Victims of Domestic Violence
Victims of Violence
Kishmere K. Speedwell
BSHS 302 Introduction to Human Services
Stephanie Chupein
March 30, 2010
History of Domestic Violence
According to Martin (2008) domestic violence, also referred to as family violence and intimate partner violence, involves the physical and emotional abuse acted out between intimates. This may include violence between husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, violence within gay and lesbian relationships, and violence between siblings. Domestic violence can include hitting, punching, slapping, pinching, shoving, and throwing objects at or near the victim. It is also typically associated with verbal and emotional abuse including name-calling, harassment, taunting, put-downs, and ridiculing. Sometimes emotional and verbal abuse can occur without physical abuse, but rarely does physical abuse occur without emotional or verbal abuse.
Statistics have shown the rate in which the incidence of domestic violence occurs is alarming. In 2003 alone roughly 5.3 million people were the victims of intimate partner violence in the United States, resulting in over 2 million injuries per year and about 1,300 deaths. Once considered a personal family matter, the public realized in recent generations that domestic violence affects entire communities, both fiscally as well as socially. People with a history of domestic violence report having significantly higher rates of physical health problems. Physical problems from assaults, partner rape, and the stress of living in a violent environment can lead to chronic pain, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases, gastrointestinal problems, unwanted pregnancy, miscarriage, and premature births. The estimated health costs related to domestic violence is close to $6 million per year and $1.8 billion in lost productivity including lost time from work, unemployment, and increased dependence on public aid (Martin 2008).
When dealing with this issue one has to remember that
Kishmere K. Speedwell
BSHS 302 Introduction to Human Services
Stephanie Chupein
March 30, 2010
History of Domestic Violence
According to Martin (2008) domestic violence, also referred to as family violence and intimate partner violence, involves the physical and emotional abuse acted out between intimates. This may include violence between husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, violence within gay and lesbian relationships, and violence between siblings. Domestic violence can include hitting, punching, slapping, pinching, shoving, and throwing objects at or near the victim. It is also typically associated with verbal and emotional abuse including name-calling, harassment, taunting, put-downs, and ridiculing. Sometimes emotional and verbal abuse can occur without physical abuse, but rarely does physical abuse occur without emotional or verbal abuse.
Statistics have shown the rate in which the incidence of domestic violence occurs is alarming. In 2003 alone roughly 5.3 million people were the victims of intimate partner violence in the United States, resulting in over 2 million injuries per year and about 1,300 deaths. Once considered a personal family matter, the public realized in recent generations that domestic violence affects entire communities, both fiscally as well as socially. People with a history of domestic violence report having significantly higher rates of physical health problems. Physical problems from assaults, partner rape, and the stress of living in a violent environment can lead to chronic pain, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases, gastrointestinal problems, unwanted pregnancy, miscarriage, and premature births. The estimated health costs related to domestic violence is close to $6 million per year and $1.8 billion in lost productivity including lost time from work, unemployment, and increased dependence on public aid (Martin 2008).
When dealing with this issue one has to remember that
References: Martin, M. E. (2007). Introduction to Human Services: Through the Eyes of Practice Settings, 1e. : Allyn & Bacon, Inc. A Pearson Education Company. Berrios DC, Grady D: Domestic violence-Risk factors and outcomes. West J Med 1991 Aug; 155:133-135 Davis, R. C., Lurigio, A. J., & Herman, S. (2007). Victims of crime (3rd Ed.). : Sage Publication Inc.