According to the Support Network for Battered Women, at least one woman in every three has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Most often the abuser is a member of her own family. Violence towards women who are mothers also affects children. Over three million children in the United States are exposed to parental violence each year. Whether or not children actually witness the violence, they are now considered to be victims of this epidemic.

One may ask the question, what is considered battery? The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence states that battering is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. Battering happens when one person believes they are entitled to control another. Assault, battering and domestic violence are crimes. In addition, battering may include emotional abuse, economic abuse, sexual abuse, using children, threats, using male privilege, intimidation, isolation, and a variety of other behaviors used to maintain fear, intimidation and power. In all cultures, the perpetrators are most commonly the men of the family. Women are most commonly the victims of violence.

Children reared in an abusive home are also affected by the occurrence of domestic violence. It is known that children in homes where domestic violence occurs are 15 times more likely to experience child abuse than children in non-violent homes. The Support Network for Battered Women also stated that as children grow into teens they exhibit higher levels of delinquency and violent behavior than those in non-violent homes. In order to increase global awareness on this issue, help us by reporting suspected abuse of women and children. Remember that domestic violence may not only affect your neighbor but it could affect you as well. So help us prevent the abuse of women and children by educating yourself and others on the reality of this issue.