RESOURCES
Domestic
Violence Information: Overview
What
is Domestic Violence?
The forceful, controlling behavior that coerces a victim to do what
the abuser wants without regard to her/his rights, body, health
or emotions.
What is Battering?
Battering is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control
over another person through fear and intimidation, often including
the threat or use of violence. Battering happens when one person
believes they are entitled to control another. Assault, battering
and domestic violence are crimes.
Definitions: Abuse of family members can take many forms.
Battering may include emotional abuse, economic abuse, sexual abuse,
using children, threats, using male privilege, intimidation, isolation,
and a variety of other behaviors used to maintain fear, intimidation
and power. In all cultures, the perpetrators are most commonly the
men of the family.
Women are most commonly the victims of violence. Elder and child
abuse are also prevalent. Acts of domestic violence generally fall
into one or more of the following categories:
- Physical Battering: The abuser’s physical attacks
or aggressive behavior can range from bruising to murder. It often
begins with what is excused as trivial contacts that escalate into
more frequent and serious attacks.
- Sexual Abuse: Physical attack by the abuser is often accompanied
by, or culminates in, sexual violence wherein the woman is forced
to have sexual intercourse with her abuser or take part in unwanted
sexual activity.
- Psychological Battering: The abuser’s psychological
or mental violence can include constant verbal abuse, harassment,
excessive possessiveness, isolating the woman from friends and family,
deprivation of physical and economic resources, and destruction
of personal property.
Battering escalates. It often begins with behaviors like threats,
name calling, violence in her presence (such as punching a fist
through a wall), and/or damage to objects or pets. It may escalate
to restraining, pushing, slapping, and/or pinching. The battering
may include punching, kicking, biting, sexual assault, tripping,
throwing. Finally, it may become life-threatening with serious behaviors
such as choking, breaking bones, or the use of weapons.
Statistics
See statistics on domestic violence in Asian-American communities.
Articles
DV bibliography: http://www.questia.com/Index.jsp?CRID=domestic_violence&OFFID=se1
Links to articles about domestic violence
in Asian communities.
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