Intimate partner violence (IPV) …my family was dealt a devastating blow when we lost an integral member to it.
My great-niece became an orphan thanks to her father’s murder of this child’s mother and suicide right afterward – but it could have been so much worse since she was in the house.
The sad situation is that this little child was home when her dad murdered her mommy. Unfortunately…This moment will become something she needs to deal with for years, maybe even decades.
Who knows, the awful circumstances that led up today?
There has been some recent trouble between them at home, but none would explain why he committed such vicious crimes.
Everyday in the United States, three women are killed by a current or former partner. Intimate partner violence (IPV)is a reality that often goes unrecognized.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is often seen as a private matter, and many victims feel ashamed or embarrassed to speak up.
As a result, IPV is vastly underreported. Few people realize that IPV can be a major risk factor for suicide.
More than half of all suicide victims have experienced domestic violence.
Interpersonal violence is a serious public health problem in the United States that can profoundly impact lifelong health, opportunity, and well-being.
CDC works to understand this issue of intimate partner abuse as they work towards preventing it from happening.
What is intimate partner violence?
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is abuse or aggression in a romantic relationship. “Intimate partner” refers to current and former spouses and dating partners.
IPV can vary in how often it happens and how severe it is. It can range from one episode of violence that could have a lasting impact to chronic and severe episodes over multiple years.
IPV can include any of the following types of behavior:
-
Physical violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking, or using another physical force.
-
Sexual violence is forcing or attempting to force a partner to participate in a sex act, sexual touching, or a non-physical sexual event (e.g., sexting) when the partner does not or cannot consent.
-
Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention and contact by a partner that causes fear or concern for one’s safety or the safety of someone close to the victim.
-
Psychological aggression is verbal and non-verbal communication to harm another partner mentally or emotionally and to exert control over another partner.
The problems associated with intimate partner violence have compounded during the pandemic.
According to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, U.S. domestic violence cases increased by 18 – 27% in March 2020 compared to March 2019, depending on the region.
PARADISE is an experience to connect intimate partners in unexpected and meaningful ways.
While most reported cases of intimate partner violence are of a man against a woman, intimate partner violence can occur across the spectrum of gender and sexuality.
And so the question naturally arises: How does PARADISE resonate with those who do not occupy the heteronormative “norm?”
As Arora explains, the experience can resonate with couples regardless of each partner’s sexual orientation. However, although it is LGBTQ friendly, Arora clarified that does not mean the experience is compatible with all types of relationships.
https://www.jhunewsletter.com/article/2022/04/paradise-offers-ai-led-insights-into-intimate-
History
As far back as Roman society, women were considered the property of their husbands and therefore subject to their control.
Husbands had the right to beat, divorce, or even murder wives for offenses actually committed or merely perceived.
In ancient Rome, punishment such as this was accepted as a private, family matter. These offenses could entail aberrant acts that blackened honor or threatened property.
Again, these acts could be perceived or real. The verdict lay in the “eyes of the beholder.”
The belief that this is a family matter and private still holds today in many countries, states, communities, and families (World Health Organization, 2007; Zahm, 1999).
In conclusion, IPV is a serious issue that often goes unrecognized. Too many people think it’s not a problem or don’t know what to do if they suspect someone they know is in an abusive relationship.
This post is the first of several in my series on intimate partner violence. We want to start the conversation, and we need your help.
Let’s talk about intimate partner violence – what it is, how to identify it, and what you can do if you or someone you know is affected. Together, we can make a difference.
If you or someone you know is suffering from IPV, please seek help immediately. There is no shame in admitting that you need help; it takes strength and courage to ask for support. You are not alone. You can get help.
Endnotes
- U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Practical Implications of Current Domestic Violence Research: For Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and Judges, Andrew R. Klein (Washington, DC: 2009), accessed February 12, 2018, https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/225722.pdf.
- https://www.csm.edu/sites/default/files/Gabriel.pdf
- https://youtu.be/VuMCzU54334
- https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featured-articles/intimate-partner-violence-a-pathway-to-suicide