Domestic Violence Effects On Women

Words: 1170
Pages: 5

Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of race, gender, age, ethnicity, education, income, or other factors. In the homes where violence and abuse are present, every member of the family is affected. While healthy intimate relationships experience ups and downs, when behavior of one person consistently tears down the other person, whether physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, or economically, this is abuse. The abuse usually is an attempt by one partner to exert control through intimidation, fear, verbal abuse, threats, or even physical violence. Domestic violence is a global problem of enormous proportions. Although men are sometimes victims, the larger part are women. At least one in every three women globally …show more content…
Physical violence can include hitting, slapping, throwing objects, restraining, and battery. Battering is a major cause of injury to women, more significant that auto accidents, rapes, or muggings. The fact that one in 4 women is a victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner is presented by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. People who are exposed to domestic violence often experience physical traumas and they are unable to function normally. In the article “Intimate Partner Violence and Physical Health Consequences” PhD Jacquelyn Campbell points out that physical traumas include “pain or discomfort from recurring central nervous system symptoms, such as headaches, back pain, fainting, or seizures”. Battered women also show more signs, symptoms, and “illnesses associated with chronic fear and stress, such as functional gastrointestinal disorders and appetite loss, viral infections, such as colds and flu, and cardiac problems, such as hypertension and chest pain” (Campbell et al.). Violence and aggression are linked to the immune system weakening and have a negative effect on one’s health contributing to diabetes. A 35-year study in Sweden, reported that persons experiencing stress related to home life, have a higher chance in developing diabetes compared to people who reported no stress or only periodic stress. (qtd. in …show more content…
Financial abuse is a common tactic used by abuser to gain control and power in a relationship. It is considered one of the most powerful methods of keeping a partner trapped in an abusive relationship. A research presented by National Network to End Domestic Violence emphasize that financial abuse is experienced in 98% of abusive relationships and surveys of the victims reflect that concerns over their ability to provide financially for themselves and their children was one of the top reasons for staying or returning to a battering relationship. (nnedv.org). Preventing access to bank accounts, credit cards or other financial resources is usually a form of financial abuse. Due to economic abuse and isolation, the victim usually has no financial resources of their own and few people on whom they can rely when seeking help. Victims of domestic violence may experience a decline in the skills needed to carry out daily routine or activities necessary to live independently in the community. Forbidding a partner to work, sabotaging her or his work or employment opportunities, harassing the victim at the work place and causing the victim to lose her or his job is also considered a form of financial abuse.
Unemployment and financial difficulties are extremely frustrating, as they block a person’s ability to self- sustain or maintain a certain standard of living. Low finances, ruined credit scores, sporadic