Domestic Violence

Work Shop For Domestic Violence

 

 

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence has been around since time has been recorded. In the Old Testament in Abraham’s days Polygamy was common, but so was domestic violence. The definition in the Hebrew language was mental, physical, or sexual abuse against your partner. Later when Moses was in the wilderness 40 years the name to changed to fornication buy the same domestic violence was occurring. Men were simply kicking their spouse out of the tents. In fact that is where God allowed the word Divorce, but not before certain witnesses of the circumstances. If women would look at her husband the wrong way they were being kicked out of the tents. God hates divorce, but allows divorce, which actually slowed down divorce in Moses’s day.

 In today’s society domestic violence occurs between intimate partners, in both current and former romantic relationships, whether cohabiting or not, regardless of marital status or sexual orientation of the couple. Actually no difference than in the Old Testament. Women have always been more likely the victims of partner abuse than men in their  relationships. Domestic violence cab be caused by one or the other controlling , verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and economic situations as we are having a recession today, tomorrow may be a shortage of jobs.

How common is it?

A public Study, “A study published by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health undertook the task of documenting the international prevalence of domestic violence. In roughly 50 population-based surveys from around the world, the Center for Health and Gender Equity found:”

  • “1 in every 3 women worldwide has been beaten, raped, or otherwise physically abused.
  • between 10% and 50% of women report having been physically assaulted by an intimate male partner at some point in their lives.
  • These are not isolated events, however; 60% of the women sampled had been repeatedly abused.
  • physical violence was often combined with psychological and sexual abuse in one-third to over one-half of the cases. (Heise, Ellsberg & Goettemoeller, 1999). “

 

Morbidity attributed to interpersonal violence is appallingly high: “Documented Statistics below are recorded.”

  • “An estimated 4 million women per year seriously assaulted by an intimate partner during an average year (American Psychological Association, 1996).”
  • Mostly woman of domestic violence suffer broken bones, bruises, miscarriages, still births, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, paralysis, deafness, and blindness from the abuse endured. The mental abuse can turn against the man, that  person who may have been a humble quite gentleman can over the years become hardened, mean,  destructive abusive , so it is important that counseling occurs to determine who really is the root of this violence in a family.
  • ” Domestic violence injuries result in 21,000 hospitalizations, 99,800 inpatient treatment days, 28,700 emergency room visits, and 39,000 medical office visits (Loring & Smith, 1994). “

 

Mortality of intimate abuse is even more distressing:

  • “In 1994, over 1300 women were murdered by their husbands or boyfriends (U.S. Department of Justice, 1995).
  • 6 out of every 10 female murder victims in America are killed by someone they know—about half of them by a spouse or an intimate (Kellerman & Mercy, 1992).
  • Among all female murder victims in 1997, 29% were killed by husbands or boyfriends (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1997). “

 

Domestic violence in the gay/lesbian community

  • “half a million gay men are battered annually, according to conservative estimates (Island & Lettelier, 1991).
  • the severity and prevalence of abuse among lesbians mirrors that in heterosexual relationships (Coleman, 1997). “

 

Domestic violence affects all of society, not just the victims

 

Costs to society from domestic violence are phenomenal:

  • “total medical costs for treatment of injuries directly attributable to domestic violence exceeds $44 million (Loring and Smith, 1994).
  • Domestic violence is a major cause of homelessness: 50% of homeless women and children in one county were fleeing their abusive homes (Burstein & Woodsmall, 1987).
  • Lifetime costs paid by society for assault victims is estimated at $96 billion. (Miller, Cohen & Rossman, 1993). “

 

Domestic violence costs employers, too:

  • “estimates state average long-term productivity losses at $476 per victim for each physical assault.
  • Workplace productivity losses per homicide average $610,000. (Miller, Cohen & Rossman, 1993).
  • Employers can be found liable for negligence if they do not take proactive steps to protect the victim of domestic violence as well as the co-workers who are endangered if the perpetrator comes to the work site “

 

What can you do to help a victim of domestic violence?

 

If you see someone being abused,

Contact the proper authorities, if you do not know who to contact call 911 and report what you are seeing and know.

If someone you care about  is a victim of domestic violence,

Hopefully after this seminar you will have enough information to immediately pass on to the victim. Places they can go for help. Stay out of the triangle, the results of this happening can be tragic.

Just as in the Old Testament times abuse could be physical, mental, or sexual, the same is occurring today. Directing folks to Christian counseling, a good bible driven church, and of course the law enforcement field is a must.