Types of Abuse: Response to the Super Bowl Anti-Domestic Violence Commercial

by Mary Stearns-Montgomery
on 10 February, 2015

During the Super Bowl this year, a commercial presented by NO MORE focused on ending domestic violence and sexual assault. The spot centered on a call from a woman to 911, pretending to order a pizza to escape the violence she was experiencing in her home. The abuse she experienced is evident in the scenes portrayed throughout the house, items strewn about and walls punched-in.

Everyday, people are abused. What is surprising, though, is the number of victims that have been abused by someone they know intimately. Intimate partner violence is a huge issue. According to statistics from Huffington Post, one in four women and one in four men will be abused in their lifetime.1

Types of Abuse

With the surprising commonality of abuse, it is important to understand the different types of abuse. Here are some of the types and what to look for:

  • Coercion/Threats: a victim is sometimes threatened into doing things that they don’t want to do or that are illegal; sometimes, the offender threatens to commit suicide or leave the victim
  • Economic Abuse: this type of abuse is very common and involves preventing someone from being economically independent, whether it be in regards to preventing them from getting a job or not giving someone access to family finances
  • Emotional Abuse: with emotional abuse, the victim is usually insulted or made fun of and forced to play mind games; guilt and humiliation are often results of emotional abuse
  • Intimidation: this is often done with gestures and acts of destruction, whether it is to property or pets; it’s using fear to put the victim down and can often involve weapons
  • Isolation: this involves control of the victim; what they wear, do, whom they speak with and usually is justified by jealousy
  • Minimizing, Denying and Blaming: this type of abuse involves denial and shifting blame to the victim for the abuse that was given to them
  • Physical and Sexual Abuse: this type of abuse is violent and can involve beating, punching, slapping, choking or using weapons; victims are often harmed and forced to do things against their will
  • Using Children/Family Members: victims of this type of abuse are often threatened using family members or have family members used as leverage points

 

 

If you would like to learn more about the NO MORE commercial, you can read about it here:Link

Stearns-Montgomery & Proctor is Here to Help You

Our attorneys consider your needs and your safety to be of great importance. If you are in need of help or are dealing with abuse, please call (678) 971-3413 or complete our contact form. We are located in Atlanta, as well as Marietta, Alpharetta and Dunwoody and have the resources to help you, wherever you may be in the Atlanta area.

 

1http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/23/domestic-violence-statistics_n_5959776.html

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