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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month!

Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.

Every 9 seconds a woman is beaten in the United States - domesticviolencestatistics.org

When exploring characters who are experiencing abusive relationships or domestic violence, remember that there is more to the story than the injuries, fights, secrets, and hope for escape. Think about ways you can go deeper into the co-occurring mental health conditions, substance abuse and instances of self medicating, as well as the effect on those peripherally involved like close friends, children and extended family members. Consider these suggestions when designing your characters and storylines to showcase what is happening below the surface for the victims affected by domestic violence:

• Consider portraying the effect domestic violence can have on an individual’s mental health when conditions like depression, anxiety, inability to sleep, changes in appetite and emotional numbing co-occur or become more severe in an abusive environment.

• Consider the topic of ambient trauma (see box) and attempt to portray the effects domestic violence can have on children who might also be part of the setting.

• The destructive impact that domestic violence can have on a person's self-esteem is enormous. Since people typically cannot force someone to get out of a violent situation, consider portraying characters offering assistance to victims and providing the help they need when they're ready for it.

Violence & Women

• The strongest risk factor for being a victim of intimate partner violence is being female.

• One of every six women has been forcibly raped at some time in her life, and women are as likely to be raped as adults as they are as minors.

• While women are at a significantly greater risk in comparison to men of being raped by all types of offenders, 43 percent of all female victims were raped by either a current or former intimate partner.

• Between 25 and 50 percent of women will be abused by male partners during their lifetime.