Domestic Violence

	Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is a pattern of abusive behaviour in an intimate relationship or between family members.

Keep Safe Stay Cool defines Domestic Violence as violent or controlling behaviour by a person towards a partner, usually their girlfriend, boyfriend, wife or husband. Domestic Violence is based on power and control which means one person controlling certain aspects of the other person’s life.

For example, not allowing the person to make their own decisions or have an individual opinion, or preventing them from seeing their family and friends. Having an imbalance of power and control in a relationship causes inequality and without equality you do not have a healthy relationship.

There are 5 forms of Domestic Violence* they are:

Emotional
Sexual
Social
Financial
Physical

* It is common to have more than one aspect of abuse happening in a Domestic Violence relationship.

Emotional Abuse in our society there is not a lot of awareness or education about emotional abuse. This is a serious form of abuse as it is emotionally and psychologically harmful to a person’s wellbeing.

Emotional abuse can be identified as:

Making threats
Emotional blackmail
Criticising everything you do
Name calling, put downs or yelling abuse

Making all of the decisions in the relationship

Sexual Abuse is when one person is dismissive towards the other person’s feelings, choices and ownership over their body and sexual preferences.

Sexual Abuse can be identified as:

Rape
Unwanted touching
Coercing you do certain things that you don’t like
Unwanted touching or kissing in public
Saying suggestive things to you or about you

Social Abuse is when one person takes control over your social engagements and activities.

Social Abuse can be identified as:

Isolating you from your family
Isolating you from your friends
Making all the plans and decisions about social events
Not allowing you to go out as an individual
Constantly checking where you are and what you are doing

Financial Abuse is when one person takes control over the financial decisions in a relationship.

Financial Abuse can be identified as:

Withholding money for basic needs (eg, Rent, food, bills)
Gambling all the money
Not allowing you to work and earn your own money
Not paying you back money that was borrowed
Coercing you to sign bank loans in your name

Physical Abuse is when someone inflicts physical harm upon another person and includes the use of weapons.

Physical Abuse can be identified as:

Holding or restraining you
Throwing objects at you
Punching
Kicking
Shaking you

The Cycle of Violence/Help a friend/Safety Plan