Women, throughout human existence, have contributed amazing things to our social, cultural, economic, political, and scientific history. From the very beginning, women have been fruitful, productive, and creative, contributing greatly to every era of our shared human history. But in every era of history, women have also suffered domestic abuse from those closest to them: husbands, fathers, brothers, etc.
Throughout much of human history, it was socially and lawfully acceptable for women to be abused by those that should have been their greatest allies. In the United States, the early Puritan settlers openly condemned family violence, however, there was no real enforcement of such beliefs. Most domestic violence situations were considered private family matters in which outsiders were not allowed to intervene.
It was not until the 1870’s that the first states passed laws banning a man’s right to beat his family. Although laws were on the books, they were rarely enforced. Three Violence Against Women Acts (1994, 2000, 2005) resulting in the turning of a new page in the area of domestic violence in the United States:
- Non-fatal domestic violence incidents decreased by 49.8%.
- 51% increase in the reporting of domestic violence to authorities.
- 18% increase of National Domestic Violence Hotline calls each year, breaking the silence for so many victims.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us remember that the war on domestic violence has not yet been won. We still have much ground to take:
- 1 in 3 women in the United States have experienced some form of domestic violence by an intimate partner.
- 20,000 calls per day are received by domestic violence hotlines in the United States.
- 85% of domestic violence victims are women. (15% are men.)
For help with domestic violence anytime call 1.888.554.2501.
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