Here are some shocking numbers: 6, 12, and 24. While this may look like a mathematical puzzle, it’s actually more puzzling to learn what these numerals mean.
24 – The number of people per minute who are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States.
12 – The millions of men and women who have been victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States.
6 – The millions of men and women who were victims of stalking annually.
Those numbers were released at the end of last year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. This report truly highlights the fact that partner violence is a major public health concern since such actions have a permanent impact on a person’s health and well being. Research has shown that long-term health problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, frequent headaches, chronic pain and insomnia, have been linked to partner violence against women. Furthermore, the CDC reports that nearly twice as many women who were victims of such violent acts reported having asthma than those who did not report such violence.
Across the nation, the rates of sexual violence continue to rise. The CDC reports that nearly 1 in 5 women has been raped at some time her life and 1 in 7 men have experienced sexual violence by an intimate partner. In addition, nearly 70 percent of female victims and almost 53 percent of male victims experienced some form of intimate partner violence for the first time before age 25. While approximately 80 percent of female victims of rape were first raped by age 25, almost one-quarter of the male victims suffered from the violent act by age 10.
In Pennsylvania, 169 fatalities occurred through domestic violence in 2010, according to the most recent report from the Pennsylvania Coalition of Domestic Violence. Between 2001 and 2010, Pennsylvania lost 1,532 women, men and children to domestic violence. According to the Coalition, that number represents about 400 more deaths than U.S. troops endured in the war in Afghanistan during the same time period.
In Crawford, only two deaths occurred from domestic violence: one in Conneautville where a man was fatally shot by his wife; the other in Titusville where a woman died of asphyxiation due to blunt force trauma to her throat performed by her boyfriend.
Those two deaths were two too many, based on the response from local agencies who work with domestic violence cases on a daily basis. According to Bruce Harlan, Executive Director of Women’s Services in Meadville, while the death toll was in the single digits last year, partner violence in Crawford County has almost doubled in the last four years. The non-profit agency has been filled to capacity for years, helping 250 children and women annually through their shelter program and maintaining a waiting list of between 20 and 30 people at any given time.
Why so many problems? What is causing the increase? While it’s hard to pinpoint just one single cause, some psychologists have suggested that the rise in such violence stems from a deepening problem within American couples. According to Dr. Sylvia Gearing, a nationally known psychologist specializing in domestic violence, “Too many modern couples replace words and negotiation with intimidation and bullying.” The action may start with a simple slap or shove, but then escalates to brutality that becomes the norm. Such inhumane treatment has led to significant acts of violence, which trigger serious health issues and possibly death. Dr. Gearing suggests that this behavior happens because of one or two potential issues within the violent person. First, the person may be controlling and considers their partner a possession, not a person. Second, the individual could be over-emotional and dependent thus feeling a need to hurt others to fill a need. One or both of these characteristics has been touted to create the domestic violence situation between a couple.
Locally, Harlan believes that a lack of funding to provide proper outreach has also contributed to the increase in partner violence. State and federal funding has decreased annually for years, leaving agencies like Women’s Services no choice but to reduce its staff, services, and outreach. Furthermore, research and surveys have suggested that the poor economic downturn has exasperated the problem. People are hurting and are turning to violence as a way to cope.
You do not have to become a victim of domestic violence. By watching for warning signs in any relationship – including husband-wife – you can protect yourself from becoming a statistic:
1. Beware of fast-paced relationships. Violent people require control and they need to establish that control quickly. Slow down and do not allow yourself to be controlled by any person.
2. Beware of your partner not taking “no” for an answer. Again, this comes down to a control issue. Stand by your response and do not let yourself be swayed.
3. Beware of other types of violence. The violence may begin with the partner destroying things that are of value to the other person such as wedding pictures, personal property, and even their pet. This type of destruction often leads to violence against their intimate partner.
Protecting yourself against domestic violence can be difficult, but it is possible. Remember, that you cannot change the other person, so do not stay in a potentially dangerous situation hoping that he or she will change. Dr. Gearing suggests three ways in which you can protect yourself:
1. Watch out for denial. Denial is your biggest liability. Do not deny that your partner is trying to control you. Do not deny what is happening. Look at the situation objectively and make sure you are not denying what may be happening.
2. Use your intuition. Dr. Gearing notes that our brains are hard-wired to protect ourselves from danger. This includes the potential for domestic violence.
3. Act fast. In possible domestic violence situations, you will have only five seconds to make a decision. If you are threatened, you will need to move quickly to get away from the violence. Never hesitate.
If you need assistance, there are many sources available for you:
· Women’s Services, Meadville, Hotline: 814-333-9766
· Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network Hotline: 800-656-HOPE
· National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE
· Women’s Services, Meadville, Business Line/Services: 814-724-4637
For more information on domestic violence, visit the following online sources:
CDC Facebook Page on Violence Prevention
www.facebook.com/vetoviolence
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network Hotline
www.rainn.org or (800) 656-HOPE
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
www.nsvrc.org
Violence Against Women Network (VAWnet)
www.vawnet.org
Prevention Connection
www.preventconnect.org
STOP IT NOW!
www.stopitnow.org
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence Widespread in the US. Retrieved February 3, 2012 from
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Understanding sexual violence fact sheet. Retrieved February 3, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/SV_Factsheet-a.pdf.
Gearing, S. (2012). Gearing up video series. Retrieved February 3, 2012 from http://gearingup.com/home.html.
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (2012). Domestic violence fatalities in Pennsylvania. Retrieved February 3, 2012 from http://www.pcadv.org/Resources/2010FatalityReportWeb.pdf.
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