Defining Domestic Abuse Published Oct. 9, 2012 By Anne Owen Family Advocacy Program MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The following is the second in a series of articles related to Domestic Violence Awareness month. Domestic Violence is a world-wide problem that knows no boundaries. This week's article discusses some generalities about domestic violence and its impact. Domestic Violence has many names - Domestic Violence, Domestic Abuse, Family or Partner Maltreatment to name a few. It is a major problem nationwide, and very prevalent on military bases, among many other communities. It constitutes a pattern of abusive behavior that includes the use (or threat) of violence and intimidation for the purpose of gaining power and control over another person. A violent event is rarely an isolated incident (by the time command or a First Sergeant hears about it, it typically has been going on for a while), but part of a pattern which increases in both frequency and severity over time. Typically, abusive behavior can be defined as physical, sexual, psychological and emotional abuse, and/or economic isolation. Physical abuse can be described as any act of violence that is designed to control, hurt, harm or physically assault a partner. This includes pushing, punching, kicking, grabbing, pulling hair, choking, slapping, damaging property or valued items, the use of weapons and refusing to help a sick partner. Sexual abuse can be described as any action forcing the partner to perform sexual acts against his or her will. This includes pursuing sexual activity with a partner that is not fully conscious, uninvited touching, unwanted sexual intercourse and coercing a partner to have sex without protection against pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. Anyone who has consumed alcohol or certain drugs (including prescription drugs like Ambien or Percocet) cannot legally consent to sexual activity. Psychological and emotional abuse can be described as any action intended to degrade, humiliate or demean another, both in public or private. This includes verbal threats, yelling, intimidation, harassment, criticism, lying, withholding information and isolation from family or friends. Psychological abuse may precede or accompany physical violence as a means of control. Economic isolation can be described as any action forcing the partner to become dependent on the abuser for financial support and survival. This includes withholding money, a vehicle or other resources; sabotaging attempts to make money independently; or controlling all family finances. The scope of domestic violence is overwhelming and is a worldwide epidemic, with no country, culture, sexual orientation, religious or socioeconomic group being untouched. In the United States, battering is the number one cause of injuries to women. Although it is difficult to obtain accurate statistics concerning the incidence of domestic violence, it is estimated that at least 3 million to 4 million women are beaten by their husbands or partners annually. To be fair, women do not have the sole claim to being victims of domestic violence because there are many battered men in our country including here; however, statistically, 90 to 95 percent of domestic violence victims in heterosexual relationships are female. A woman is more likely to be assaulted, injured, raped or killed by a male partner than by any other type of assailant. About half of all marital relationships involve some form of domestic violence. What factors seem to place certain women at a somewhat greater risk for abuse? There are several, but some key factors include: · age (women between the ages of 19-29 are at the greatest risk) · marital status (separated or divorced women claim a 14 times higher rate of reports of abuse) · pregnancy (medical sources suggest that about 37 percent of obstetric patients are physically abused during pregnancy and 21 percent of women who were previously abused reported an increase in the abuse during pregnancy) · possessive partners · substance abuse · past history of being a victim of abuse. No excuse is good enough to justify Domestic Violence. If you or someone you know is currently in an abusive relationship and needs help, contact the Family Advocacy Office at 723-5096 or the Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate available 24 hours-a-day at 701-557-9466.