The Invisible Virus: Domestic Abuse Rates Have Skyrocketed Amid the COVID 19 Outbreak by Alex Birk Translated by Jordan Riviere
Image @corawomen
According to statistical data provided by National Domestic Violence Hotline, one in three women has experienced intimate partner violence at least once in their lifetime. These women have been sexually or physically abused by their husbands and boyfriends, whereas roughly 40% of victims seek help and less than 10% go to the police. Nearly half of homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner.
If you think it’s a third world country problem, think again: over the past several months there has been a 30% increase in domestic violence instances in Singapore, France, and Cyprus, a 40% increase in Australia and 25% in Argentina. Domestic violence has been an invisible threat for years, decades and centuries, drastically escalating during crises, economic deprivations, and pandemics. What is domestic abuse, what consequences can it bring and how can we mitigate the situation and protect women?
What is Domestic Abuse?
Next to physical violence, domestic abuse can have the form of control and gaslighting (manipulation with an intention to question partner’s sanity), economic abuse, cyber abuse, emotional abuse as well as threats and intimidation. Look for the following signs:
Being isolated from friends and family members
Having physical injuries including bruises, burns and bite marks
Being financially controlled, not having enough money for necessities
Being stopped from going to college, university or work
Having social media accounts and emails monitored and texts messages read
Being constantly diminished and belittled
Being pressured into sex
Being told that it’s your fault and you are overreacting
Why Does Dometic Violence Occur?
Due to COVID 19 outbreak resulting in lockdown and social distancing measures, many people lost their jobs and primary source of income. Economic and financial losses invoke violence according to the study “Intimate Partner Violence in the Great Recession”. It came to the conclusion that economic hardship leads to men acting more violent and controlling.
The second reason is of course the proximity: people are trapped in one apartment for many days and weeks without the possibility of escaping each other and being alone. The studies have shown that families in close contact tend to demonstrate more violent behavior.
The third reason is alcohol consumption and its aggressive outcomes. Alcohol is a key predictor of intimate partner violence – it invokes hostile and destructive behavior and numbs the awareness of consequences. Finally, there is limited access to services that could provide some guidance as well as less social context. Even if a woman has some friends and family members she could turn to, now due to the social distancing measures, she is left alone and helpless.
What Can Domestic Violence Lead to?
First and foremost, domestic violence can result in traumatic brain injuries which are often misdiagnosed and left untreated. The symptoms are similar to psychological stress – depression, anxiety, insomnia, and sleep difficulties – so that people fail to treat it as a physical condition and go to a neurologist. Left untreated, TBIs can lead to poor cognitive, psychological, and neural health as well as the loss of consciousness, disorientation, memory loss, confusion, and dizziness.
Increasing numbers of DV victims contribute to the rising numbers of femicides: Mexico has experienced an 8% increase in the femicides over the last year. Moreover, the gun sales numbers have skyrocketed in the USA which will inevitably result in more accidental deaths and homicides. Over two million guns have been purchased only in March of 2020 which is the highest monthly rate since Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The accidents have already been recorded: one man in New Mexico accidentally shot his 13 years old cousin.
What Can We Do?
What did governments do?
French authorities offered a service at pharmacies, where women can go to seek help. Italy developed an app YouPol which allows you to report an instance of domestic violence without making a phone call. Additionally, the Italian government subsidized hotel rooms to offer shelters for women in need. The Canary Islands and Spain have created a code word for women which they can mention to pharmacists and receive immediate help and support.
Use the power of the Internet
The current services are overwhelmed with this effect of the pandemic. We need to create more online support groups, counseling, and provide health guides everywhere we can. The internet is a great platform to exchange information that we need to utilize and help women in need.
Health care
We need to create health care facilities to provide shelters and counseling as well as a hotline that women can use. Health care providers should be aware of the situation, show compassion, and support, and be knowledgeable enough to provide immediate medical care.
What can you do?
If you have found yourself in this situation, first of all, it’s not your fault. None of this is your fault. Secondly, you are not alone: one in three women has experienced domestic violence at least once. Finally, try to come up with a safety plan and don’t be afraid to seek help.
Author Alex Birk
USA Hotline, 24/7 support: 1 800 799 7233
UK Hotline, 24/7 support: 0800 2000 247
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
A full list of European hotlines:
https://ec.europa.eu/justice/saynostopvaw/helpline.html
List of hotlines in South America: http://www.naasca.org/Groups-Services/SOUTHAMERICA.pdf
