Domestic Violence

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is defined as intentional abuse or assault committed by a past or present spouse, intimate partner, family member, or household member, regardless of age or gender. Domestic violence may take the form of psychological abuse, physical battery, or sexual assault. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of research on domestic violence; however, relatively little attention has been paid to the influence of minority status and culture on the experience of domestic violence.

Domestic violence is most frequently perpetrated by a male partner against a female partner. Female-tomale domestic violence does occur, but estimates suggest that in only 5% of cases is the primary aggressor female, and in cases of mutual violence, women are seven times more likely to be ...