Disturbing...

Statistics of Domestic Violence Victims
~In our country, battering is the single major injury to women exceeding muggings, rapes, and auto accidents COMBINED.

~The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 95% of assaults on spouses or ex-spouses are committed by men against women (Assessing Violent Couples, H. Douglas, Families in Society, 11/91)

~20% of female trauma cases are victims of intentional injury by an acquaintance, boyfriend or husband.

~Pregnancy is a risk factor for abuse.

~When abuse occurs during pregnancy it can cause miscarriage, premature births, birth defects and learning disabilities.

~$3-5 billion dollars is spent annually to treat victims of domestic violence.

~1.8 MILLON women are battered each year.

~Every NINE SECONDS a woman is battered.

~Within the last year, 7% of American women (3.9 million) who are married or living with someone as a couple were physically abused, and 37% (20.7 million) were verbally or emotionally abused by their spouse or partner (The Commonwealth Fund, N.Y. 1991).

~42% of murdered women are KILLED by their intimate partners (FBI's 88-91 Uniform Crime Reports).

....and it doesn't only happen to poor, uneducated women. With numbers like these, you probably know someone who is a victim. In fact, you may not even know that a friend is a victim until it's too late. Don't be afraid to reach out to someone if you think they are in this type of situation. Victims rarely tell friends or family what is going on...but you may be the one who could help her save herself.

Trust me on this one.