In Hannah Tindale’s first article as a contributing writer for Stand with Survivors, she begins to explore the topic of domestic abuse. While writing for this blog, Hannah will explore the topic of domestic abuse of all types — physical and emotional.

Perhaps it’s just me or perhaps I am being fickle-minded, but recently a question has come to mind– what is domestic abuse? No, I know what domestic abuse is, but how do we actually define it and why are everyone’s definitions different? When I am reading the newspaper, I could open it up to any page and there is some story regarding domestic violence. But my question comes to this: why is it when we hear of domestic abuse, our thoughts instantly lead to physical violence? Why do our thoughts not also go to those who are experiencing the emotional and psychological domestic abuse that so many men and women are forced to endure each and every day?

More often than I would care to admit, emotional and psychological abuse begin the cycle of domestic abuse. Yet, I have not yet opened a newspaper to see a story solely focusing on the emotional aspects of this, which begs the further question: do we are a society classify domestic abuse as only the physical kind? Do we ignore the less visible pain that can be inflicted on an individual by a partner simply because we cannot see the bruises and scars?

After performing a simple Google search on what falls under the umbrella of criminal domestic abuse, I have to admit that I was horrified that criminal laws were only intended to prosecute a physical abuser. But what about those whom suffer the emotional side? What happens to them? Are their abusers allowed to go free until physical violence has been committed?

My final question: are we placing one type of abuse in a higher priority than another or is it time we begin to change? At Stand with Survivors, we believe that it is time to classify all abuse as important, helping make it easier for all types of abuse victims to receive assistance and support.

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