Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence in America:

Promoting Protection, Social Change, and Services for All Victims and Survivors

Key Speakers

Overview

Fifteen percent of the violent crimes in the United States are intimate partner violence (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence). Furthermore, one in four women and one in nine men experience domestic violence within their lifetime (NCDAV). Approximately 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States (NCADV). When reading this fact, most of the general population thinks of a woman being abused by a man. However, domestic abuse is far more than just heterosexual women and physical abuse.

Men, transgender, non-conforming, and other members of the LGBTQ+ community are often not included in the many campaigns and social change efforts to eradicate all domestic and intimate partner violence. Evidence shows that LGBTQ members “fall victim to domestic violence at equal or higher rates than their heterosexual counterparts” (NCDAV). However, in 2012, less than 5% of LGBTQ domestic violence survivors “sought orders of protection” (NCDAV). Legal measures to protect victims are extremely important to any survivor of intimate partner and domestic violence, so weighing the options of how to use the legal system and enforcement to take care of victims and survivors should be discussed.

Education on different types of domestic violence and not just physical should be included in awareness efforts, as well, along with the inclusion of men and LGBTQ members. Many domestic violence shelters are all female, excluding men, transgender, gay/lesbian, and bisexual people from these services due to different sexual orientations and gender phobias. Providing services for everyone, no matter their sexual orientation or gender should be considered to truly be working towards ending all domestic violence, not just for one group of those who encounter and go through the hardships as a domestic abuse survivor.

Policies to work on curbing domestic violence should not only look into inclusion, education, awareness, and social change efforts but should also consider economic help. Working on services for domestic/intimate partner abuse survivors and economically creating a “broad, interprofessional support network for victims to bring about long-term change” could give power back to survivors and provide them with resources to build a foundation for recovery (Sumayah Abed). Protection, services, rebuilding, and more initiates a lot of discussion as to how to accomplish this and what policies can be enacted to help all victims. 

Program

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