Myths & Facts | Domestic Violence Shelter for Abused & Battered Women- Programs, Resources & Services- Kansas City

Myth 1

Domestic violence only occurs in poor, urban areas.

Fact

Women of all cultures, races, occupations, income levels, and ages are battered - by husbands, boyfriends, lovers and partners (Surgeon General Antonia Novello).

Myth 2

Domestic violence does not affect many people.

Facts

Nearly one in four women in the United States reports experiencing violence by a current or former spouse or boyfriend at some point in her life (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2008). These are our sisters, mothers, friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers.
An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centers for Injury Prevention and Control 2003).
On average more than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States. In 2005, 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner (U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics 2007).

Myth 3

Battering is only a momentary loss of temper.

Facts

Battering is the establishment of control and fear in a relationship through violence and other forms of abuse. The batterer uses acts of violence and a series of behaviors, including intimidation, threats, psychological abuse, isolation, etc. to coerce and to control the other person. The violence may not happen often, but it remains as a hidden, terrorizing factor (FBI Uniform Crime Reports 1990).
Two thirds of women physically assaulted by an intimate said they were victimized multiple times by the same partner in a 12-month period (NVAW 2000).

Myth 4

Domestic violence is just a push, slap or punch - it does not produce lasting effects.

Facts

Women who have experienced domestic violence are 80 percent more likely to have a stroke, 70 percent more likely to have heart disease, 60 percent more likely to have asthma and 70 percent more likely to drink heavily than women who have not experienced intimate partner violence (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2008).
The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year, $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Centers for Injury Prevention and Control 2003).