Courtney Balcombe

News Editor

clb6264@psu.edu

October is not only Breast Cancer month but also Domestic Violence Awareness month. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, October was first declared as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989.

Domestic violence affects millions, both women and men, of every race, religion, culture, and status. It’s not just punches and black eyes — it’s yelling, humiliation, stalking, manipulation, coercion, threats, and isolation. It’s stealing a paycheck, keeping tabs online, non-stop texting, constant use the silent treatment, or calling someone stupid so often they believe it.

Domestic violence does not only affect women, but men are also victims of domestic violence, statistics have shown that three out of four Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence.

The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence states PA statistics. The deaths for 2020 were 109, only three less than in 2019.  56 percent of these deaths were due to a current or former intimate partner, these included being shot, stabbed, beaten, strangled, suffocated, and other forms.

There are other various types of abuse, which include:

• Name-calling or demeaning comments
• Someone that seems too good to be true early in a relationship; the relationship may advance very quickly
• Frequent phone calls or texts
• Threatens to harm or kill you, your pet(s), or family members
• Blames you for the abusive behavior; does not take responsibility for actions
• Prevents you from spending time with family or friends and from enjoying hobbies and other activities
• Damages your credit by exceeding limits, purposely not paying bills, etc; may restrict your access to financial resources

PA also includes physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, choking, shoving, or using objects like knives and guns to cause injury. Sexual abuse such as rape or forced unwanted sexual actions. Destroying personal belongings and not allow someone to work

Other forms of domestic violence include victims killed by a family member. One PA victim shared a story that included an elderly mother and her son.

“Allegheny County, PA — An 80-year-old woman was writing out bills when she was attacked by her 42-year-old son. He allegedly knocked her to the ground and began kicking and stomping her before throwing her down the basement stairs. The man told police that his mother was still breathing after he dragged her across the basement and left her to die. A day later the man called the police and claimed he had killed his mother. The home had a history of domestic disturbance calls to the police.”

All forms of abuse come with warning signs:

• Their partner puts them down in front of other people
• They are constantly worried about making their partner angry
• They make excuses for their partner’s behavior
• Their partner is extremely jealous or possessive
• They have unexplained marks or injuries
• They’ve stopped spending time with friends and family
• They are depressed or anxious, or you notice changes in their personality

If you, or someone you know, has been subjected to domestic violence speak up. If you want to report domestic violence, there are various resources around Erie County.

Crime Victim Center, (814) 455-9414 located at 125 W 18th St, Erie, PA 16501

Mercy Center for Women, (814) 455-4577 located at 1039 E 27th St, Erie, PA 16504

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)