The Problem
Domestic violence can affect any individual, regardless of their circumstances.
Domestic violence cuts across demographics and socioeconomic levels. A widespread misconception that domestic violence only affects women in rural, poor underserved communities is not only wrong, but dangerous to propagate. In reality, it’s extremely prevalent — 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been or will be victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime. That adds up to more than ten million people a year in the United States.
Domestic violence is a complex issue. No one-size-fits-all solution exists.
Discussions of domestic violence on the national level do not emphasize a nuanced understanding of the issue. Conversations frequently include incorrect, widely spread assumptions, harmful victim-blaming, and misinformation. To really understand the factors that hinder healthy relationships, as well as the downstream impact of domestic violence on people’s lives, it’s important to consider this phenomenon in a truly holistic fashion.
Domestic violence takes many forms.
Across several “shades of abuse” — including physical, verbal, psychological, digital, sexual and financial — domestic violence can look quite different from survivor to survivor.
