When people read or hear about domestic violence, the first thing that comes to mind is visible bruises and wounded women. Domestic violence goes beyond just physical assault. It involves emotional, spiritual, financial, and sexual abuse, which may not be visible to the general public.
Moreover, some women who experience domestic violence are unaware of their reality. This could be because they grew up in a household, where abuse was normalized. This hinders a woman’s ability to recognize and steer clear of an unhealthy relationship.
1 in 4 women experiences severe domestic violence impacting the survivor’s physical and mental health. Some of the effects of domestic violence are short-term and long-term effects. This includes chronic pain, temporary or permanent disabilities, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, eating disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc.
A common myth among women in abusive relationships is that if a woman does not leave her partner, then it cannot be that bad. Financial dependency often forces women to stay in abusive relationships. Another reason can be deep-rooted cultural values and beliefs, as well as fear of judgment and negative scrutiny from family members and friends within their community. On top of that, many women, especially newcomers, are unfamiliar with the resources that support women experiencing domestic violence. DBNC wants to spread awareness on this topic and provide anyone experiencing domestic violence, with the support that they need.
TO EVERY WOMEN:
Click here to understand what are the Warning Signs Of Domestic Violence:
References:
Garg, S. (2008, April). Addressing domestic violence against women: An unfinished agenda. Addressing Domestic Violence Against Women: An Unfinished Agenda. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2784629/
Gluck, S. (2021, December 31). Effects of domestic violence, domestic abuse on women and children. HealthyPlace. Retrieved from https://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/domestic-violence/effects-of-domestic-violence-domestic-abuse-on-women-and-children
NCADV: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ncadv.org/STATISTICS
Written by:
Joan Yacoub
Published By:
