| Domestic violence shows its face in many forms other than physical battering. Domestic violence can include physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, economic abuse, and social abuse. Domestic Violence and Physical Abuse Physical abuse is among the many forms of domestic violence. It includes punching, grabbing, kicking, breaking bones, throwing victims against - walls, and burning. Physical abuse also includes damaging household items and furniture and the denial of basic needs including sleep and sustenance. In some cases, the victim of domestic violence is beaten or threatened with objects. The injuries that result are not always obvious since the abusers generally hurt their victims in places covered by clothing. The abuser's behavior can vary in result— from bruising to murder. It often begins with what is excused as trivial contact that escalates into more frequent and serious domestic violence attacks. Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Sexual abuse is defined as intercourse without consent or other unwelcome sexual acts. This is also a part of domestic violence. Physical attack by the abuser is often accompanied by, or culminates in, domestic violence wherein the woman is forced to submit to sexual intercourse with her abuser or take part in other uninvited sexual activity. Many abusive men believe that since they are in a relationship they have unlimited sexual access to their partners, whether she consents or not. Domestic Violence and Verbal Abuse Verbal abuse includes assaults on a woman's self-esteem. It includes insults and derogatory comments. Over time, the consistent humiliation destroys a woman's belief in herself and severely affects her confidence and self-respect. These women are so mired in what's wrong with them that they carry their thinking to all areas of their lives, subsequently reinforcing their thinking with negative self-talk.This ultimately gives the abuser increasing control of these domestic violence relationships. The victims of domestic violence will eventually believe that the violence is their own fault. She doesn't realize the blame rests solely on the perpetrator of the domestic violence. Threats of physical abuse and other verbal outbursts are still another form of verbal abuse. Threats are very common, meant to terrorize the victim with the goal of taking total control. Threats by a man to kill a woman and/or her children are often reported by victims of domestic violence, especially if the abuser has access to a firearm or another weapon. Domestic Violence and Emotional/Psychological Abuse Closely linked to verbal abuse, emotional/psychological abuse involves behaviors intended to terrorize the victim and strip them of their self-confidence. It includes destroying personal property and deprivation of personal needs such as food and sleep. This form of domestic violence occurs when one partner deliberately misuses the emotional and psychological bonds of the relationship. The effect is often cumulative, occurring over a long period of time with damaging consequences for the victim's sense of self. Domestic Violence and Economic Abuse Domestic violence in the form of economic abuse occurs when the male takes total control over the couples' financial resources. The victim, in this case, may not be permitted to work. If she does work however all money must be surrendered to the perpetrator in order for him to control the domestic violence relationship. In many cases the victim of domestic violence must ask for money and does not have access to family funds. This financial deprivation can be followed by criticism for failing to earn a larger salary. Controlling the money a victim receives also reduces her satisfaction of owning personal property. Turning The Corner helps women survivors of domestic violence overcome this major stumbling block to ending the domestic violence relationship. Domestic Violence and Social Abuse Domestically violent social abuse involves delivering verbal abuse in public. The abuse manifests itself as put-downs, cruel jokes, criticisms about weight, appearance, sexuality, intelligence, following the woman to work, controlling access to friends, constant phone calls at work or accusations of imagined 'affairs', and isolating the woman by demeaning her friends and family. Domestically violent social abuse includes the constant monitoring and control of a woman's activities, outings, and friendships. The social abuser in a domestic violence relationship controls the flow of information into and out of the household and restricts his partner's freedom. Every form of domestic violence has one goal: To trap and control the victim, rendering her powerless. The ability to recognize these forms of domestic violence can help victims identify their situations and help them find appropriate solutions to domestic violence. Click here to Help Us Help End Domestic Violence About Nancy Salamone Ms. Salamone's previous corporate career includes twenty years at major New York City insurance and financial companies. She rose to the rank of vice president of marketing. She managed corporate budgets in excess of $20 million. But for most of her life, whenever she had to balance her own checkbook, she froze, terrorized. Although she was her household's wage earner, she turned over her entire paycheck to her husband, who retained tight control over all family finances. Although she regularly advised huge corporations how, why, and when to spend their money, she could not imagine how she could manage her money on her own. Finally, in late 1991, Ms. Salamone found the courage to leave her abusive husband and to "turn the corner" - to face her fears of money and to take responsibility for her own finances. Today, Ms. Salamone is a Chartered Life Underwriter and a lecturer at the Center for Financial Studies in New York and at New York University . She has served on the board of directors of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. She has learned to balance her checkbook, and is committed to using what she knows to help other women overcome their fears of managing their money. Nancy is the Founder and President of Turning
The Corner and the developer of Turning The Corner's landmark
national program "The Business of Me". The “Business
of Me” program is designed to help women achieve personal financial
health and independence, putting them in control of their own money.
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