“Do I need a domestic violence attorney?” is a question too many women are afraid to ask, but have to for a couple unfortunate reasons.
First of all, 1.3 million women are the victims of domestic violence each year, and 100,000 women are hospitalized as a result of domestic violence each day. Yet, sadly, only one quarter of all physical assaults perpetuated against females by intimate partners are reported to the police. On average, it takes 35 incidents of domestic violence before a woman reaches out to the police or to a domestic violence lawyer.
Secondly, it’s because there are other types of domestic violence beyond physical violence. Every day, domestic violence lawyers encounter women who are sexually, psychologically, emotionally, or economically abused.
Even if an intimate partner doesn’t physically harm you, domestic violence lawyers argue, they can still be abusive.
To help you better understand how, here are the four other forms domestic violence can take.
Sexual.
Sexual domestic violence is the attempt to coerce any form of sexual contact without the other’s consent, or an attempt to undermine the person’s sexuality. It can take the shape of fondling, withholding sex, accusations of infedility, treating the partner in a sexually derogatory way, harsh sexual criticism, sex with others, marital rape, forced sex after physical beating, attacks on the sexual parts of the body, sodomy, or even forced prostitution.
Psychological.
Psychological domestic abuse is the instilling of fear or isolating of the victim from friends, family, school, and/or work. Domestic violence lawyers say it can take the shape of intimidation, threats of harm, withholding access to communications or transportation, harassing others, constant “check ups,” destruction of property, menacing, or stalking.
Emotional.
Emotional domestic violence is the undermining of a victim’s self worth. For example, a person can emotionally abuse their partner with constant criticism, belittling of the other’s abilities, name calling, insults, silent treatments, emotional manipulations, guilt tripping, repeatedly making and breaking promises, and subverting a partner’s relationship with her or his children.
Economic.
Economic domestic abuse happens when a person forces another to become financially dependent on them. For example, domestic violence lawyers say that a person can economically abuse another by controlling their partner’s financial resources, withholding money or the access to money, forbidding the person from attending school, refusing to let the other get a job, or requiring a partner to account and justify for money spent.
If you believe you may have experienced any of these different types of domestic violence, get in touch with either family law attorneys, domestic violence lawyers, the police, family members, or anyone else who you think can help.
If you have any questions about how domestic violence lawyers can help you, feel free to ask in the comments. For more information, read this website.
