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