Relationship abuse is a growing and very dangerous epidemic that needs to be stopped because of the mental health damage it is causing to a large number of women and even a small amount of men across the country and around the globe. Although women are the ones victimized 90% of the time, abuse can also happen to men. Relationship abuse can occur in both heterosexual and homosexual relationships. Abuse most commonly starts at the high school age when relationships get more serious and emotions are deeper which cause higher chance for abuse. More than 1.5 million women nationwide seek medical treatment for injuries related to abuse each year (enddomesticabuse.com). One out of every three women will be assaulted by an intimate partner during her lifetime, and 60 to 70% of men who abuse their partners also batter their children (enddomesticabuse.com). Victims of domestic abuse or domestic violence may be men or women, although women are most commonly victimized. This abuse happens among heterosexual couples and in same-sex partnerships. Except for the gender difference, domestic abuse doesn't discriminate. It happens within all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and financial levels. The abuse may occur during a relationship, while the couple is breaking up, or after the relationship has ended. Despite what many people believe, domestic violence is not due to the abuser's loss of control over his behavior. In fact, violence is a deliberate choice made by his abuser in order to control his or her partner (JenniferAnn.org). Women and men are being hurt because they aren't even aware that they're in an abusive relationship. Most abuse victims think that abuse is strictly a physical term and don't realize the tough consequences that other forms of abuse, such as verbal, mental, and financial, can play on an individual.
