WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
Domestic violence is always about power and control, how one person uses an intimate relationship to control their partner, former partner or family member. Domestic violence is not any single behaviour but rather a pattern of many physical, emotional, sexual, psychological or economic behaviours.
These coercive behaviours are designed to manipulate, control and dominate the partner to achieve compliance and dependence.
Domestic violence occurs across all of society, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnic or religious group, class, disability, sexuality, ability, lifestyle and geography. It can also occur in a range of relationships including heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, and in the extended family. It can include 'honour-based' violence, female genital mutilation and forced marriage. The figures show, however, that the majority of domestic violence is experienced by women and children and perpetrated by men.
Many women do not recognise that they are experiencing domestic violence, which can take many forms and may include the following behaviour(s):
- Physical abuse/threats of violence
- Verbal attacks
- Being prevented from leaving the house
- Deliberate destruction of personal possessions
- Being controlled or prevented from seeing friends or family
- Constantly being checked up on or followed
- Financial constraints
- Being prevented from starting or continuing with work or studies
- Being prevented from accessing healthcare
Whatever form it takes, domestic violence is rarely a one-off incident, it tends to increase in severity over time and continue beyond the ending of the relationship.
