BACKGROUNDER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2011 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Meisha Thigpen Public Relations Intern, Connections for Abused Women & Their Children XXX.XXX.XXXX Meisha.thigpen@gmail.com Domestic Violence Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors carried out by one or both partners in an intimate relationship. This type of abuse may be physical, emotional, verbal or sexual in nature and results from one partner s need to maintain power and control over the other. The struggle for control often begins early in the relationship and is initially quite subtle. One partner may originally request that the other refrain from spending time with friends, but eventually demands isolation and full possession of the abused partner. Abuse may also begin subtlety with verbal attacks or emotional sabotage and end in physical or sexual harm. Victims of domestic violence are often misunderstood because people assume they can walk away from their abusers. The situation is rarely that simple as many victims have children with the abuser or have become financially dependent on the person. Many abusers isolate their victims from family and friends or use emotional abuse to make the victim believe he or she is incapable of surviving on his or her own. Furthermore, abusers may threaten to fatally harm the victim s loved ones or the couple s children if the victim attempts to leave. Currently, 15.5 million households experience domestic violence in the United States each year. In the city of Chicago, the number stands at 19,000. The issue crosses all racial, generational, sexual orientation, religious and socio-economic lines and forces long term negative effects on communities. ###