Why Empowerment Matters

Domestic violence is very real and very scary. It matters to each and every person who has experienced domestic violence. What is most frustrating about domestic violence is that it is very often hidden in private relationships. It is not always as obvious as a black eye. The signs of domestic violence are much more nuanced and subtle. That makes it harder to counter.

What many people do not realize is that domestic violence is not always about physical violence. It is often more about coercion in order to gain power and control over someone. It may have elements of physical assault, emotional manipulation, sometimes control over finances, or maybe social isolation. It’s complicated. 

Why does empowerment matter? Because domestic violence is real. It happens in every community, every class, every culture. It is frequently hidden or difficult to identify. The victim is often in a position where she has been manipulated into a submissive status, and she is afraid to communicate in any way that something is not healthy or simply may not know or acknowledge that what is happening is not right. There is a myth that this is a private issue; the relationship is private and it is none of our business. That myth needs to be shattered to tiny little smithereens right now. It is not private when it is not healthy.

• 1 out of every 3 women are or have been a victim of domestic violence.
• Women 18 to 34 are at the greatest risk for experiencing partner violence.
• Most domestic violence incidents are not reported.