Domestic Violence:4selfdefence
 

Defining domestic violence:

In this instance we mean domestic violence as in partner abuse, specifically physical violence between a male and female partner, most commonly where the males is violent in some way to the female, this may occur in a married, de facto or boyfriend / girlfriend relationship, However, domestic violence may also be used to refer to abuse that occurs in any relationship within households (i.e., including abuse of children, elders or siblings). We will look at abuse against women, as women are most commonly the victims.

Domestic violence is an abuse of power. It is the domination, intimidation and victimisation of one person by another by physical, sexual or emotional means within a relationship.

Types of Abuse in a domestic violence situation:

Physical abuse causing pain and injury; denial of sleep, warmth or nutrition; denial of needed medical care; sexual assault; violence to property or animals; disablement; and murder;

Verbal abuse in private or in public, designed to humiliate, degrade, demean or intimidate including the threat of physical violence;

Economic abuse including deprivation of basic necessities, seizure of income or assets, unreasonable denial of the means necessary for participation in social life;

Social abuse through isolation: control of all social activity, denial of liberty or the deliberate creation of unreasonable dependence.

It is accepted that domestic violence is very common in Australia, some cases of domestic violence goes unreported.

There are major barriers to women disclosing situations of domestic violence. Reasons given include fear, denial and disbelief, emotional bonds to their partner, commitment to marriage, hope for change, staying for the sake of the children, "normalisation" of violence, social isolation, depression, stress, and feeling that they will not be believed or that services will not be able to help.

 Conclusion:

Domestic violence is a complex pattern of behaviors that may include, in addition to physical acts of violence, sexual abuse and emotional abuse, such as social isolation and financial deprivation. Domestic violence should not be tolerated and any person that is in this situation should seek help and move away from it as soon as possible.

To seek help, phone Salvo Care Line on 1300 36 36 22