Stay informed with our extensive collection of Domestic Violence Facts

Recognizing and stopping domestic violence can only be done if you first know the facts. There are organizations all over the world dedicated to providing help to those in need of being saved from intimate partner domestic violence whether you are a woman or a man. The following is a breakdown of domestic violence facts, what every woman, man and child should know as well as plenty of helpful and factual statistics about domestic violence, also referred as intimate partner violence.

Recognizing Domestic Violence Tips – How to see what is Right in Front of Your Nose

Whether you are a concerned friend, family member or someone questioning the abuse status of their current relationship: you must know the signs and recognize the danger as it is the only way to start the process of solving the situation.

Partners that are on the receiving end of abuse will consistently suffer from both physical and emotional scars. Most abusive relationships start out as verbal and emotional abuse including public humiliation, name calling, extreme control of whereabouts, friends and other activities, as well as constant criticism and arguments that get heated quickly.

Control is the most common sign that a person is going to turn violent. This is just the beginning ladies and gentlemen so recognizing emotional abuse is the best way to stop this type of problem from developing into something much worse.

  • Physical violence is where everything will take a bad turn. The person being victimized will continue to suffer at the hands of their partner if someone doesn’t help to get the victim out of the situation. Hitting, shoving, shaking, or physical violence of any kind should never be tolerated or ignored by those going through it or witnessing it. Many bystanders will sadly do nothing whether they are friends, family or strangers witnessing the abuse.The reasons for this aren’t always black and white: maybe they are afraid too or just don’t know how to handle what they are seeing. Either way, the victim will be the least likely person to initiate getting out of the situation and they often need help. If you suspect someone you know is going through any type of violence, whether it’s emotional or physical, you should step in and tell the authorities or even call one of the many free hotlines.

Facts about Intimate Partner Violence on Women

  • Although this statement is very sad, the following is true: out of four women, one will most likely have to go through some type of domestic violence in her life. Considering that more than 80% of the people who experience this type of violence are women it is safe to say that women, and their children, are at the highest risk.
  • The majority of violent partners will not change their actions no matter what type of help they seek and it is often the ‘change’ theory that keeps women that are victims of violence in their current situation.
  • Cases of severe and mild violence are often never reported to the authorities, which will only allow the abuse to continue. Escalation is a clear and steady increase in danger presented by the abuser and will occur with each and every one. Escalating from emotional to physical abuse is almost certain in domestically violent relationships and it doesn’t take long. All too often women, and men, don’t see the increase in violence until it is too late.
  • Out of every 6 women, one will be sexually assaulted or even raped by someone they are in a relationship with. Sadly, sexual abuse is another huge part of domestic violence facts and the abuse that occurs but most women never report it because they are embarrassed or they believe the partner had the rights to do so.
  • A huge percentage, about 33%, of homicides involving females were committed by their partner. In more than 75% of those homicides, the victim was abused on repeated occasions by their murderer before the fatal incident occurred.
  • Stalking is another factor in violent relationships. In fact, out of 12 women, one of them will be stalked at some point in time and 80% of those stalkers will be their significant other. Sadly, a third of these women will be sexually assaulted by their stalker and more than 80% of stalkers will physically attack their victim.

Facts about Intimate Partner Violence on Men

  • Although men aren’t typically the victims of domestic violence by their partner, it happens more often than many think. Men make up about 15% of the victims that suffer from intimate partner violence and their injuries, both mental and physical, are just as severe as the abuse women go through.
  • One out of 33 male victims will suffer from a sexual assault at some point in their life including rape, both completed rape and attempted. Typically, almost half of relationships that are violent will involve sexual assault including rape, torture and forced sex.
  • One out of 45 males will be stalked at some time throughout their life and the majority of the stalkers will turn violent.

Domestic Violence Facts about Everyone Affected By It

Both women and men may suffer from abuse of various natures throughout their life but it is often the children that witness these incidences and behaviors that are heavily affected by it. Male children will grow up to be violent towards their partners 50% of the time because of the violence they witnessed as a child. Violence is transmitted to the children that see these events, which in turn makes more abusers throughout the world, continuously hurting and passing on the violence.

Additionally, partners that are violent towards their spouse, or partner, are highly likely to physically hurt the children at home as well. Victims of domestic violence also incur financial and employment difficulties because of their injuries: missing work days and going without pay because of visible injuries or emotional abuse from the partner that directed them to stay home or even quit their job. Domestic violence costs money and lives to those who suffer from it as well as those around it: don’t stand by any longer, stop domestic violence as soon as the signs are present.