DOMESTIC ABUSE

BY ILSA ASIF
 DOMESTIC ABUSE:
Definition:
An incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent
behavior, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a
family member or career. It is very common. In the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women
and is perpetrated by men.
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 Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following.
Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the
• Use or threat of physical or sexual violence
• Psychological and/or emotional abuse
• Physical or sexual abuse.
• Financial or economic abuse
• Harassment and stalking
• Online or digital abuse
 Types Of Abuse
• Psychological
• Physical
• Sexual
• Economic/Financial
• Emotional
• Technological Abuse
 Characteristics of Domestic Abuse
• Scratching, biting, grabbing or spitting.
• Shoving and pushing.
• Slapping and punching.
• Throwing objects to hurt or intimidate you.
• Destroying possessions or treasured objects.
• Hurting or threatening to hurt your children and/or pets.
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• Disrupting your sleeping patterns to make you feel exhausted.
• Burning.
• Strangling.
• Attacking or threatening to attack with a weapon.
• Any threats or actual attempts to kill you.
 Gender And Domestic Abuse:
• Domestic abuse is a gendered crime which is deeply rooted in the societal inequality between
men and women. It is a form of gender-based violence, violence “directed against a woman
Because she is a women or that affects disproportionately.” (CEDAW, 1992). Women are more
likely than men to experience multiple incidents of abuse, different types of Domestic abuse
(intimate partner violence, sexual assault and stalking) and in particular sexual violence. Any
woman can experience domestic abuse regardless of race, ethnic or religious group, sexuality,
class, or disability, but some women who experience other forms of oppression and
discrimination may face further barriers to disclosing abuse and finding help. Domestic abuse
exists as part of violence against women and girls; which also includes different forms of
family violence such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation and so called “honor
crimes” that are perpetrated primarily by family members, often with multiple perpetrators.
 Impacts:
Being abused can cause a person to:
• Think they did something to deserve the abuse
• Believe they are unwanted and unworthy of love or respect
• Feel guilty or ashamed
• Feel helpless and powerless
• Feel used, controlled, or manipulated
• Be terrified of doing something that will upset their abuser
• Behave differently in order to avoid upsetting their abuser
• Have difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or participating in activities they once enjoyed