About DV
Myths vs. Facts
Know the Facts
- 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men are survivors of domestic violence.
- Domestic Violence is the third leading cause of homelessness in the United States
- Women who leave their abusers are at a 75 percent greater risk of being killed by their abuser than those who stay
- On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide
- Adults with disabilities are 1.5 times more likely to be a victim of violence than those without disabilities
- According to the United Nations, over 50 percent of Marshallese women say they have experienced intimate partner violence
- Drugs and alcohol are not the cause of abuse, power and control are the cause
- Every year, the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter serves over 1,000 people with shelter, counseling, legal assistance, community education, and outreach services
You Are Not Alone
Abusers often socially isolate survivors, tear survivors down with their words, control where a survivor goes and when they leave their home.
We want you to know that if you are or have ever experienced any of this, you are not alone. You are strong, powerful, and capable of making your own choices. You are valued and worthy of receiving help. Your experience does not define you, and you are not responsible for what happened to you. We believe you.
Please call: 479-246-9999 for help
Or email: info@nwaws.org
Types of DV
Physical
Any form of physical harm one individual inflicts on another, as well as the threat of physical harm, the withholding of healthcare, and other ways.
Sexual
Any type of unwanted sexual attention, advances, or unwanted, non-consensual sexual acts. This type of abuse includes sexual coercion, the withholding of sex as a punishment, and becoming violent out of fear that one’s partner is having sex with other people are also forms of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse can happen within intimate partner relationships, marriages, dating relationships, or it can occur between strangers.
Psychological/Emotional
Using power and control tactics to isolate a survivor from friends and family, breaking promises repeatedly, threatening or taunting. Also, degrading, attacking vulnerabilities, ignoring feelings, regularly threatening to leave, and other psychological and emotional tactics are used to abuse are other ways this type of abuse manifests.
Minimizing, denying, and blaming the survivor for the abuse
Verbal
Saying things meant to be cruel, hurtful, or degrading, minimizing accomplishment, yelling or cursing at the victim
Digital
When the abuser uses technology to bully, harass, stalk, or intimidate a survivor. Also, closely monitoring digital devices or accounts to maintain power and control
Economic Abuse
When the abuser controls finances, access to money, or the survivors ability to get or maintain employment. Also requires a survivor to turn in any earned money or keeping their name off or limiting access to shared assets.
Cultural/Identity
When the abuser tries to control the survivor’s identity and/or gender expression of an individual such as using wrong names or wrong pronouns. When the abuser threatens to out the survivor to their family or prevents them from associating with their culture or engaging in cultural practices. Also using privilege (gender, cultural, ability, language, etc.) to control the survivor’s life.
Spiritual
When the abuser uses religious passages or beliefs to reinforce abuse. Manipulating the survivor’s religious beliefs, refusing to allow them to attend church or spiritual gatherings, or claiming the survivor is unwanted or unloved by their higher power to maintain power and control over them. Also, belittling or preventing a partner from participating in their beliefs, practices, and traditions or forcing them to participate in their practices when they do not share the same beliefs.
Contact us at our hotline if you are experiencing any of these types of abuse: 479-246-9999.
If you have experienced abuse in the past and would like to explore counseling or group therapy options, please contact us at 479-246-0353 and ask to speak to our counselor.
Who Does DV Affect?
Domestic Violence Doesn’t Discriminate
Age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic status, religious affiliation: none of these can protect anyone from domestic violence. It does not discriminate. It permeates every area of society, and if you have not experienced it, someone you know likely has.
Abuse is also not purely physical. Though this is one form of abuse, there are many ways abuse manifests itself. All types of abuse are valid reasons for you to reach out for help.
Since domestic violence doesn’t discriminate, neither does the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter. We strive to create an inclusive environment. We have bilingual advocates who can serve our Spanish speaking clients, we have a Marshallese advocate who provides services and outreach to the Marshallese community in NWA and an LGBTQ+ advocate who does the same with members of the LGBTQ+ community, and we are in partnership with an organization that helps us better serve the disabled community. We also partner with various organizations to receive training on how to best serve our LGBTQ+, Marshallese, and/or immigrant clients.
No matter who you are, where you come from, or what form of abuse you are experiencing, we are here to help you.
Safety Planning
Safe, Seen, Home, Human
Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness for families in the United States. A lack of safe, affordable housing remains one of the top barriers for domestic violence survivors as they fight to leave their abuser, according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence.
Departure Packs
With the help of generous donors and Junior League of NWA, we are able to provide all of our clients who leave shelter with departure packs. These packs include things like laundry supplies, silverware, bath towels, wash cloths, paper goods, kitchen items, bedding, cleaning supplies, and more to give clients useful tools for their new living situations.