One in Four Women Affected by Violence at Home

You've seen it in movies. Or perhaps you've been there. A Freshman assembly is held in a large auditorium to welcome new college students. A dean wearing thick glasses stands up to warn the students of some of the harsh realities of college life. The Freshmen are instructed to look to their left, look to their right, and then to look at the student behind and in front of them. They are told that only one of the students they just observed would graduate from college.

 

If you gather up a diverse group of women, young and old, rich and poor, educated and not, you could conduct a similar exercise to demonstrate the wide-spread impact of domestic violence. You see, research shows that one out of every four women will be the victim of intimate partner violence during their lifetimes.

 

Domestic violence takes many forms. Sometimes it takes the form of verbal or emotional abuse. It can also be physical or sexual. Often, victims keep the secret from family and close friends that someone they love and trust is hurting them.

 

In Hall County, Gateway Domestic Violence Center offers resources for domestic violence victims. Services are offered to clients who live in the agency's emergency housing, as well as those who in their own homes or with family and friends. All services are free and confidential.

Gateway's experienced staff assisted more than 1,200 women and children last year.

 

At the core of most violent relationships is the attempt for the abuser to gain power and control over the victim. Many techniques are used to accomplish this goal, and they are sometimes more subtle than physical abuse. For example, isolation from family and friends is a common technique used to control a partner.

 

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can call Gateway's 24/7 hotline at (770) 536-5860 for help.