Domestic Violence

Domestic violence (also referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV), dating abuse, or relationship abuse) is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship.

At Daya we help people who are experiencing abuse from:

An intimate partner, a spouse, or a dating partner
A family member or in-laws
A member of their household

Some examples of domestic violence are:

Physical - pushing, slapping, hitting, punching, choking, or throwing objects
Sexual - forced, coerced, or unwanted sexual contact
Emotional - blaming, constant criticism, name calling, bullying, yelling/screaming
Psychological- denying abuse, silent treatments, fear tactics, threats of harm or death
Financial - controlling all finances and purchases, taking your money, opening credit cards in your name without your permission
Spiritual - not allowing you to practice your religion, forcing you to practice another religion, using religious text to justify their abuse
Digital- controlling your email, social media accounts, phone calls, or texts; posting on behalf of you online, sharing your private information online
Stalking- Tracking your car, phone, or movements; following you, showing up to your home or office unannounced to scare you.
Immigration Abuse- Threats of deportation, not filing proper paperwork

The following diagram depicts the unique challenges for South Asian survivors of abuse. Daya’s culturally specific services bridge the cultural divide and address these barriers.

Domestic violence follows a pattern in which each step is used to control, scare, or confuse you. This cycle has a tension phase, explosion phase, and honeymoon phase during which things appear normal to confuse you.

Domestic violence is not just a private matter or a woman’s issue, it is a public health issue that can affect anyone regardless of ethnicity, culture, education, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation.

Daya can help