for treatment for offenders of domestic violence is to minimize
the offender’s risk of future domestic violence, whether within the same
relationship or a new one. Treatment for offenders should emphasize
minimizing risk to the victim, and should be modified depending on the
offender’s history, risk of reoffending, and criminogenic needs.] The majority
of offender treatment programs are 24–36 weeks in length and are
conducted in a group setting with groups not exceeding 12
participants. Groups are also standardized to be gender specific (male
offenders only or female offenders only). It has been demonstrated that
domestic violence offenders maintain a socially acceptable façade to hide
abusive behavior, and therefore accountability is the recommended focus of
offender treatment programs. Anger management alone has not been shown
to be effective in treating domestic violence offenders, as domestic violence
is based on power and control and not on problems with regulating anger
responses. Anger management is recommended as a part of an offender
treatment curriculum that is based on accountability, along with topics such
as recognizing abusive patterns of behavior and re-framing communication
skills. Any corresponding problems should also be addressed as part of
domestic violence offender treatment, such as problems with substance
abuse or other mental illness.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:

Domestic violence occurs across the world, in various cultures, and affects
people across society, irrespective of economic status, and gender. Family

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conflict studies find approximately equal rates of both verbal and physical
assault by women and men in heterosexual relationships.

In the United States, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics in 1995

women reported a six times greater rate of intimate partner violence than
men. The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) indicates that in 1998
about 876,340 violent crimes were committed in the U.S. against women by
their current or former spouses, or boyfriends. However studies have found
that men are much less likely to report victimization in these situations.

Fighting the prevalence of domestic violence in Kashmir has

brought Hindu and Muslim activists together. Additionally, aspects of Islamic
law have been criticized for promoting domestic violence, One study found
that half of Palestinian women have been the victims of domestic violence.
80% of women surveyed in rural Egypt said that beatings were common and
often justified, particularly if the woman refused to have sex with her
husband. The Human Rights Watch found that up to 90% of women
in Pakistan were subject to verbal, sexual, emotional or physical abuse,
within their own homes. Up to two-thirds of women in certain communities
in Nigeria's Lagos State say they are victims to domestic violence.

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Statistics published in 2004, show that the rate of domestic violence
victimisation for Indigenous women in Australia may be 40 times the rate for
non-Indigenous women.

A 2006 study showed that women in the United States commit domestic
violence against men 33% more often than men do against women, and
women commit severe domestic violence twice as often as men.

The rate of minor assaults by women was 78 per 1,000 couples, compared
with a rate for men of 72 per 1,000. The severe assault rate was 46 per
1,000 couples for assaults by women and 50 per 1,000 for assaults by men.
Neither difference is statistically significant. Since these rates are based
exclusively on information provided by women respondents, the near-
equality in assault rates cannot be attributed to a gender bias in reporting."
Results will vary, depending on specific wording of survey questions, how the
survey is conducted, the definition of abuse or domestic violence used, the
willingness or unwillingness of victims to admit that they have been abused
and other factors.

One analysis found that "women are as physically aggressive or more

aggressive than men in their relationships with their spouses or male
partners". However, studies have shown that women are more likely to be
injured. Archer's meta-analysis found that women suffer 65% of domestic
violence injuries. A Canadian study showed that 7% of women and 6% of
men were abused by their current or former partners, but female victims of
spousal violence were more than twice as likely to be injured as male
victims, three times more likely to fear for their life, twice as likely to be
stalked, and twice as likely to experience more than ten incidents of
violence. However, Strauss notes that Canadian studies on domestic
violence have simply excluded questions that ask men about being
victimized by their wives. Some studies show that lesbian relationships have
similar levels of violence as heterosexual relationships, while other studies

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report that lesbian relationships exhibit substantially higher rates of physical
aggression.

CONCLUSION:

Having looked at a sensitive topic of “Domestic Violence for women”, we

can sense the importance of discussion of such a topic. The varying causes
which can spark the violence within the four walls of homes need to be
analysed carefully and a wise study of the factors causing the violence may
prevent a family to suffer from the menace of domestic violence. The
domestic violence may have a far wider and deeper impact in real life than
what has been covered in this essay. What is required is to see closely the
association of the factors provoking a particular form of domestic violence. If
these factors can be controlled then more than one form of violence can be
prevented from harming an individual or our society and India would be a
much better place to live in.

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SOME OF THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:

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