MYTH #1
Abuse is an anger management problem
Abusers control who they abuse and when. An abusive person may "lose their temper" and hurt their partner or children, but never display that same behavior in front of friends, family members, or coworkers. Abuse is a deliberate act.
FACT #1
20,000 calls are placed to domestic violence hotlines on a typical day.
MYTH #2
Abusive people can't be nice to their partners
Abusive people are CAPABLE of EXPRESSING LOVE and care for their partner in various periods of the relationship. These periods can be brief or last years, are are the reason that many victims stay in the relationship.
FACT #2
Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.
MYTH #3
Abuse doesn't happen in LGBTQ+ relationships
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43.8% of lesbian women and 61.1% of bisexual women have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime, as opposed to 35% of heterosexual women.
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26% of gay men and 37.3% of bisexual men have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime, in comparison to 29% of heterosexual men.
FACT #3
The odds of homicide increase 750% for victims that have been previously strangled by their partner
That means if your partner has ever attempted to choke or strangle you, they are 7.5 times more likely to kill you.
Strangulation is the most lethal form of domestic violence. Up to 94% of strangled women believed they were going to die.
MYTH #4
Abuse subsides during pregnancy
Abuse often gets worse during pregnancy. Domestic violence effects approximately 325,000 pregnant women per year.
Homicide is the leading cause of death for pregnant women.
The American College of Obstetricians, Gynecologists, Intimate Partner Violence
FACT #5
Between 21-60% of victims of Intimate Partner Violence lose their jobs due to reasons stemming from the abuse
MYTH #5
People who stay in abuse relationships don't care about their children
Abusers often threaten their victims with violence against their children for leaving. Some victims may even stay in an attempt to protect their children.
FACT #6
On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States.
During one year, this equates to more than 10 million men & women.
MYTH #6
If a relationship is bad you can just leave
Leaving an abusive relationship is the most dangerous time for a victim. some say it takes an average of seven times for an abuse victim to finally leave the relationship. This can be due to fear of violence, financial restraints, shame, societal repercussions, and other variables.
