Domestic Violence
Also known as family violence, intimate partner violence or abuse, domestic violence is the establishment of control and fear in a relationship through physical, sexual, emotional, and/or financial abuse. While physical abuse occurs in many abusive relationships, your partner doesn't have to hit you to be abusive. Domestic violence looks and feels different in every relationship, but the constant of domestic violence is one partner’s consistent efforts to maintain power and control over the other.
​
Some signs of an abusive relationship include a partner who:
- Tells you that you can never do anything right.
-
Prevents you or discourages you from seeing friends or family
-
Insults, demeans or shames you.
-
Takes your money or refuses to give you money for necessary expenses.
-
Looks at you or acts in ways that scare you.
-
Prevents you from making your own decisions.
-
Tells you that you are a bad parent or threatens to harm or take away your children.
-
Prevents you from working or attending school.
-
Destroys your property.
-
Threatens to hurt or kill your pets.
-
Intimidates you with guns, knives or other weapons.
-
Pressures you to have sex when you don’t want to or do things sexually you’re not comfortable with.
-
Pressures you to use drugs or alcohol.
While they certainly want the abuse to stop, many survivors choose to stay in abusive relationships because they do not want their relationship to end. Survivors often remain in, or return to, abusive relationships because their partners threaten to harm them and their loved ones if they attempt to leave. Commonly, people choose to leave when they become convinced that their life is at risk or that their children are in danger.
Domestic violence affects people from all walks of life, regardless of background or circumstances. It has been linked to other societal issues such as homelessness, increased suicide rates, crime, teen pregnancy, premature births, and miscarriages.
​
Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence operates a 24-hour domestic and dating violence hotline. Calling 404-688-9436 can be the first step toward a safer life. If you are in an abusive relationship, please call to speak with an advocate. If you suspect that someone you know is living in an abusive relationship, please let them know that you are concerned for their safety and encourage them to contact us. Services are free and calls are confidential.