Understanding Intimate Partner Violence

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DomesticViolence_header image - Morgan Ersery.jpg

Words - Aarti Patel & Morgan Ersery

October has been designated as Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Awareness month. IPV is a serious public health problem affecting more than 32 millions Americans and although it affects all people, more women than men experience IPV. Lifetime estimates of IPV involving women in the US range from 22-39%. IPV describes actual or threatened psychological, physical or sexual harm by a current, or former partner or spouse. It affects all gender identities.

When IPV starts in adolescence, it is called teen dating violence. (TDV). TDV affects millions of U.S. teens each year. About 11 million women and 5 million men who reported experiencing sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime said that they first experienced these forms of violence before the age of 18.

There are three main types of Intimate Partner Violence:

1. Psychological/ Emotional: involves trauma to the victim caused by threats of actions or coercive tactics. Threats of physical or sexual violence use words, gestures, or weapons to communicate an intent to cause physical harm, injury, disability, or death.

2. Physical: Intentional use of physical force with the potential to cause harm, injury, disability, or death.

3. Sexual: Occurs in the context of intimate partners, including date rape, but may also occur between strangers.

Only a small percentage of intimate partner violence (IPV) episodes are reported. In fact, it is estimated that only 20 percent of sexual assaults, 25 percent of physical assaults, and 50 percent of stalking episodes are reported. Even fewer IPV incidents against men are reported.

The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey conducted in 2011 was performed as an anonymous random digit telephone survey, to relieve the stigma of reporting and obtain more reliable data than previously available. The survey identified the following:

One in three women (32 percent) and one in four men (28 percent) in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime, and almost one-half of all women and men have experienced psychological violence.

Individuals often experience their first episode of IPV in adolescence.

Among female victims, rape occurred before age 25 years in 80 percent and before age 18 years in 40 percent. Among male victims, approximately 30 percent experienced their first rape at age 10 years or younger.

For over 50 percent of female victims, rape was perpetrated by intimate partners or acquaintances. For nearly 50 percent of male victims, rape was perpetrated by acquaintances.

Violence was less common among whites and Latinx people than those of black, indigenous natives and Alaskan origin.

A study by the Williams Institute from 2015 reviewed survey data from 1989 to the present, and found that there was a prevalence of IPV survivors’ barriers to seeking help, a lack of quality of available assistance and low levels of confidence in the sensitivity and effectiveness of law enforcement officials addressing IPV involving LGBTQ+ partners. Most studies reviewed for the report found a lifetime prevalence of IPV among lesbian and bisexual women, gay and bisexual men, and transgender people that is as high as or higher than the U.S. general population.

Although more limited in number, studies suggest that transgender people may confront similar levels, if not higher levels, of IPV as compared to sexual minority men and women and cisgender people. Findings of lifetime IPV among transgender people from purposive studies range from 31.1% to 50.0%.

Organizations like Futures Without Violence, Forge and The National LGBT Health Education Center are attempting to close some of the gaps that commonly leave out this population from IPV discussions and can offer resources for LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing IPV.

Resources:

Phone Numbers:

RAINN: The nation’s largest anti-sexual violence hotline. It is free, confidential and you can call 24/7- :800-656-4673
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
The National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline 1-866-331-9474

Some helpful web-based resources include: