Warning Signs and Types of Domestic Violence

Every 9-15 seconds someone is physically abused in the United States. Domestic Violence has become one of the most underreported crimes, leaving many victims silent and without help.

The avoidance of this issue leaves many unaware that they may be in an abusive relationship. Often times, domestic violence is only thought about as being physical abuse, though that is certainly not the case. Domestic violence includes physical, emotional, economic and sexual abuse. It does not discriminate either – it can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation or educational level.

Additionally, it is a social issue that requires the effort of everyone in the community to stop. If we are going to have future generations believing in Every Relationship Violence-Free we need to work together to create a lasting change. Everyone deserves to live a violence-free life.

Knowing the warning signs of abuse is the first step to ending it.

PHYSICAL ABUSE

• Slapping, hitting, or punching
• Choking
• Kicking
• Shoving or shaking
• Spitting
• Having objects thrown at you
• Restraining you physically

EMOTIONAL ABUSE

• Name calling and insults
• Verbal attacks
• Humiliating you
• Destroying your possessions
• Harming or threatening to harm your family, friends, or pets
• Making you feel guilty-makes you feel like you are responsible for the abuse
• Ruins your self-confidence
• Plays mind games with you
• Is extremely jealous

SEXUAL ABUSE

• Forcing you to engage in sexual acts that make you feel uncomfortable
• Forcing you to engage in sexual acts that are overly aggressive or violent
• Coercing you to have sex through manipulation or threats
• Forcing you to watch pornography or other things that you dislike
• Denying you contraception or protection

ECONOMIC ABUSE

• Not allowing you to work
• Isolating you by limiting your access to money
• Controlling all financial decisions without your input
• Giving you an allowance or making you ask for money

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship please call the Hubbard House 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 904-354-3114 or 800-500-1119. Hubbard House can help. Hubbard House provides services free-of-charge to victims of domestic violence and their children living in Duval and Baker counties in Northeast Florida.

Other domestic violence shelters in Northeast Florida include:

Clay County: Quigley House, 904-284-0061 24-hour Hotline

NassauCounty: Micah’s Place, 877-228-7388 or 904-225-9979 24-hour Hotline

St. Johns County: Betty Griffin House, 904-824-1555 24-hour Hotline

If one of these shelters does not serve your county please call the Florida Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-500-1119.

International Women’s Day: A promise is a promise. Time for action to end violence against women.

For over 100 years International Women’s Day has been celebrated by women all around the world pushing for total equality in the workplace, in the political arena, and most importantly in the home. The first National Women’s Day was celebrated in the United States on February 28, 1909 after 15,000 women marched through New York demanding shorter hours, better wages, and the right to vote. Four years later it became International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrated on March 8, by countries all over including Afghanistan, Armenia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Russia, and the United States.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations has declared the UN theme for 2013 to be: “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.” Hubbard House wants to recognize the United Nations’ efforts to end violence against women and shed light on the statistics that are still present in our country and the world today.

• In the United States it is estimated that every 9 to 15 seconds a woman is beaten
• 18.3 % of women in the United States have survived a completed or attempted rape. Of these, 12.3% were younger than age 12 when they were first raped, and 29.9% were between the ages of 11 and 17
• Almost one-third of female homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner
• At least 60 million girls who would otherwise be expected to be alive are “missing” from various populations, mostly in Asia, as a result of sex-selective abortions, infanticide or neglect
• Globally, at least one in three women and girls is beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime
• 4 million women and girls are trafficked annually

Violence is one of most deadly and widespread violations against women’s rights across the world, but there is hope in the fight.

“UNESCO is working across the board to end violence against women. Laws alone are not enough. We must educate to shape new norms and behaviors. To empower women and ensure equality, we must challenge every form of violence every time it occurs. This is UNESCO’s promise on International Women’s Day.”- The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

Events are held all over the world to recognize this day including political rallies, business conferences, and government recognition.

The following are a selection of websites at which to view violence against women statistics:

• Bureau of Justice: Crime and Victim Statistics
• Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women
• Family Violence Prevention Fund
• RAINN Statistics
• Violence Against Women Online Resources
• World Health Organization: Violence Against Women

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship please call the Hubbard House hotline at (904) 354-3114 or (800) 500-1119. Hubbard House can help.

ABOUT HUBBARD HOUSE: Founded as the first domestic violence shelter in Florida in 1976, Hubbard House is a certified, comprehensive domestic violence center providing programs and services to more than 5,000 women, children, and men annually in Duval and Baker counties. While Hubbard House is most known for its emergency shelter, the agency also provides extensive adult and youth outreach services, school-based education, therapeutic childcare, batterers’ intervention programs, court advocacy and volunteer and community education opportunities. Visit www.hubbardhouse.org to learn more.

By Hannah Johnson

Women’s History Month: Celebrating the Women who Helped Shape our Community’s History and Future

March is Women’s History Month; a time to reflect on the accomplishments of women and honor their role in helping to shape our nation and community’s history and future.

This 35-year celebration of women began in 1978 in Sonoma County, California as “Women’s History Week”. In 1987, Congress expanded the week-long celebration to a month, and March was declared Women’s History Month. This year Hubbard House, the domestic violence center serving Duval and Baker counties, wants to take Women’s History Month as a chance to celebrate the women who have made strides against domestic violence in our community.

Hubbard House’s beginnings came on a mild Sunday afternoon in 1976, 37 years ago. Ellen Spangler and a few of her close friends were bicycling in downtown Jacksonville. As they bicycled into an old residential section called Springfield, Ellen suddenly stopped and cried, “This is it!” She had found a haven of refuge on that small street.

That refuge became the first location for Hubbard House. The house was purchased by The Jacksonville Women’s Movement (JWM) and named Hubbard House for the street where it was located. Soon after, as Ellen had intended, this house would serve as a place of refuge, a shelter for abused women and their children. Hubbard House became the first battered women’s shelter in Florida.

Over the years, Hubbard House has expanded to provide services to meet the needs of women, children and men who have been affected by domestic violence, intervention for children who have lived with violence, and programs that work with abusers on changing the attitudes and beliefs that sanction violence. Currently around 1,000 victims and their children stay in its Emergency Shelter and more than 4,000 women, children and men are provided services through the Hubbard House Outreach Center.

The dream of a couple of women in 1976 who had just $4,000 and great faith in the future has become a valued resource for our community. Hubbard House continues to write its 37-year history in parallel with the celebration of women which began on another coast.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT: This March, during Women’s History Month, make the commitment that these brave women did 37 years ago and help raise awareness about domestic violence by participating in the 4^th Annual Setting the Pace for Peace Domestic Violence Awareness Walk on Saturday, April 6th. Visit www.hubbardhousewalk.com to register.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship please call the Hubbard House domestic violence hotline at 1-800-500-1119 or 904-354-3114. Hubbard House can help.

ABOUT HUBBARD HOUSE: Hubbard House is a certified, comprehensive domestic violence center providing programs and services to more than 5,000 women, children, and men annually in Duval and Baker counties. While Hubbard House is most known for its emergency shelter, the agency also provides extensive adult and youth outreach services, school-based education, therapeutic childcare, batterers’ intervention programs, court advocacy and volunteer and community education opportunities. Visit www.hubbardhouse.org to learn more.

By Ashley Johnson Scott, Hubbard House Community Relations Coordinator