Domestic violence occurs in all cultures. It exists in every country of the globe. It occurs within every faith community. Yes, women in the church are abused. There was a time when believers dismissed all of this as something that rarely occurred in Christian homes. No longer can we maintain such naiveté. And, DV knows no socioeconomic boundaries. Rich women, poor women, black women, white women, Hispanic women, educated women, illiterate women, religious women, beautiful women –all women are potential targets of violence and therefore all are at some degree at risk.
And while domestic violence is generally viewed as “violence against women”, in reality, both men and women are assaulted, and it occurs in same sex (homosexual/lesbian) and heterosexual relationships. Statistics indicate that of those victimized by an intimate partner, 85% are women and 15% are men. In other words, women are 5 to 8 times more likely than men to be victimized by an intimate partner.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, domestic violence is a serious, preventable public health problem affecting more than 32 million Americans, or more than 10% of the U.S. population. It should be noted that the figures referenced above are only a sampling of the true incidence of DV because many victims are reluctant to report the abuse.
During next month’s issue, “Domestic Violence –Part Two”, we will discuss the causes of DV, why victims stay in the relationship, and possible ways to address this concern.
