Domestic Violence

A study in Utah shows that one in every 10 women has experienced emotional or physical abuse by a partner within the last year. To narrow it down, 40% of women have been abused sometime in their lives.
This is a...HUGE thing going on that not a lot of you understand. I learned about Domestic Violence Sophomore year when I did a 5K to help prevent it. It has been a huge impact on my life ever since. What I want to get across is to all abusive relationships: GET OUT OF IT. YOu may say you're in love, but you need to get out of that relationship. Many girl's don't realize what they are getting into. You say it's over when he hits you, and you walk out and get angry. But once he buys you flowers, apologizes, does something so sweet, you forgive him and realize how much you love him. This happens..everytime. It's not always just hitting you through physical abuse!

Physical Abuse: any forceful, physical behavior which may include:

• Pushing, slapping, hitting, shoving, biting, punching, kicking, or strangulation
• Assault with a weapon
• Holding, typing down, or restraining
• Leaving partner in a dangerous place
• Refusing to obtain medical help when partner is sick or injured
• Restricting sleep or access to food and/or water.

Psychological Abuse: any verbal/nonverbal form of communication used to control a partner which may include:

• Threats of harm or suicide
• Physical and social isolation
• Extreme jealousy and possessiveness
• Intimidation
• Degradation and humiliation
• Name-calling and constant criticism, insults, and belittlement
• False accusations and blame
• Ignoring, dismissing, or ridiculing needs
• Lying, breaking promises, and destroying trust
• Driving fast and recklessly to frighten and intimidate
• Restricting access to financial resources such as checkbook, money, car keys, etc.

Sexual Abuse: any form of forced sex or sexual degradation, which may include:

• Forcing sexual behaviors when partner is particularly vulnerable (EX: ASLEEP, DRUNK, INTOXICATED, NOT FULLY CONSCIOUS, OR AFRAID TO SAY NO!!)
• Criticizing or calling partner sexually degrading names.
• Treating partner as a sex object.
• Making partner perform sexual acts against his/her will.
• Limiting access to contraceptives
• Forcing partner to watch or witness sexual acts performed.

Risk Factors!!

Woman at highest risk for domestic violence include those who:

• are between the ages of 19-29
• Have an annual family income below $10,000.
• Are with a partner who abuses alcohol or drugs.
• Have a history of family violence that may include being a victim of child abuse or witnessing the abuse of a parent or family member.

Please please please get out of this relationship. I didn't realize this before--but you can not only save your life, you can save the life of others. By sharing your story, it may allow other girl's to finally understand that they are not alone. Get out of the relationship--and learn from it.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/rihanna-speaks-chris-brown-assault/story?id=8999410

Statistics

Each year, an estimated 40,000 Utah women are physically assaulted by an intimate partner and 194,000 women are subjected to emotional abuse.

Utah ranked 16th nationally for the percentage of women killed by men in 2001, with a total of 18 murdered by males in single victim/single offender incidents

Every year, more than 1.5 million women and 834,700 men are physically assaulted and/or raped by their intimate partner in the United States.