Defining Intimate Partner Violence

Emotional Abuse

isolating, ignoring, terrorizing, exploiting, or verbally attacking the victim, apologizing and making false promises to end abuse, ridiculing, blaming and neglecting physical and/or emotional needs, spreading rumors or lies, and threatening to “out” the victim (e.g., as gay) or report victim to immigration/ICE, teaching children to yell at, disrespect, or demean the victim, destroying victim’s property/items that are meaningful to the victim

Verbal Abuse

using harsh word to put the victim down and make them feel bad about themselves, yelling, name calling, threatening to hurt or kill, belittling, and degrading the victim

Sexual Abuse

forcing victims to engage in sexual acts against their will, making constant sexual demands, sabotaging the use of birth control, wanting sex after abuse, forcing to have sex with others, forcing pregnancy or abortion

Spiritual Abuse

not allowing the victim to practice her/his faith, forcing them to take on another faith, using sacred books or God to justify abuse, threatening to expose private or damaging information to faith community

Financial/Resource Abuse

controlling financial matters, controlling how money is distributed, limiting or denying access to bank accounts, withholding child support, taking or disabling the car, demanding an explanation of how money is spent, harassing at work, prohibiting partner from getting a job or pursuing education, hiding or destroying visas or immigration papers

Physical Abuse

hitting, slapping, punching, pushing, and pinching, strangling, kicking, refusing to help when sick, burning, pulling hair, holding down, and sabotaging access to medications or medical appointments, injuring pets as a threat to the victim

Facts and Statistics

1 in 4 women, 1 in 7 men, and 1 in 4 individuals within the LGBTQ community will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes

Domestic violence occurs regardless of age, income, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity

Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness in the United States

15.5 million chilodren in the United States live in families in which domestic violence occurred in the last year

1 in 3 female high school students have disclosed physical, emotional, and verbal abuse from a dating partner 

A woman is more likely to experience domestic violence than she is to be diagnosed with breast cancer

for more facts and stats, check out our materials page