One in three women is victimized by domestic violence at some point in her life.
An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.
85% of domestic violence victims are women.
Only one in five victims with physical injuries seeks medical treatment.
Only about half of domestic violence incidents are reported to police.
Almost all of ...the perpetrators of domestic violence say that they will stop. But most don't. The violence usually gets worse.
All women who are victims of domestic violence are at risk of being murdered by their abusers.
And one out of every four women who are the victims of domestic violence attempt suicide.
240,000 pregnant women are subject to domestic violence
40% of assaults begin during the first pregnancy
Pregnant women are twice the risk of battery
Homicide was found to be the leading cause of death for pregnant women
81% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also physically assaulted by that partner; 31% are also sexually assaulted by that partner.
The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year, $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health services.
Domestic violence is always wrong, and it is a crime.
And there is never an excuse for domestic violence. Never.
All perpetrators of domestic violence are cowards and criminals.
The women who are victimized by these heinous crimes feel trapped and confused. The abuser not only physically attacks the woman, but also psychologically attacks her. The verbal attacks are meant to control the victim, and to try to strip her of her self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-love. The perpetrator also often wants the woman to believe that she is at fault for the violence and the verbal abuse.
Many domestic violence victims try to change their behavior (even though they are not doing anything wrong) because the horrible attacks leave them hopeless, helpless, and confused. But there really is nothing that the victims can do to stop the violence, because they are dealing with a selfish, cruel criminal who does not have a conscience. All of the blame is on the criminal--the cowardly perpetrator of the domestic violence--not on the victim.
The horrible crime of domestic violence often results in a woman isolating herself and becoming clinically depressed.
Reform is needed in our laws to protect victims. Sign a petition (for those who have already Thank You) contact a Congressman, or Senator (after all they work for us) express concern with the media ( write a letter or email). Not everyone can volunteer a day to help victims but most of us can easily do these other things to make a change.
My daughter was my heart and soul. That baby was to be a blessing. Without change their lives were just tragic. Let's not forget Life has meaning!
If you are a victim of domestic violence, please get help immediately.
Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at
1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233)
TDD - 1-800-787-3224
The best way to end domestic violence is to leave the criminal abuser.
Go to a shelter if you need to.
Stay with family if you need to.
Stay with friends if you need to.
But please get help immediately, and please protect yourself and your children (if you have any).
Please get help now.
Remember that there is never an excuse for domestic violence. Never.
You deserve a better life.
You are a great person.
Take care of yourself.
God bless you and keep you safe!
Tara Woodlee (Ashleigh's Mom)
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