As the world wrestled with the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the alarming results was the rise in domestic violence occurrences. Domestic violence can be defined as threatening patterns related to physical, sexual, or mental actions that help one partner have control over the other.
The measures quickly implemented to prevent the spread of the virus unintentionally kept individuals inside their homes, creating an environment for domestic violence to cultivate. In this piece, we will explore domestic violence, domestic violence during the pandemic, and what to do if you expect a loved one to be facing abuse.
What is domestic violence?
According to the Office of Violence Against Women (VAWA), domestic violence refers to the “pattern of abusive behaviour in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain control over another intimate partner.” For many in abusive relationships, it is hard to identify acts of domestic violence. Below are some examples of domestic violence.
Physical abuse: This type of abuse involves imposing harm upon another person, such as hitting, punching, and biting. Physical abuse can have short-term and long-term consequences for an individual. A perpetrator will leave both physical and mental scars that may cause a survivor to need outside support.
Financial Abuse: Financial abuse refers to actions that control an individual’s finances. These actions include taking an individual’s paychecks and economic exploitation, which leads to an individual becoming fully dependent on the perpetrator. The National Coalition on Domestic Violence suggests that 99% of domestic violence cases involve financial control.
Psychological and emotional abuse: Contrary to popular belief, psychological abuse is separate from emotional abuse. Psychological abuse refers to behaviors that attempt to change or control the way an individual thinks. This behavior includes gaslighting, manipulation, complete isolation, and more.
On the other hand, emotional abuse involves actions that threaten an individual’s emotional state. This behavior includes using vulgar language, shaming individuals privately or publicly, and more. Emotional abuse is overlooked because one cannot identify the abuse as easily as physical or financial abuse.
Domestic Violence Escalation During COVID-19
In March 2020, the world was under a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No one understood how to identify COVID-19 and how their body would react to the condition. The lack of understanding resulted in individuals staying inside, resulting in higher records of domestic violence. The Harvard Gazette reported that domestic violence rates increased from 25% to 33% on an international scale during the pandemic.
Aside from isolation, economic hardship was the secondary contributor that resulted in the higher rates of domestic violence. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 9.6 million workers were unable to work due to job losses and companies shutting down because they could not afford to stay afloat. Economic hardship enabled perpetrators to control their partner’s finances and feel stable during unprecedented times.
Are you afraid your loved one is facing domestic violence?
At Enhanced Konnect Services LLC, our knowledgeable team understands the severity of domestic violence. Domestic violence brings out the worst in people we assume love our family members and want to keep them happy and healthy. In reality, the perpetrator wanted complete control over the other individual.
To approach this situation, you must keep an open mind and try to understand your loved one’s position. While your first approach may be to confront the perpetrator, that could create an unsafe situation for your loved one. It is best to keep open communication with the individual and check up on them when possible. If you suspect an individual is in immediate danger, you should call the authorities or the national domestic violence hotline.
If you are still on the fence, do not hesitate to call the Enhanced Konnect Service’s hotline at 704-526-7863.
Donate to our Domestic Violence Give Back Program.
While the pandemic has become less stringent, the impacts still live in our very homes. In July of this year, we recently lost Dr. Gwen Riddick to domestic violence. This woman had an amazing heart, impacting the lives of many as an OB/GYN.
These stories inspired Enhanced Konnect Services’s yearly give-back program to be centred around domestic violence survivors. All contributions will be distributed to help survivors reach self-sufficiency.
While the pandemic has become less stringent, the impacts still live in our very homes. In July of this year, we recently lost Dr. Gwen Riddick to domestic violence. This woman had an amazing heart, impacting the lives of many as an OB/GYN.
These stories inspired Enhanced Konnect Services’s yearly give-back program to be centred around domestic violence survivors. All contributions will be distributed to help survivors reach self-sufficiency.
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