Single Blog

We are in the midst of InterPersonal (aka Domestic) Violence awareness month.  If you’ve paid even part-way attention to the news or social media you can see that there is a huge problem – large numbers of men and women coming forward about sexual assault.

Are you surprised about these numbers? I am not because I’m a volunteer who works with survivors of violence and I must take courses to maintain the mandated CORE Training by the State of Florida.

We are given statistics all the time, but here’s what you really need to know:

• Every 9 seconds a woman is assaulted
• 1 in 3 Women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of physical violence by their intimate partner
• 1 in 5 men is an abuser
• 45% of rape victims were raped by an intimate partner
• Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical help
• 24-40% of police officer families experience domestic violence (in contrast to 10% of families in the general population)
• 19% involves a weapon
• The presence of a gun in a Domestic Violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%
• 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence situations each year – 90% of these are eyewitnesses
• 1 in 5 high school girls report being physically or sexually assaulted
• men who were exposed to domestic violence as children are three to four times more likely to perpetrate intimate partner violence as adults than men who did not

Those are some shocking statistics, but we can change them – we MUST change / reduce these numbers.

“We haven’t shifted the behaviors toward domestic violence that convey it’s okay to beat up your girlfriend.” (In fact, almost 1 in 5 female high school students reports being physically or sexually abused by a dating partner, The Center for Women and Families has found).

The key, Amy Sanchez of “Break the Cycle” organization, adds, is changing people’s attitudes: “People need to understand that it is everybody’s business — not just that of the cops, the judges alone. We all have an obligation to take this on.”

What types of abuse qualify: financial, emotional, verbal, physical, sexual. Someone you know is experiencing one form or more of these types of violence.

Pay attention, be aware of your circumstances and pay attention to your friends and neighbors – the violence must stop. If you are one of the victims or survivors, ask for help – I know leaving the abuser increases the possibility of a homicide – create a safety plan with the help of your local domestic violence outreach center or call the DV hotline – they can help too.

Encourage your daughters to speak up if someone has assaulted / abused / bullied them, your sons too. Let’s teach them what is acceptable behavior.

Call now if you are in a bad situation –  1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text 741741

Namaste’ 2018© Margaret Martin