Abuse occurs when people mistreat or misuse other people, showing no concern for their integrity or innate worth as individuals, and in a manner that degrades their well being. Abusers frequently are interested in controlling their victims. They use abusive behaviors to manipulate their victims into submission or compliance with their will. (http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/center_index.php?id=2)
According to domesticviolence.org every 9 seconds in the U.S. a woman is assaulted or beaten and domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women—more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. Nearly 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a breakup and everyday in the U.S., more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends. If these statistics aren't a wake up call to the seriousness of domestic violence based on frequency alone I would say to my audience that you must be living under a rock. If the emotional and physical repercussions aren't meaningful to you think about this, domestic violence victims lose nearly 8 million days of paid work per year in the U.S. alone—the equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs and the costs of intimate partner violence in the U.S. alone exceed $5.8 billion per year: $4.1 billion are for direct medical and health care services, while productivity losses acount for nearly $1.8 billion. I detest having to equate the gravity of the situation in terms of money but for some people the financial bottom line is far more motivating in terms of getting involved and working for significant change regarding the manner in which our society views and responds to abuse.
WEB RESOURCES:
A report provided by the World Health Organization which reviews the economic effects of intertersonal violence. The report maintains that "Available studies showed that preventive interventions to stop interpersonal violence occurring cost less than the money that they save, in some cases by several orders of magnitude" which reinforces my personal belief that our society needs to start prevention efforts early to help provide a solid foundation for establishing values, forming attitudes, and providing education regarding DV and its far reaching impact on our nation.
Helpful and empathetic information available through the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website for those who are providing support for an abuse victim
JOURNAL RESOURCE:
Presents findings for the estimated incidence, prevalence, and
costs of nonfatal and fatal IPV based on a study funded by Congress through the Centers for Disease Control
