Myths and Facts around Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence is a complex, complicated, scary, traumatizing act. As we move forward to end the cycle of domestic violence we need to be educated about it. There are many truths about domestic violence, the results are absolutely devastating to not only the victim, but also the victims family and friends along with the entire community as a whole. Unfortunately, we have heard the myths surrounding domestic violence as well, such as "only women can be victims" and so on. As we educate ourselves and each other we can one day succeed at eliminating domestic violence. So please, take a look at some of these staggering statistics. Be the one that simply say's "Hey, that's not right." so we can start creating the social change that can be carried on for generations to come.
Myths:
Myth
Domestic Violence only affects small percentages of communities. That could never happen to someone I know. Domestic Violence only happens in poor communities.
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Myth
Only women are victims of domestic abuse.
Myth
Domestic violence could never happen to me.
Myth
They seem like nice people, and they have professional family photos on Facebook, which means they couldn't be in a DV relationship.
Myth
It's easy to end a relationship, so therefore domestic abuse is in control of the victim.​
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Myth
It's called Puppy Love not Teen Dating Violence
Facts:
As many as 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men face severe domestic violence from an intimate partner, resulting in injury, stress disorders, contracting sexually transmitted diseases and many other devastating results.
Relationship violence happens everywhere, and to anyone. Any age, race, religion, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses are/can/will be affected by domestic violence.
Many times DV shelters at capacity, or the lack there of, people that are experiencing DV have nowhere to go and many have children to care for. Leaving is not an easy fleet.
Ending or leaving a DV relationship puts victims at a higher risk of being murdered
About 11 million women and 5 million men who reported experiencing contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime said that they first experienced these forms of violence before the age of 18.
1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men at some point in their lives, will feel threatened or fearful that they may be harmed or killed while being stalked by a past intimate partner.