| Domestic violence is found in all societies, and cuts | | | | partner. Domestic abuse is often physical in nature, |
| across all lines of race, religion, and class. Violent acts | | | | ranging from violence or the threat of violence, |
| between family members is included under the | | | | unwanted physical contact and rape, to even murder. |
| broader definition of domestic violence, and these | | | | Violence can also include non-physical mental and |
| acts could include wife or husband beating, battering, | | | | emotional abuse which chiefly involves control of the |
| domestic abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse, and elder | | | | other person's money, social life, and sense of self |
| abuse. Domestic violence not only includes physical | | | | worth. Fear of their abuser often isolates the victim |
| violence, but can also include sexual abuse, emotional | | | | in these situations. |
| abuse, intimidation, economic deprivation, or threats | | | | Intimate partner violence (IPV), or simply domestic |
| of violence. More than 32 million Americans are | | | | abuse and violence against women, has been a major |
| affected by domestic violence. It is a preventable, | | | | focus of modern feminism, and has been attracting |
| major public health problem, according to the Centers | | | | attention since the women's movement. Everyone |
| for Disease Control or the CDC. Possibly as many as | | | | should be free from domestic violence, but this is not |
| one third of domestic violence cases in the United | | | | the case. Domestic violence should be addressed |
| States are not reflected in the official statistics, that | | | | before it even begins, although it is always difficult to |
| only encompass reported cases. | | | | talk about. The National Institute of Health provides |
| When someone tries to dominate a family member, | | | | more information about how to deal with abuse and |
| physically or not, it is considered domestic violence. | | | | violence; symptoms, prevention and screening; and |
| Though it typically refers to violence between | | | | law, policy and statistics at their website which can |
| spouses, the term can cover co-habitants and | | | | be accessed at Legal information and other resources |
| non-married intimate couples also. Domestic violence | | | | for battered women can be found at and While the |
| is defined by The United States Office on Violence | | | | challenge of getting out of a physically or |
| Against Women as a pattern of abusive behavior in | | | | psychologically abusing relationship can be daunting, |
| any relationship, that is used by one partner to gain | | | | help can be found if you know where to look. |
| or maintain power and control over another intimate | | | | |