What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is an important issue that affects so many families in our state. It is a pattern of aggressive and intimidating behaviors that abusers use to control their intimate partners. Abuse can be verbal, emotional, physical, sexual and/or economic and is based on power and control. The abuser seeks to control how the victim thinks, feels and behaves. Non-physical abuse such as verbal and emotional abuse can be just as devastating to the victim and the family as physical abuse.

Who is Affected?

Domestic abuse does not discriminate. Victims of domestic abuse come from all walks of life: all ages, races and income levels. (U.S. Department of Justice figures.)

Women are disproportionately the victims of domestic abuse. Approximately 95 percent of abuse victims are women. (U.S. Department of Justice figures.)

Nearly one-third of American women report being abused by their husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives. (Health Concerns Across a Woman's Lifespan; The Commonwealth Fund 1998 Survey of Women's Health, May 1999.)

Thirty percent of Americans say they know a woman who has been physically abused by her husband or boyfriend in the past year. (The National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2000).

One in five teenage girls experiences physical or sexual abuse by a dating partner. This abuse often leads to self-destructive behavior including substance abuse, eating disorders, pregnancy and suicide attempts. (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2001.)

According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, 1-2 million Americans age 65 or older have been injured, exploited or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depended for care or protection (2003)

Why Address This Issue?

The effects of domestic abuse on the victims and their loved ones are devastating. Victims are often seriously injured or even killed by their abusers. And the abuse leaves deep emotional scars which affect a victim's self-esteem and often cause health concerns even after she escapes the violence. Additionally, domestic abuse goes beyond each victim to impact her children, parents, siblings, friends, and other individuals who care about them.

Domestic abuse is an issue that may make people uncomfortable, however, ignoring it will not make it go away. It is important to bring this issue out in the open so that all women know that they have the right to be free from domestic abuse. In addition, by breaking the silence that abusers often impose on their victims we can help victims free themselves from their abuser's control and power. If you or someone you know is being abused call the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence at: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

The movie trailer PSA was developed to help educate the general public about domestic abuse and to encourage those affected by domestic abuse to seek help. The PSA also seeks to educate people about the role that friends and family can play in providing help and support to a victim of domestic abuse.

Domestic Abuse Movie Trailer (Click the play button below)

Examining the Problem

All intimate relationships have their problems. But these problems take on a different meaning when domestic abuse is involved because domestic abuse is a crime and posses a serious danger to victims and their children.

Helping Someone Who is Being Abused

For many women, it takes a lot of time, planning, help and courage to escape the violence. In the meantime, it is important for women to know that help is available from people who know and care about the situation.

Safety Plan

This safety plan is for domestic abuse victims of any age who may be abused by or afraid of their spouse/partner, boy/girlfriend, adult child or other family member. Safety planning helps develop tools in advance of potentially dangerous situations. Choose only the suggestions listed here that make sense for your set of circumstances.

More Resources

• Abuse Intervention
• Domestic Violence State Resources
  
• Family Violence Prevention Fund
  
• National Center for Assisted Living
  
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• US Department of Justice, Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey
• Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WCADV)
  
• Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault
  
• Wisconsin Domestic Abuse Laws
  
• Wisconsin Victim Resource Directory