Introduction Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or domestic violence (DV) reportedly affects more than 5 million Americans each year (Goodley & Fowler, 2006). IPV is the most common cause of nonfatal injury to women it the United States (U.S.). It is an ongoing issue that was first widely recognized as a major societal concern in the 1970’s (Nicholls &Hamel 2015). It is a significant problem with critical consequences for an individuals overall health and well-being. IPV not only has acute effects but lifelong implications as well. It is not limited to one group but crosses all barriers, it has an effect on both genders, people of all ages, all races, all cultures, all educational levels and all socio-economical backgrounds. Although, IPV affects both genders, this paper will focus primarily on women. It will seek to examine the repercussions of IPV on the victim’s health as well as children exposed to IPV. This topic is important to discuss in order to reduce the occurrence of IPV and to be able to better support victims of IPV. It is not a problem that can be solved overnight or with one specific intervention, but must be addressed through a collaborative effort from individuals within a community. Definition IPV is a term that describes any physical, sexual, or psychological harm committed by a current or former partner or spouse. IPV is used as an effort to control an intimate partner. This partner may be a spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, a sexual partner or someone
Domestic abuse in the United States is a large-scale and complex social and health problem. The home is the most violent setting in America today (Lay, 1994). Sadly enough, the majority of people who are murdered are not likely killed by a stranger during a hold-up or similar crime but are killed by someone they know. Not surprisingly, the Center for Disease Control and prevention has identified interpersonal violence as a major public health problem (Velson-Friedrich, 1994). Current estimates suggest that three to four million women are the victims of physical abuse by their intimate partners (Harris & Cook, 1994). According to the FBI, some form of domestic violence occurs in half of the homes in the United States at least once a
Domestic violence, alternatively referred to as Intimate Partner Violence, is defined by the Department of Justice 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 partner.” While domestic violence is commonly thought of as only physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence can also be emotional, economic, or psychological. Domestic violence has remained constant in society throughout history, even though over time society’s response to the issue has changed. While domestic violence affects everyone regardless of race, gender, age, etc. it is estimated that approximately 90% of all victims are women. For the purpose of this paper, I will be focusing on
Domestic violence exists everywhere and affects all people regardless of socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, sex, ethnicity, or religion. Most times physical violence is accompanied by emotional abuse and controlling behaviors. The result of domestic violence includes physical injury, psychological issues, and death. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) occurs in 1 of 4 women in the United States and can be correlated with a loss of emotional, social, physical and mental health. Intimate Partner Violence is an issue that does not receive a lot of recognition and is overlooked majority of the time. There is a lot of information on women in intimate partner violence relationships that explains how it affects women physically, mentally, and socially.
“Every year, in the United States there are over 3 million incidents of reported domestic violence. Every year, 4,000 victims of domestic violence are killed.” (Domestic Violence: Disturbing Facts about Domestic Violence). Domestic violence is a crime that is not just committed in the United States, but worldwide. This crime is committed every day, every hour, every minute, and every second. Anybody can be a victim or the abuser. This can happen to any child, man or woman. This is a horrific crime. Women are more likely to be the victim in domestic violence than men. “Forty-five percent of all violent attacks against female victims 12 years old and older by multiple
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.) defines intimate partner violence (IPV) as a “serious, preventable public health problem that affects millions of Americans” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d., p. 1). Through the group discussions we have had in class I have learned that IPV is not a “one fit all” approach, the violence occurs in different levels of severity and frequency. There are four
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pattern of aggressive behavior and coercive behavior that can include physical injury, psychological abuse, sexual assault, progressive isolation, stalking, and intimidation which may take many forms. IPV is a common and significant public health problem that is life threatening and preventable. It affects millions of women regardless of race, ethnicity, age, education, socioeconomic class, or sexual orientation. One in three women in the United States has experienced some form of IPV in their lifetime. (1)
Intimate partner violence can affect many individuals who are victims of abuse, and those who witness the abuse, especially children. No individual should fall victim of physical, psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse from a current or former partner. On account of intimate partner violence, there should be awareness to others that things need to be done to put an end to abuse caused to women. The act of bringing awareness is needed, because it would “target community attitudes about IPV, increase opportunities for victim assistance through direct and indirect services, and increase accountability for perpetrators” (Klevens, Baker, Shelly, & Ingram, 2008, pg. 347). Women who are victims of intimate partner violence deserve all the help
Domestic Violence has drastically increased over the years. Violence in the home is a concern for most. The most affected victims rather it’s emotionally or physically are women. They fall into different categories: single, married, separated, or divorced. For years, people try to avoid this conversation. Women of all ages, all ethnicity, and all social level are affected by domestic violence in their homes. There are
“Domestic violence is a type of abuse by one or both partners in marriage, friends, family, dating or cohabitation” (Aziz & Mahmoud, 2010). There are many forms of abuse from verbal and emotional to physical that often escalates over time in intensity for the victim. Data from the criminal justice system, hospital patient medical records and mental health records, police reports, surveys and social services reports of thousands of women revealed that many are injured and killed as a result of violence from someone close to them. “The US 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 partner regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender” (Robertson & Murachver, 2009). Researchers and the criminal justice system have not been able to agree on a clear definition to domestic violence which can range from physical injury, stalking, verbal abuse and humiliation, denial of shelter and access to money, and intimidation through aggressive behaviors. The definition of domestic violence may vary but the results from physical injury, mental and emotional trauma, and sometimes even death can last a life time.
Most violence toward women is from a male partner, which this also affects their children. Public health has been trying to find the cause of violence on women from a male partner, which has a bad consequence for them. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common violence toward women. On national and international levels low levels of education and income correlate to domestic violence, and it has been indicated to be transmitted across generation. In European countries a widespread rate of family violence, they came from low economic living conditions, traditional gender attitudes against women, strict parenting, and general tolerance of violent behavior. Depending on how one person can deal with violent behavior will influence their
Often times changes occur when it comes to the specific acts that should be included as part of the terminology of the definition, as well as the specific relationship types that might be classified as intimate. Therefore, it is important to update the definition of IPV considering these changes. With the grounding of this definition, the CDC is able to publish consistent data on intimate partner
Domestic Violence (DV) is a critical social issue that negatively impacts not only our own culture in America but as well as all other cultures around the world. Domestic Violence is a global issue reaching across national boundaries as well as socio-economic, cultural, racial and class distinctions (Kaur & Garg 2008). Domestic Violence is a serious problem that can be seen around every society from families of both developed and underdeveloped countries and of different backgrounds. Although there are various cases of domestic violence against men, children and the elderly; women account for the majority percentage of victims of Domestic Violence. This violence can take the form of physical assault, psychological abuse, financial abuse or sexual assault (Kaur & Garg 2008). Domestic Violence is a trend that is on the rise and will continue to plague our society if nothing is done on time to address this social issue.
According to statistics found by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Every nine seconds a woman is abused by her husband or intimate partner. At least 1 in every 4 women and 1 in every 9 men have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in their lifetime. Most often the abuser is one of their own family. Domestic violence is a problem that somehow affects every one of us in this room at some time and is actually the leading cause of injury to women -- more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.
Domestic violence has adverse effects on a victim’s physical and sexual health regardless of the type of violence experienced. Studies have shown that the consequences of domestic violence can last long after the abuse is over (Ellsberg, Jansen, Heise, Watts, & Garcia-Moreno, 2008). In this regard, injuries, stress, and fear caused by domestic violence lead to chronic health conditions, such as chronic pain and gastrointestinal disorders (Campbell, 2002). Furthermore, different types of violence also have different consequences on individual well-being. Sexual abuse in particular is considered to be unfavorable for women’s physical health because of severe sexual violence or coercion (Macy, Ferron, & Crosby, 2009). Sadly, the overall magnitude
Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional or financial and many cases may never be reported. All forms of abuse cause extreme stress to the victim that can lead to lifetime difficulties. According to Sexual Violence Victimization, “Almost one-third of women experience physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime” (7). And over 80% of women have reported that they have been verbally abused by their significant other (Shorey, Zucosky, Brasfield, Febres, Cornelius, Sage, and Stuart 289- 296). Roughly 4 million women a year were found to have suffered physical abuse by their boyfriend or husband (Black, Basile, Breiding, Smith, Walters, Merrick, Chen, & Stevens). Sexual Assault is another form of domestic violence; over half of the victims that were raped indicated the abuser was a boyfriend or spouse, said in a National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence