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October is observed as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This initiative was started in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a Day of Unity to connect battered women’s advocates across the United States. Individuals and communities across our nation join together during this month in a strategic effort to raise awareness of domestic violence as a public health issue, educate others on how they can take action to advocate for change, intervene to stop acts of domestic violence from occurring, and support those who are impacted.
Domestic violence is a type of interpersonal violence that someone can experience at any point in the life course – as a child, adolescent, young adult, adult, or as an elder. It includes any act of threatened, attempted, or completed violence that occurs:
- Between current or former spouses or intimate partners
- Between individuals who share a child in common
- Between individuals who are living with, or had lived with, each other as spouses or intimate partners
- By a person who is similarly situated to a spouse under the domestic or family violence laws that govern the jurisdiction where the violence & abuse occurred
- Any person, such as a parent, guardian, cohabitant, or spouse, who harms an adult or child, where the adult or child is protected from violence & abuse under domestic violence or family laws (e.g. child abuse, sibling abuse, incest, etc.).
Domestic violence may include instances of sexual assault, stalking, physical abuse, economic or emotional abuse, including behaviors that are intended to intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, or isolate someone. It may also include acts or threats against family members, friends, pets, or property.
The term domestic violence may spark images of something that happens later in life, such as when people are married or living together. In 2024, Student Life changed the name of this observance on campus to Relationship Violence Awareness and Prevention Month to better connect students with our programming.
Domestic or relationship violence may occur between college students who are sharing a residence with an abusive parent, guardian, family member, or sibling. It may also impact students who live with an intimate partner, regardless of whether they are married or have a child together. Within Federal Title IX regulations, it may also include any type of violence between roommates on campus property. In the most recent Association of American Universities Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct (2019), we know the following from students at Texas A&M who participated:
Student Life has observed this initiative for over two decades. We invite our Texas A&M and surrounding communities to engage in discussion and learning opportunities this October to better serve themselves and others, critically evaluate some of the messages that we receive about healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, and understand how experiencing violence & abuse intersects with other public health issues.
See the calendar of events and programs at tx.ag/DVPAM.
Dangerous Exits: Escaping Abusive Relationships in Rural America by ISBN: 9780813548609Publication Date: 2009Category: Cultural Examples
A physical copy is also available.
Decade after decade, violence against women has gained more attention from scholars, policy makers, and the general public. Social scientists in particular have contributed significant empirical and theoretical understandings to this issue.
Strikingly, scant attention has focused on the victimization of women who want to leave their hostile partners. This groundbreaking work challenges the perception that rural communities are safe havens from the brutality of urban living. Identifying hidden crimes of economic blackmail and psychological mistreatment, and the complex relationship between patriarchy and abuse, Walter S. DeKeseredy and Martin D. Schwartz propose concrete and effective solutions, giving voice to women who have often suffered in silence.
Thriving in the Wake of Trauma: A Multicultural Guide by ISBN: 0275985075Publication Date: 2005Category: Cultural Examples
Race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, migration status, religion, and numerous other cultural factors play important roles in recovery from traumatic events. Survivors of abuse, dislocation, disease, racism and other forms of trauma, however, are often treated only as individuals rather than as people with diverse beliefs and cultural affiliations. Thema Bryant-Davis examines the cultural issues that health-care professionals need to consider in caring for trauma survivors. She gives specific examples drawn in part from her own work as a clinician, and she describes activities that can help trauma victims not only survive, but also thrive and grow.
Hard Lives, Mean Streets: Violence in the Lives of Homeless Women by ISBN: 9781555537326Publication Date: 2012Category: Cultural Examples
A physical copy is also available.
Although homelessness is a serious social problem in the United States, there is little direct information about the actual experiences of violence, past and current, among homeless people. This volume, based on the Florida Four-City Study, brings together interview material from 737 women, including structured quantitative interviews as well as in-depth qualitative interviews. The authors investigate how many homeless women have experienced violence in their lives, either as children or as adults, and then examine factors associated with experiences of violence, the consequences of violence, and types of interactions of homeless people with the justice system. The volume concludes with pragmatic and compassionate policy recommendations.
Disabled Women and Domestic Violence: Responding to the Experiences of Survivors by ISBN: 9780857005588Publication Date: 2011Category: Cultural Examples
This book, drawing on the first UK national study of disabled women who have suffered domestic violence, highlights the experiences of these women, the nature of the violence perpetrated against them, and the seriousness and range of its impacts. The book draws attention to the gaps in services for disabled women and discusses how professional responses should be developed and improved, pointing to current examples of good practice. It includes first-hand accounts from disabled women and includes contributions from leading disabled women activists.
Domestic Violence: Intersectionality and Culturally Competent Practice by ISBN: 9780231140263Publication Date: 2010Category: Cultural Examples
In Domestic Violence: Intersectionality and Culturally Competent Practice, experts working with twelve unique groups of domestic abuse survivors provide the latest research on their populations and use a case study approach to demonstrate culturally sensitive intervention strategies. Chapters focus on African Americans, Native Americans, Latinas, Asian and Pacific Island communities, persons with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, women in later life, LGBT survivors, and military families. They address domestic violence in rural environments and among teens, as well as the role of religion in shaping attitudes and behavior.
No More Secrets: Violence in Lesbian Relationships by ISBN: 0203800834Publication Date: 2002Category: LGBTQ+ Survivors
Violence is a male biological trait. When women fight, no one gets seriously hurt. Lesbians don't abuse their spouses. The truth revealed in Janice Ristock's groundbreaking book is that lesbian relationships sometimes do turn violent. Based on interviews with more than one hundred lesbians who have suffered abuse and seventy-five case workers, No More Secrets is the first in-depth account of this startling phenomenon. Although one in four gay and lesbian couples are affected by domestic violence, the problem has remained hidden for several reasons. By giving voice to the victims, Ristock helps women to address violence by breaking silences, sharing secrets, and naming the forms of abuse.
LGBTQ Intimate Partner Violence: Lessons for Policy, Practice, and Research by ISBN: 9780520961357Publication Date: 2017Category: LGBTQ+ Survivors
Nationally representative studies confirm that LGBTQ individuals are at an elevated risk of experiencing intimate partner violence. While many similarities exist between LGBTQ and heterosexual-cisgender intimate partner violence, research has illuminated a variety of unique aspects of LGBTQ intimate partner violence regarding the predictors of perpetration, the specific forms of abuse experienced, barriers to help-seeking for victims, and policy and intervention needs. This is the first book that systematically reviews the literature regarding LGBTQ intimate partner violence, draws key lessons for current practice and policy, and recommends research areas and enhanced methodologies.
In the Dream House: a Memoir by ISBN: 9781644450031Publication Date: 2019Category: LGBTQ+ Survivors
In the Dream House is Carmen Maria Machado’s engrossing and wildly innovative account of a relationship gone bad, and a bold dissection of the mechanisms and cultural representations of psychological abuse. Tracing the full arc of a harrowing relationship with a charismatic but volatile woman, Machado struggles to make sense of how what happened to her shaped the person she was becoming.
Battle Cries: Black Women and Intimate Partner Abuse by ISBN: 9780814767290Publication Date: 2008Category: BIPOC Survivors
An electronic book is also available.
Battle Cries is an eye-opening examination of African American women's experiences with intimate partner abuse, the methods used to contend with abusive mates, and the immediate and enduring consequences resulting from the maltreatment. Based on intensive interviews with 40 African American women abused by their male partners, Potter's analysis takes into account variations in their experiences based on socioeconomic class, education level, and age, and discusses the common abuses and perceptions they share. Combining her remarkable findings with black feminist thought and critical race theory, Potter offers a unique and significant window through which we can better understand this understudied though rampant social problem.
Overcoming the Stigma of Intimate Partner Abuse by ISBN: 9781317308836Publication Date: 2016Category: Trauma and Healing
Overcoming the Stigma of Intimate Partner Abuse addresses the impact of the shame surrounding intimate partner violence and the importance of actively challenging this stigma. Through examples of survivors who have triumphed over past abuse, the book presents a new way to understand the dynamics of abusive relationships as well as demonstrates the strength, resourcefulness, and resilience of victims and survivors. Overcoming the Stigma of Intimate Partner Abuse offers professionals, survivors, and communities an action plan to end stigma, support survivors, advocate for better response systems, raise awareness about abuse, and prevent violence.
Abused Men: The Hidden Side of Domestic Violence by ISBN: 9780313356186Publication Date: 2009Category: Male Survivors
An award-winning investigative journalist provides a disturbing new look at an underreported type of domestic violence--the abuse of men. The first edition of Philip W. Cook's book, Abused Men: The Hidden Side of Domestic Violence (Praeger, 1997), drew attention and praise nationwide from individuals and from media, ranging from CNN and Fox network's The O'Reilly Factor to scholarly publications such as The Journal of Marriage and Family. On the 10th anniversary of that groundbreaking book, Cook began revising and expanding his work. The result is this second edition--a disturbing look at a trend that continues to increase. The new edition of Abused Men: The Hidden Side of Domestic Violence offers up-to-date data on the prevalence of intimate partner violence against men, incorporating personal interviews and cases drawn from the media. It also includes updates on law, legislation, court activity, social responses, police activity, support groups, batterer programs, and crisis intervention programs. The final chapter contains a detailed and specific description of needed reforms in the current approach to intimate partner violence, whether the victims are male or female.
No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us by ISBN: 9781635570991Publication Date: 2019Category: Coercive Control
In No Visible Bruises, journalist Rachel Louise Snyder gives context for what we don't know we're seeing. She frames this urgent and immersive account of the scale of domestic violence in our country around key stories that explode the common myths-that if things were bad enough, victims would just leave; that a violent person cannot become nonviolent; that shelter is an adequate response; and most insidiously that violence inside the home is a private matter, sealed from the public sphere and disconnected from other forms of violence. Through the stories of victims, perpetrators, law enforcement, and reform movements from across the country, Snyder explores the real roots of private violence, its far-reaching consequences for society, and what it will take to truly address it.
Children Who See Too Much: Lessons from the Child Witness to Violence Project by ISBN: 0807031399Publication Date: 2003Category: Child Abuse & Neglect, Family Violence
An electronic book is also available.
For the last ten years Betsy Groves has been working with children traumatized by witnessing violence. In this book she shows how children understand, respond to, and are affected by violence, especially domestic violence. Groves makes the powerful case that traumatic events carried out by family members carry the most severe psychological risks for very young children. She uses clinical case studies to show that being young does not protect against the lasting effects of witnessing violence, and she offers ways adults can help.
No matter our wreckage : a memoir about grooming, betrayal, trauma and love / by Call Number: RJ507.S49 C365 2020ISBN: 9781761060137Publication Date: 2020A ground-breaking, uncompromising and unflinching memoir about grooming, intergenerational trauma, grief and love.
All selections are available on various streaming platforms.
- Sin By Silence: Women Who Killed their Abusers
Filmmaker: Olivia Klaus
Release Date: 2009
Content note: This film deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
From behind prison walls, a group of extraordinary women are shattering misconceptions of domestic violence. SIN BY SILENCE profiles Convicted Women Against Abuse (CWAA), the US prison system's first inmate initiated group and led by women.
Created by Brenda Clubine in 1989, CWAA has changed laws for battered women, raised awareness for those on the outside, and educated a system that does not fully comprehend the complexities of domestic abuse. With unprecedented access inside the California Institution for Women, this emotionally packed documentary tells the stories of courageous women who have learned from their past, are changing their future, and teaching us how domestic violence affects each and every person. - The Perfect Victim
Filmmaker: Elizabeth Rohrbaugh
Release Date: 2013
Content note: This film deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
Shirley, Carlene and Ruby have collectively spent over eighty-five years in Missouri state prison, having each been convicted of the murders of their abusive husbands. Beaten, raped, sold, abused and almost murdered, these women suffered for years prior to their desperate crimes. A powerful and poignant insight into the world of domestic abuse, the lives it destroys, and an insensitive US justice system. A shocking film you won't easily forget. - Private Violence
Filmmaker: Cynthia Hill
Release Date: 2014
Content note: This film deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
Through the eyes of two survivors--Deanna Walters, a mother who seeks justice for the crimes committed against her at the hands of her estranged husband, and Kit Gruelle, an advocate who seeks justice for all women--we bear witness to the complex realities of intimate partner violence. Their experiences challenge entrenched and misleading assumptions, providing a lens into a world that is largely invisible; a world we have locked behind closed doors with our silence, our laws and our lack of understanding. Private Violence begins to shape powerful, new questions that hold the potential to change our society: "Why does he abuse?" "Why do we turn away?" "How do we begin to build a future without domestic violence?" - Behind Closed Doors
Filmmaker: Anna Hall
Release Date: 2016
Content Note: This film deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
Carter’s riveting Behind Closed Doors, examines the mystery behind the double murder of a 13-year-old girl, Aarushi Talwar, and her family’s servant, Hemraj Banjade, in their home in Noida, India, which sparked a media frenzy and has haunted an entire nation for more than a decade. The film reconstructs the story, beginning with the early-morning discovery of the murders, charting the initial missteps by local police, the hurried transfer of the case to India’s Central Bureau of Investigation, the use of dubious interrogation techniques, the sensational criminal trial and the multiple legal appeals. The documentary explores how class divisions and cultural biases clouded the search for answers, which remain elusive today. - A Better Man
Filmmakers: Attiya Khan; Lawrence Jackman
Release Date: 2017
Content Note: This film deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
From Executive Producer Sarah Polley, A BETTER MAN follows a series of intimate conversations between a woman and her former boyfriend when she confronts him about their history of domestic abuse. More than 20 years have passed when filmmaker Attiya Khan asks her ex-boyfriend, Steve, to meet. Steve abused Attiya every day during the two years they lived together. She finally fled out of fear for her life, and has carried the emotional scars ever since. Now, Attiya wants to talk to Steve—on camera—searching to answer a question that is both simple and incredibly complicated: Will Steve take responsibility? A BETTER MAN follows this bold and radical exploration of restorative justice. Through emotionally raw conversations, Attiya and Steve begin a new recovery process—and illustrate a new paradigm for domestic violence prevention. The film offers a fresh and nuanced look at the healing and revelation that can happen for everyone involved when men take responsibility for their abusive behavior.
PRESS - Survival from Domestic Violence: Stories of Hope and Healing
Producer: Psychotherapy.net
Release Date: 2012
Content Note: This film deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
Breaking out of an abusive relationship is extraordinarily challenging, usually requiring multiple attempts. Learn the steps these women survivors took to create safety, build a support system, and find independence. Their firsthand accounts show how healing and recovery are possible, and expert commentary offers information about the signs of domestic violence as well as resources available to victims and survivors. - The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez
Filmmaker: Brian Knappenberger
Release Date: 2020
Content Note: This film deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
A boy’s brutal murder and the public trials of his guardians and social workers prompt questions about the system’s protection of vulnerable children. - And So I Stayed
Filmmakers: Daniel A. Nelson; Natalie Pattillo
Release Date: 2021
Content Note: This film deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
AND SO I STAYED is an award-winning documentary about survivors of abuse fighting for their lives and spending years behind bars. These women paid a steep price with long prison sentences, lost time with loved ones, and painful memories. Activist and formerly incarcerated survivor Kim Dadou Brown, who met her wife while incarcerated, is a driving force in the passage of New York’s Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA), a new law meant to prevent survivors from receiving harsh prison sentences for their acts of survival. Nikki Addimando, a mother of two young children, suffered the consequences
when a judge didn’t follow the law’s guidelines. Tanisha Davis, a single mother who was ripped away from her son in 2013, is hopeful the new law is her way out of a harsh prison sentence.
All selections are available on various online platforms.
- The Domestic Violence Discussion
2020 - present
Content note: This podcast deals with mature subject matter. Listener discretion is advised.
In this podcast, we'll cover everything from what domestic violence is, what it looks like, and how it affects not only survivors but the community they live in. By having these discussions, we can work towards breaking the cycle of violence. Welcome to the discussion. - I, Survivor
2018 - 2019
Content note: This podcast deals with mature subject matter. Listener discretion is advised.
Women get assaulted. Women get attacked. Women get harassed, manipulated, intimidated, but women are survivors. Time and time again, she persists, even against all odds. Hosts Jenna Brister and Wagatwe Wanjuki share their stories, and those of the men and women who fought back, who won, and who live rising above the trauma of their experiences. - Something Was Wrong
2019 - present
Content note: This podcast deals with mature subject matter. Listener discretion is advised.
Something Was Wrong is an Iris Award-winning true-crime docuseries about the discovery, trauma, and recovery from shocking life discoveries and abusive relationships. - The Homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema
2019 - present
The Homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema is a podcast to facilitate your journey home to yourself by providing weekly inspiration and health tips. - Spotlight: the podcast for the domestic abuse sector
2016 - 2020
Content note: This podcast deals with mature subject matter. Listener discretion is advised.
Welcome to Spotlight, the podcast that shines a light on the issues around domestic abuse. - BLDG Evelyn
March 2020 - October 2020
Content note: This podcast deals with mature subject matter. Listener discretion is advised.
BLDG EVELYN is a twice-monthly narrated drama podcast inspired by true events. Evelyn Munoz is forced to navigate life with a family that struggles with domestic violence, substance abuse, and rebellion, all taking place in the country of Brazil. The podcast also emphasizes facts and showcases Brazilian culture throughout the story! Occasionally, guest writers are featured in the collaboration of a chapter to create a unique spin to the story. New episodes are released on Wednesdays afternoon. - Narcissist Apocalypse
2019 - present
Content note: This podcast deals with mature subject matter. Listener discretion is advised.
Narcissist Apocalypse gives a voice to survivors of toxic relationships, narcissistic abuse & domestic violence. Our host, Brandon Chadwick, chats with survivors about growing up in dysfunctional homes, codependency, coercive control, addiction, divorce and co-parenting, intimate partner violence, abuser pathology, and much, much more. For survivors, we guarantee you'll feel less alone. And for true crime fans, you'll learn about why people stay and the manipulation tactics used to keep them there. - The Man Enough Podcast
June 2021 - present
What does it mean to be a man in the world today? More importantly, what does it mean to be human? Actor, director and author, Justin Baldoni, along with his co-hosts — longtime friend Jamey Heath and prominent masculinity expert Liz Plank — engage in honest and at times uncomfortable conversations with high profile guests. Armed with candor and compassion, each episode covers how the messages of masculinity show up in relationships, body image, privilege, fatherhood, sex, and success. If you’re interested in learning in real time, deepening your connection with yourself and others, and being reminded that you are enough, this is the podcast for you.
- The American Journal of Public HealthISSN: 1541-0048
The American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) is dedicated to the publication of original work in research, research methods, and program evaluation in the field of public health. The mission of the journal is to advance public health research, policy, practice, and education. - Journal of Marriage and the FamilyISSN: 0022-2445
The Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF), published by the National Council on Family Relations, is the leading research journal in the family field and has been so for over sixty years. JMF features original research and theory, research interpretation and reviews, and critical discussion concerning all aspects of marriage, other forms of close relationships, and families. The Journal also publishes book reviews. - Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and TreatmentISSN: 1079-0632
Sexual Abuse, the official journal of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, provides a forum for the latest original research and scholarly reviews on both clinical and theoretical aspects regarding the perpetration of sexual abuse. - Social ProblemsISSN: 0037-7791
Published quarterly for the Society for the Study of Social Problems, Social Problems tackles the most difficult of contemporary society's issues and brings to the fore influential sociological findings and theories enabling readers to gain a better understanding of the complex social environment. Areas covered by the journal include: conflict and social action; crime and juvenile delinquency; drinking, drugs, and addiction; health policy and services; race and ethnicity; and sexual behavior and politics. - Journal of Family ViolenceISSN: 0885-7482
The Journal of Family Violence (JOFV) is a peer-reviewed publication committed to the dissemination of rigorous research on preventing, ending, and ameliorating all forms of family violence.
Online Communities for Learning, Support, and Resource
- INCITE!
@incitecommunitynews on Facebook, @incitenews on Twitter
INCITE! is a network of radical feminists of color organizing to end state violence and violence in our homes and communities. - National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
@NRCDV on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
For more than 25 years, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) has been a comprehensive source of information for those wanting to educate themselves and help others on the many issues related to domestic violence. NRCDV provides a wide range of free, comprehensive, and individualized technical assistance, training, and specialized resource materials and key initiatives designed to enhance current domestic violence intervention and prevention strategies. - National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network
@NQTTCN on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) is a healing justice organization committed to transforming mental health for queer and trans people of color (QTPoC). - No More
@NOMORE.org on Facebook, @nomoreorg on Instagram and Twitter
The NO MORE Foundation is dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault by increasing awareness, inspiring action, and fueling culture change. - Raliance: Ending Sexual Violence in One Generation
@RalianceOrg on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
RALIANCE partners with a wide range of organizations to improve their cultures and create environments free from sexual harassment, misconduct and abuse. Every day, RALIANCE helps leaders establish safe workplaces and strong communities by advancing research, influencing policy, and supporting innovative programs. RALIANCE is based in Washington, DC and combines decades of experience and resources from three leading national sexual violence prevention organizations into a single, unified force. - One Love Foundation
@onelove on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
One Love educates young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships, empowering them to identify and avoid abuse and learn how to love better.
Learn more about One Love’s work and how you can get involved.
This Research Guide is made in collaboration with University Health Promotions. The resources highlighted and listed have been vetted by The University Health Promotions and Libraries staff and are meant to help provide accurate and helpful information surrounding the topic of the guide for all Aggies to access and use.