Intimate Partner Violence:

The Hidden Tragedy of a Failing Economy

            According to the US Department of Justice in 2007, sixty-four percent of female homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner or a family member. “Three women are killed by a current or former intimate partner each day in America, on average.” (Bureau of Justice) In 2008 twenty-three percent of all violent crimes committed against females were perpetrated by intimate partners. In recent years a great deal of research has been done by sociologists on the correlation between poverty and domestic violence. It has been recognized that while inter-family violence can occur in any social strata the added pressure of financial strain can often trigger violent outbursts in intimate relationships. On February 22, 2010, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid commented: “Men, when they’re out of work, tend to become abusive.”  While his remarks infuriated many politicians, Sue Else of the National Network to End Domestic Violence found some truth in his statement. “Senator Reid is correct in discussing how pervasive domestic violence is and what job loss can do to exacerbate the problem.” (National Network to End Domestic Violence) The fact is an Institute of Justice study in 2004 indicated that when a man in an intimate partner relationship is unemployed the rate of violence rises from 4.7 percent to 7. 5 percent and when he is unemployed for two periods of time the rate of violence is 12.3 percent. (Institute of Justice) In March 2010 44% of the unemployed in the U.S. had been out of work for twenty-seven weeks or more. With the rate of joblessness reaching double digits in the United States it is not surprising to find that domestic violence calls have increased as well. Unfortunately, the struggling economy has also led to cuts in services once available to women in abusive relationships, reducing their ability to leave their abusers. In 2009 California saw the closing of six domestic violence shelters. Last year the only domestic violence shelter in Philadelphia had to turn away 4,671 victims of abuse. In addition to government cuts in funding, donations from corporations and individuals are down resulting in an inability to serve those who need help. If the impact of a poor economy is causing stressors that lead to intimate partner violence then cutting programs to deal with these stressors should be expanded and not cut back. But domestic violence is often looked on as a private problem despite efforts by the government to acknowledge the seriousness of the crisis.

During America’s “Great Depression”, beginning with the stock market crash in 1929, the country’s economy was negatively affected for as much as twelve years. Joblessness rates rose to 25 percent leaving more than sixty percent of Americans living in poverty. With the added distress of homelessness, many women were forced to take on roles that were formerly left to their spouses: family financial support. In a society that was based on male dominance, the sudden rise of female independence was perceived by many men like a challenge to their masculinity. In addition, overcrowded living conditions, limited food and clothing, and the tensions inherent in these situations resulted in a rise in reports of spousal abuse. (United States Department of Labor) During that time women’s rights were still minimal, although their responsibilities had grown. In the 1980’s General Motors laid off a significant number of employees. Flint, Michigan experienced a rise in domestic violence. In an April 2009 report in The Canadian Press Lisa Falkowsky, Executive Director of The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter in Canada stated “Domestic violence is about power and control. So if a man feels he has a lot of control over his workplace … and then suddenly loses his job, he would transfer that over to the family and try to use that power and control there in a variety of ways.”  Brian Namey, Communications Director at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, says “distress from the economy doesn’t create batterers but has caused a(n) dramatic increase in both frequency and severity in all corners of the country.” (National Network to End Domestic Violence)  In January 2010 the Tennessee unemployment rate rose to over 10%, still a far cry from the high numbers of the Depression era. But this is an increase of over 6 % in a ten year period, and almost 3% higher than the previous December.  In February 2003 the unemployment rate for men 20 and over was 3.5 percent and in February 2009 the same group had an unemployment rate of 8.4 percent. In February 2010, the unemployment rate for the same portion of the population reached 10.07 percent. Add to this the 2008 statistics that showed 15.5 percent of Tennessee residents living below the poverty level and the seriousness of statewide poverty is more apparent. (Tennessee Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development) In March 2010 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the number of long term unemployed, people who have been out of work for twenty-seven or more weeks, increased by 414,000 and is now at 6.5 million. Add to these numbers the 9.1 million people who are working part-time because their hours have been cut back or they cannot find full-time jobs and the seriousness of the unemployment and underemployment situation becomes more evident. This combination of poverty and the addition of growing unemployment set the stage for increased violence against women in intimate relationships. In 2003 Tennessee ranked 5^th in the United States for the number of females murdered by males in Single Victim/Single Offender Homicides. In 2004 the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reported seventy of the murders investigated were the result of domestic violence. On September 15, 2009, domestic violence programs in Tennessee reported 375 victims were assisted with temporary housing in shelters or transitional housing. On the same day, there were 40 requests for housing which could not be met because of a lack of funding or staff. (DV Counts 2009) Many of these shelters and services are financed not only by government grants but also by donations from local community groups and citizens. With higher unemployment fewer resources are available for these services and women and children may be left in dangerous situations.

President Bill Clinton signed The Violence Against Women Act in 1994 which provided over a billion dollars toward investigating and prosecuting those who commit acts of violence against women. (Bureau of Justice) In an effort to address the problem of domestic violence in Tennessee, in 1996 “the Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation establishing a voluntary domestic violence reporting data system for healthcare providers to report suspected domestic violence incidents to the Department of Health.” This legislation was updated in 2007 removing the word “voluntary” from the law. (Tennessee Government)

According to Nancy K.D. Lemon, an authority on the subject of domestic violence law and a faculty member at the Berkley School of Law, the “recent shift (in household wealth) has led to the greatest wealth inequality since the 1920s.”  In addition, she states that “(e)scalating cutbacks in benefits coupled with severe shortages of low-income housing and increases in unemployment have jeopardized the stability of all people with reduced or fixed incomes.” (135) This shortage of low-income housing, closing of shelters, and cuts in services have left many women with nowhere to turn and forces them to remain in dangerous abusive relationships. The troubled housing markets across the country make finding affordable housing even more difficult. An article in the NY Times on May 25^th, 2009 noted: “As job losses rise, growing numbers of American homeowners with once solid credit are falling behind on their mortgages, amplifying a wave of foreclosures.” (New York Times) Many families whose major breadwinner has become unemployed may go on to lose their homes, unable to pay mortgages or even higher rents. Driven to move into less costly housing, smaller dwellings, and perhaps less desirable neighborhoods can raise even more tension within the family. High-stress levels in close quarters for longer periods of time can be a volatile combination.

In order to better understand the relationship between poverty, unemployment, and spousal abuse it is important to examine the causes of violence against women. By recognizing the warning signs and developing programs that will address the roots of intimate partner violence the numbers could be significantly reduced.

The definition of intimate partner violence encompasses several different types of abuse. According to the United States Department of Justice “Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.” Many people view domestic abuse as only physical attacks. But rape, humiliation, control of finances, threatening, harming pets, isolating a partner from family or friends, withholding medical care, and many other behaviors are forms of abuse. Sadly the effects of these abusive behaviors extend to children caught up in these destructive relationships.

There are factors other than financial that can contribute to intimate partner violence such as substance abuse, mental illness, dropping out of school at an early age, a history of violence both personal and family, early parenthood, and couples who cohabit at a young age. It should be recognized that many of these criteria also relate to unemployment or underemployment and add to the pressures experienced by partners in these situations.  In hard economic times such as the one we are currently experiencing the downsizing of companies often results in the less skilled worker being laid off first. As the young, uneducated, and those with criminal records seek employment it becomes more difficult for them to find jobs. Unable to support themselves, let alone their partners and children, their tension may lead to continued and escalating crime and explosions within their home environments.

Domestic abuse can take several forms. Physical, emotional, psychological, economic, or sexual abuse can be used by the abuser.  Intimidation, isolation, coercing, forcing, humiliating, threatening, and blaming are some ways an abuser controls his partner. Often isolated from family and friends, self-esteem damaged by repeated denigration and humiliation, the abused woman feels hopeless. A man who feels as though he has failed may take his anger out on the person closest to him, his wife/girlfriend.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence “during 2003-2004, domestic violence organizations in Tennessee served 39,131 new clients and received 44,738 crisis calls.”  If these organizations are receiving cuts in funding due to a sluggish economy there are fewer resources for families in domestic turmoil. If 40% of all crimes against people were related to domestic violence in 2004, the downturn in the economy could see these numbers rise. “It comes as a double blow to women that just when increasing numbers of them are requesting protection and help, the economic downturn has brought cuts in the very programs created to assist them,” (Behind Closed Doors) Intimate partner violence is not restricted to low income, undereducated families.  A Knoxville woman related the following: “We had a nice home. My husband made enough for me to home school our kids. Then the company he worked for closed down.” She went on to describe the struggle as her husband searched for employment. “Suddenly everything got on his nerves; the kids, me, he made us give our dog away because he said we couldn’t afford to feed him. The kids were devastated.” After losing their home they moved into a smaller apartment. “When we moved, he became verbally abusive. He would call me names, even in front of the kids.” It was not until her husband became increasingly physically violent with her that this mother left him, taking their two children with her. (Anonymous) After living in a weekly rented room in a motel she was placed on a waiting list for an apartment in a government-funded housing project. But the housing situation is critical in Knoxville and the waiting list is long. With many homeless ahead of her family she states she may have to wait up to a year for an apartment.

The question of why women remain in relationships where they are abused is not so easily answered. Certainly, the statistics that show many of these women are undereducated and unable to acquire sustainable income is one of the main reasons. Without the ability to support themselves and their children they are often forced to live within the constraints of a controlling partner who regulates how much money they have, who decides if they can have friends and who those friends are, and even how much contact they have with extended family members. Isolated from their families and their communities they are driven to rely on the income their partners provide or to apply for government aid. If the partner loses his job a portion of his control over the woman is significantly reduced and the male response is to strengthen the other controls he has developed. In doing so he may resort to violence or an escalation in already occurring abuse.  Suddenly the male head of household is home all day and forced to cope with the day to day challenges of raising children, dealing with creditors, and trying to find employment. Pressure develops under these circumstances and the likelihood the male partner will strike out in anger is exacerbated. “If the violent partner has recently experienced life stressors, crises, or transitions, there is also increased risk of serious harm to the partner. In one study male partner unemployment was the most important demographic risk factor for female homicide.” (Kress, et al) Dr. Victoria Kress is a licensed professional clinical counselor with fifteen years of experience in the counseling field. Along with Dr. Jake Protivnak and Lauren Sadlak she has worked with the Youngstown State University Counseling Program in Ohio.

The statistics for murders in domestic violence situations are frightening. “In the year 2000, 95% of female firearm homicide victims were murdered by a male- usually an intimate partner.” (Violence Policy Center) These alarming numbers are indicative of the female intimate partner’s vulnerability.

In the same vein, women who have removed themselves from abusive situations often return. The woman may believe the partner has changed, may return out of the belief her child or children need a father, or because they have little or no support network to help them find housing, jobs, education/training, or simply to supply the daily needs such as food or transportation. With cutbacks in government funding, many of the shelters and other resources that were available in the past no longer exist. Finding herself homeless with children, forced to depend on the kindness of family and friends, the abused woman may return to the abuser out of a need for support. If the male has been the main financial support for the family prior to losing his job there is a chance he will find work and once again the family will have a degree of security.

Government aid in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program offers time-sensitive solutions to these problems. With requirements that vary slightly from state to state, the one consistent requirement is that the head of household be engaged in some sort of work activity for a minimum of thirty hours weekly.  In Tennessee this thirty-hour commitment can be job search, training/education, community service, or a combination of these. In return, the family is provided with cash assistance, food stamps, basic healthcare coverage, childcare, and some type of transportation assistance. The problems for domestic abuse families is that there is a time limit of 60 months lifetime assistance available, often the education and training they need to become self-sufficient has long waiting lists, they are permitted only 12 months of education at thirty hours weekly before they must be engaged in work, and most of the education programs require a commitment of at least two years. (TN.gov) Many of these women lack even a high school diploma and the likelihood of completing an education that will result in a career with income sufficient to support a family is slim.

In households where the male breadwinner has been laid off but the female continues in employment, there is also a possibility of violence. Income inequality may lead to the man striking out at the woman due to feelings of inadequacy. This can happen at any economic level but is more prevalent in low-income households.

Abused families require some sort of counseling to overcome the trauma they have experienced.  In East Tennessee these services are offered free of charge to people on the state’s TANF program, Families First. However, other than this type of counseling there is little mental or emotional support for women in abusive relationships. Jacquelyn Campbell is a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health professor and has done extensive research in the area of violence against women. “Studies show that access to shelter services leads to a 60-70% reduction in incidence and severity of re-assault during the 3-12 months’ follow up period compared to women who did not access shelter. Shelter services led to greater reduction in severe re-assault than did seeking court or law enforcement protection, or moving to a new location.”(Campbell, et al) Once again the poor economy has caused clinics and shelters to close nationwide eliminating safe havens for women in danger. Intimate partner homicides accounted for 30% of the murders of women according to a Bureau of Justice Statistics report on intimate partner violence. With fewer shelters and resources available the potential for fatal results is increased.  “Those seeking assistance at the 600 shelters in the survey reported the major reasons: financial stress and job loss. The largest number of women seeking protection was in the South, followed by the Midwest, the Northeast, and the West.” (Behind Closed Doors) This may be related to the fact that the southern United States has the lowest educational attainment rate of any part of the country. This is particularly disturbing because the south also has the largest population in the country. Lack of education invariably leads to lower wages and higher poverty. In 2008 nine states had the lowest median income nationwide and they were all in the South with Tennessee the sixth lowest. With a median income of 41,978 dollars annually, Tennessee residents made about six thousand dollars more yearly than lowest rated Mississippi. (US Census Bureau)

Women who continue in abusive relationships experience both mental and physical illness. According to 1,311 women interviewed by researchers in Illinois over a three year period those who had reported abuse by their partner felt they were in worse health and needed more mental health services than those who were not abused. The reported health problems made it difficult for these women to stay employed for as much as two years after leaving the abusive relationship. “Women with abusive partners also reported more stress-related concerns and emotional problems. Women with abusive partners reported more headaches, ulcers and back problems than did non-abused women. (Chronic intimate partner violence is associated with poor health).” (National Institute of Justice)

The cost of intimate partner violence in dollars and cents is also very high.  Lost wages, medical bills, property damage, court costs, and police and emergency services can run costs into the thousands. Domestic violence could even cause an abuser or the abused to lose a job. In an economy where jobs are in short availability that type of loss could have catastrophic results. The American Institute on Domestic Violence estimates that “nearly $4.1 billion is for victims requiring direct medical and mental health care services.”  In addition victims of intimate partner violence “lose nearly 8.0 million days of paid work each year”.  With 96% of abused workers experiencing problems in the workplace, including time missed and harassment by their abusers at work, it is not unlikely job loss would result. Being late, leaving early or missing days entirely jeopardize the employment of the abused. The Tennessee Economic Council on Women reported that ninety-six percent of women who suffer intimate partner violence have problems at work. “Harassment causes 20% of victims to lose their jobs.” The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates the cost to employers for workplace violence is around thirty-five billion dollars every year.  In a job market that is risky to begin with losing a job may mean the difference between survival and disaster.

The long-range cost of intimate partner violence is the likelihood the abused and their children will suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome. Children in a home where one parent is abused by the other may show low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, anger, and temperament behaviors. These may manifest outside the home in school or play settings. Feeling they need to keep the abuse secret they may become withdrawn. Sometimes children hold themselves responsible for the abuse, feel ashamed that this is happening in their homes, hesitate to invite friends home for fear they may witness violence, and feel helpless to stop the abuse. Older children may engage in volatile relationships themselves, either as victim or perpetrator. Other indications a child/teen is dealing with a parent who is being abused is the desire to become engaged in activities that keep them out of the home hoping to avoid confrontations.  Rebelliousness, being cruel or violent with pets, bullying or being bullied, and threatening others with physical violence are also a few indicators of an adolescent in an abusive home. If the family has had to relocate due to either home loss or for safety concerns there is a sense of loss. Children may have to change schools, loss of friendships, adjusting to new homes and school environments can be traumatic. Uncertainty about their futures and torn between their parents these children need counseling and reassurance. Parents who are caught up in their own distress may not readily see the distress their children are experiencing. In a home already experiencing low income or poverty a reduced availability of needs due to loss of income is distressing to children. Families where essentials were always easily provided may suddenly have to adjust to having less. These circumstances are compounded when violence is added to the mix. In 2003 the US Conference of Mayors surveyed twenty-five cities and found that in nine of these domestic violence was the main cause of homelessness. There is evidence that in some parts of the country almost a third of homelessness experienced by women is because of domestic violence. In the majority of cases, women escaping these abusive situations take their children with them. Children in these circumstances often experience severe emotional distress. Suddenly wrenched from familiar environments they may suffer from health problems, poor nutrition, and lowered academic achievement. The McKinney-Vento Act (1987) and The Federal Education and Rights and Privacy Act (1974) address one of the significant needs of children who become homeless. These acts endeavor to assure a child who has become homeless can continue to attend school. They may remain in their current school if that is feasible or immediately be enrolled in the local school even if they do not have required documentation such as vaccination records, previous school records, health records, or even proof of residency. Unfortunately, unless the fleeing parent has a court order the other parent can be provided with the child’s school information without the abused parent’s permission.

The physical consequences of intimate partner violence stretch beyond the bruises and scars of beatings. “Women who have experienced domestic violence are 80 percent more likely to have a stroke, 70 percent more likely to have heart disease, 60 percent more likely to have asthma and 70 percent more likely to drink heavily than women who have not experienced intimate partner violence.” (Family Violence Prevention Fund)               Women who have escaped domestic violence situations may still fear retribution from angered partners. Shelters, when available, may offer temporary safety. Eventually however a woman may be armed with no more than an Order of Protection forbidding her partner from approaching her.  An unemployed partner with access to a public library and time on his hands would have very little difficulty locating his family. Public records including drivers’ license applications, school records, library cards, telephone numbers, utility services, and many other public records can leave a clear trail to a family in hiding. According to the American Journal of Family Law, “many state legislatures are creating laws to help protect abuse victims, including Address Confidentiality Program laws.” These programs offer the security of allowing a victim of domestic violence to apply for a confidential address. This address would then be used on all public records preventing the abuser from using these records to locate the abused.

While physicians and health care providers have an obligation to report suspected instances of intimate partner violence, victims of abuse have often reported they would prefer to discuss their abuse with social workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2008 that there were about twenty-four percent more positions for social workers in healthcare settings. (Bureau of Labor) Two years later with funding cut nationwide these positions may be among the first to go. Further research on developing assessments, program development, and intervention techniques that can be administered by social workers in emergency rooms and other healthcare settings would be beneficial.  Physicians need to be better trained to recognize victims of intimate partner violence. Physicians and their support staff also need to be knowledgeable of the local advocacy network that will offer assistance and support to the victim. “In a recent survey of 500 American Mental Health Counselors Association members, Bozorg-Omid (2007) found that 50% of those surveyed reported that they received no training in graduate school on the topic of IPV. Of the 50% of participants who did receive training, 78% reported that the training was inadequate.” (Kress) According to an article in the Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, “…IPV victims that receive such an intervention are more likely to use a shelter and access community counseling services.”  (Daugherty, Houry). Dr. Debra Houry was a principal investigator on two federally funded grants researching domestic violence and mental health. She has also done extensive research on the prevention of violence against women.

Until the economy begins to shift there is little that can be done about joblessness on a local level. Addressing the problem of intimate partner violence early on could reduce the likelihood it will occur. Dating violence programs should be part of high school curriculum, incorporated into health education classes. School counselors should be trained to recognize and address problems of dating violence before a pattern develops.  Raising awareness of the Cycle of Abuse is a first step in the education process. Phase One is a tension building phase. There is a breakdown in communication between the abuser and the abused. The victim may become fearful, hesitant to verbally address problems within the relationship. In a situation where finances are reduced, bills are increasing, and joblessness is an ongoing problem, any mention of these issues could precipitate an argument. The abused partner may hesitate to mention family financial needs such as the need for groceries, clothing, or housing payments. If pressed to the point where these needs must be addressed the next phase, Phase Two, may be triggered. The abused partner may be verbally assaulted, blamed for the financial problems being experienced in the family, threatened with abandonment or physical abuse, or may even be pushed or shoved. This period can escalate quickly and the culminating event can be physical violence. Phase Three is a reconciliation period. Realizing what he has done the abuser is contrite, will apologize, promise to do better, and occasionally may blame the victim for triggering the incident through nagging.  In Phase Four, sometimes called the “Honeymoon” phase, the incident is forgotten. The batterer will behave as though nothing has happened. Once this cycle has begun the subsequent instances of violence may occur more frequently and be more severe.  An abused woman loses her sense of self-worth, blames herself for the abuse, and in situations of unemployment may feel she is not being supportive of her mate as he seeks employment.

Recognizing the strain that unemployment can cause in a relationship and setting up agencies that can assist those in need would lessen the likelihood of financially related domestic abuse. Instead of cutting back on funding for shelters, support groups, career training, and family counseling these services should be developed. Utilizing grassroots community groups and volunteers to respond to families in crisis would be a good beginning. Making information on available sources of assistance readily available to agencies that deal with the unemployed, homeless, and disadvantaged families would enable those in need to access services more quickly.  Career Centers, unemployment facilities, and social service agencies that deal with the recently unemployed should be provided training to recognize and address the needs of clients exhibiting signs of extreme stress.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a manual to assist organizations engaged in violence prevention strategies in hiring “an empowerment evaluator who will assist them in building their evaluation capacity through a learn-by-doing process of evaluating their own strategies.” (Cox, et al) This proactive approach to preventing violence and empowering individuals before intimate partner violence becomes a tragic reality would be an investment in the lives of potential victims. Encouraging community involvement in domestic violence prevention would likely have a more profound impact on at-risk youth than drawing from communities with different economic and social bases. In order to prevent intimate partner violence it is necessary to recognize the factors that contribute to battering. Risk factors are individual, societal, relationship, and community driven. Violence does not stem from one source alone. Violence is a result of combined factors and preventing intimate partner violence should be addressed utilizing a variety of strategies. The DELTA Program which is recognized by the CDC works on four levels to evaluate and address the potential for intimate partner violence. By using peer education, community campaigns to raise awareness, encouraging schools and youth groups to facilitate workshops on conflict resolution and healthy relationships DELTA provides the groundwork for prevention.

The bottom line is that the increase in domestic abuse is a tragic effect of the severe unemployment crisis in the United States. While it is true that loss of a job does not cause intimate partner violence, the stress of an unstable economy, the fear of loss of a home, the uncertainty of what the future holds can drive husbands, fathers, and boyfriends to perform acts out of their normal behavior. The tensions inherent in a volatile economy can also exacerbate an already violent partner to increased acts of abuse. Individuals cannot change the economy so the alternative is to address the problem of intimate partner violence. According to Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell federal stimulus money has been awarded to the Connecticut Judicial Branch to fund a domestic violence prevention project using GPS monitoring. The program starts off with twenty-one high-risk offenders in three Connecticut cities. The success of this program may be a first step toward preventing recurrences of violence and saving lives.

However, the initial causes of domestic violence remain and the economic difficulties in the US continue to present a challenge to families impacted by the crimes. Early education to empower youth, career counseling to assist the unemployed in finding new areas of work, training for medical, social service, and school counselors to recognize and address the needs of the abused may reduce the number of women and children exposed to family violence. Through the combined efforts of federal, state, local, and community organizations the statistics for intimate partner violence can be reduced. Coordinating various community services delivered by faith-based organizations and public health agencies, local law enforcement and victim awareness of the long term effects of intimate partner violence will be increased.  Families will be better equipped to deal with the financial struggles faced by sudden unemployment.