*CONTENT WARNING: This story contains sensitive and or triggering topics related to domestic abuse that may be unsuitable for some readers.
Intimate partner violence, or domestic violence, is a public health issue in the United States. This violence includes physical assault, intimidation, sexual assault, battery, psychological violence, and emotional abuse. It affects everyone regardless of socioeconomic status, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, race, or religion. Physical violence is often combined with emotional abuse and controlling behavior as part of a routine pattern of dominance and control over a partner. The effects of domestic violence can include physical harm, psychological harm, and even death. The resulting impact can last a lifetime and across generations.
More than one in three Latina women report experiencing domestic violence in their lifetime. According to the CDC, a whopping 34.4% of Latinas fall into that category. Unfortunately, most of this violence goes unreported, especially among undocumented people afraid of deportation.
Through a pattern of abuse, the physical abuser seeks to control and harm a partner by hitting, pinching, pushing, slapping, pulling hair, biting, kicking, burning, or choking. These tactics could also include using a weapon to harm or threaten, locking oneself in or out of the home, or denying medical treatment.
As part of psychological abuse, the abuser plays mind games, isolates the victim from family, friends, school, or work, threatens self-harm, causes harm to children, the abusee’s significant other, pets, and property, and makes them afraid. As part of psychological abuse, the abuser plays mind games, isolates the victim from family, friends, school, or work, threatens self-harm, causes harm to children, the abusee’s significant other, pets, and property, and makes them afraid.
Stalking, according to the Office on Women’s Health (OASH), is any unwanted repeated contact that makes you feel unsafe or threatened. MOST stalkers are known to the victim, and they engage in cyber stalking using the internet, text messages, emails, and mobile phones. This behavior can escalate to violence. In economic abuse, the abuser has total control over financial resources, withholds funds from the victim, and prevents the victim from working. The victim is hence totally reliant on the abuser.
Sexual Abuse. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) states that intimate partners that are violent toward their partner also commit sexual violence and are likely to injure or kill their targets. The injured endure long-term physical and mental health complications. Any sexual contact that happens without your permission is sexual violence, also known as sexual abuse, sexual assault, and rape.
