Domestic Violence Awareness: Sexual Violence in relationships The Counseling Center Purdue University Northwest

SEXUAL violence in adults Sexual Violence Statistics According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012), 18.3% of women reported experiencing forced sex at some time in their lives. 1.4% of men reported experiencing forced sex at some time in their lives. 2.5% of women and 0.9% of men surveyed said they experienced unwanted sexual activity in the previous 12 months (Basile et al., 2007). In college age adults, 20-25% of women in college reported experiencing an attempted or completed rape (Fisher, Cullen, & Turner, 2000).

Intimate partner violence (IPV) Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as violence between two people who are in a close relationship. Four types of behavior occur in IPV: Physical violence occurs when one partner hurts, or attempts to hurt, the other partner through physical force (e.g. hitting or kicking). Sexual violence occurs when one partner forces the other partner to engage in any form of sexual activity without consent. Threats may include the use of words, gestures, weapons, or other means to communicate the intent to cause harm to another person. Emotional abuse occurs when one partner threatens the other partner (or the partner’s possessions or loved ones), or harms the partner’s sense of self-worth. Examples of emotional abuse include stalking, name-calling, intimidation, or refusing to let the partner see friends and family (CDC, 2011).

Intimate partner violence: effects IPV affects many aspects of the victim’s overall heath (physically, emotionally, and psychologically). Victims of sexual violence may experience the following: Physical injuries. Some injuries may be minor such as cuts, scratches, and bruises. Serious injuries may include broken bones, internal bleeding, and head trauma. Emotional trauma. Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) may be experienced by those who are victims of IPV (Campbell, 2002). Behavioral changes. Victims may also begin to engage in negative health behaviors, such as high-risk sexual behaviors, unhealthy eating/dieting and substance abuse.

How do I know if I am a victim of partner abuse? Does your partner: Prevent you from working or attending school? Embarrass you with put-downs? Act like the abuse is no big deal, it’s your fault, or even deny doing it? Look at you or act in ways that scare you? Destroy your property or threaten to kill your pets? Control what you do, who you see or talk to or where you go? Intimidate you with guns, knives or other weapons? Stop you from seeing your friends or family members? Shove you, slap you, choke you, or hit you? Take your money or Social Security check, make you ask for money or refuse to give you money? Force you to try and drop charges? Make all of the decisions? Threaten to commit suicide? Tell you that you’re a bad parent or threaten to take away or hurt your children? Threaten to kill you? -National Domestic Violence Hotline http://www.thehotline.org/ If you answered “yes” to one or more of the following questions, you may be in an abusive relationship.

Protecting the victim’s safety in a violent relationship If you are the victim: Understand that an abusive partner may try to keep track of your activities and others (e.g. friends, family, co-workers) you commonly have contact with. As a consequence, the abusive partner may try to isolate you from these contacts. Use an internet source that is not located at home (e.g. a public library), since online browsing histories are difficult to completely erase. If you have children who may have witnessed the domestic abuse, let them know that abuse is not an acceptable behavior. Abuse will usually not get better in time (White & Zorza, 2010). Develop a SAFETY PLAN. A safety plan is a way for victims of domestic abuse to preserve their safety while in an abusive relationship. This will help victims learn how to cope in the abusive relationship while they are developing a plan to leave the relationship.

Safety Plan resources The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers safety planning guidelines for victims of domestic abuse. Valuable safety planning resources can be accessed by visiting thehotline.org Click on “Get Help Today.” From the American Bar Association: Guidelines for keeping you and your family safe: website From the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Guidelines for increasing your safety: website From the Domestic Violence Report: Safety Plan for a Friend: website Be sure to use a secure internet source that is not monitored when visiting these websites. Safety planning resources: http://www.thehotline.org/get-help/safety-planning/. Guidelines for keeping you and your family safe: http://apps.americanbar.org/tips/publicservice/DVENG.pdf Guidelines for increasing your safety: http://ncadv.org/protectyourself/MyPersonalSafetyPlan.php Safety Plan for a Friend: http://www.civicresearchinstitute.com/dvr.html

Protecting the victim’s safety in a violent relationship If you are the victim’s confidante: Do not put judgment on the victim Do not criticize the victim for being involved in a relationship with the abuser. Tell the victim that you are there for him/her and you will not tell others about the abusive relationship without their consent. Make sure he/she understands that being abused is never the victim’s fault. Encourage the victim to seek medical attention. Encourage the victim to seek legal counsel (White & Zorza, 2010).

Resources for victims of partner abuse The National Sexual Assault Hotline The National Sexual Assault Hotline connects the caller with a crisis counselor. Services are free and will remain confidential and anonymous unless the caller chooses otherwise. This hotline can be accessed through phone at 1-800-656-HOPE, or online. Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN) crisis center locator You can find a local crisis center by visiting online. The National Domestic Violence Hotline Crisis intervention, safety information, and referral sources are available to both domestic violence victims and those who are calling to help a victim of domestic violence. You may contact the hotline by calling 1-800-799-7233, or online. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Visit online to find resources and information about domestic violence. https://ohl.rainn.org/online/ http://centers.rainn.org/ http://www.thehotline.org/help/

references Basile, K.C., Chen, J. Lynberg, M.C. & Saltzman, L.E. (2007). Prevalence and characteristics of sexual violence victimization. Violence and Victims, 22(4), 437-448. Campbell, J. C. (2002). Health consequences of intimate partner violence. The Lancet, 359, 1331-1336. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, October 28). Intimate partner violence: Consequences. Retrieved October 3, 2011 from Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Sexual violence: Facts at a glance. Retrieved January 23, 2013 from Violence Prevention Data Sheet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Understanding Intimate Partner Violence: Fact Sheet. Retrieved August 22, 2011 from IPV Fact Sheet Fisher BS, Cullen FT, Turner MG. 2000. The sexual victimization of college women. Washington: Department of Justice (US), National Institute of Justice; Publication No. NCJ 182369. National Domestic Violence Hotline. (2011). Am I being abused? Retrieved from http://www.thehotline.org/is- this-abuse/am-i-being-abused-2/ White, R. & Zorza, J. (2010). Safety plan for a friend, relative, or co-worker who is being abused by an intimate partner. Domestic Violence Report. Retrieved from Safety Plan For A Friend