Study Notes on Violence Against Women

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

  • Presented by Lauren Patterson MSN-ED, RN

POPULATIONS AT HIGHER RISK

  • Native Americans

  • Women of Color

  • LGBTQIA+ women

  • Women with disabilities

  • Homeless women

  • Transgender women and men

  • Pregnant women

PSYCHOSOCIAL THEORIES

Walker Cycle of Violence Theory

  • Describes the cycle of abuse in relationships that often includes tension building, an abusive incident, and reconciliation.

Power and Control Wheel

  • Framework to understand the tactics used by abusers to exert power over their victims.

Intergenerational Transmission of Violence

  • Theory that suggests violence can be learned and passed down through generations.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

  • Definition: Family violence, a form of abuse occurring within a family or household.

  • Forms include:

    • Physical

    • Emotional

    • Sexual

    • Financial

  • Women and children are disproportionately affected.

  • Signs of domestic violence:

    • Unexplained injuries or bruises

    • Isolation from family and friends

    • Behavioral changes

    • Presence of a dominating partner or family member

  • Intimate partner violence includes:

    • Physical or sexual violence

    • Stalking

    • Psychological or coercive aggression

ASSOCIATED ABUSE

  • Types of abuse associated with domestic violence:

    • Physical abuse

    • Financial abuse

    • Sexual violence

RECOGNIZING VICTIMS

Signs to look for:

  • Unexplained bruises, lacerations, bite marks, burns

  • Delayed care seeking, repetitive medical visits

  • Repeated visits due to anxiety and depression

Perpetrators may exhibit the following traits:

  • Hostility

  • Jealousy

  • Controlling behaviors

  • Hypersensitivity

  • Critical remarks

Nursing Role:

  • Show empathy and support

  • Create a safety plan, considering living scenarios, school, children, employment, and pets

  • Provide resources, avoid telling victims to leave their partner

RAPE

  • Definition: Any vaginal, anal, or oral penetration by a sex organ without consent.

  • Physical signs:

    • Bruises around breasts or genital area

    • Unexplained STIs

    • Vaginal or anal bleeding

  • Psychological signs:

    • Emotional distress

    • Fear, anxiety, shame

    • PTSD, dissociative disorders

  • Types of rape include:

    • Date or acquaintance rape

    • Intimate partner rape

    • Diminished capacity rape

    • Age-related rape

    • Incest

    • Aggravated rape

  • Misinformation about rape:

    • Denying existence or seriousness

    • Beliefs about women's behavior (e.g., clothing, drunkenness) and responsibility

    • Misunderstandings about consent

RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME

Phases of Trauma Response:

  • Shock

  • Expressed response

  • Controlled response

  • Care and support

  • Start by Believing campaign: emphasizes validating survivors' experiences.

SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER

  • Responsibilities include:

    • Detailed history-taking

    • Evidence collection

    • STI prevention

    • Pregnancy prevention

    • Supporting prosecution of the perpetrator

    • Self-care for nurses

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

  • Definition: The targeting, relocation, detention, or receiving of a person by any means to achieve control over that person.

  • Signs:

    • Overwhelming romantic relationship from someone with a significant age or financial gap

    • Job offers that seem too good to be true

    • Relationships established via social media

  • High risk populations:

    • Women, children

    • People in poverty, undocumented immigrants

    • Those with a history of abuse or trauma, runaways, and individuals with substance use disorders (SUD)

RECOGNIZING VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Characteristics of victims:

  • Child/adolescent background

  • Physical signs of violence or manipulation

Trafficker characteristics:

  • Various signs of predation and manipulation

SOCIAL VIOLENCE

  • Definition: Community violence, or the intentional use of force or power to harm individuals or groups within a community.

  • Forms include:

    • Gang violence

    • Hate crimes

    • Mass shootings

  • At-risk groups:

    • Marginalized communities

    • LGBTQIA+ individuals

    • Homeless individuals

    • Those living in poverty

  • Nursing role:

    • Engage in violence prevention programs

    • Training and education on community resources

    • Effective communication strategies

HATE CRIMES

  • Definition: Criminal offenses motivated by prejudice or bias.

  • Examples include:

    • Acid attacks

    • Honor killings

    • Female genital mutilation

CHILD MARRIAGES

  • Definition: Marriage involving someone under 18 years of age.

  • Risks include:

    • Domestic violence

    • Poor economic outcomes

    • Poor health and increased adolescent pregnancy

  • Reasons for child marriage:

    • Poverty

    • Lack of education

    • Limited access to healthcare

    • Cultural practices

  • Minimum age limits for marriage:

    • 10 states: age 17

    • 23 states: age 16

    • 2 states: age 15

    • 5 states: no minimum age

PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE

  • Definition: Harassment, name-calling, degradation, blaming, threats, stalking, and isolation.

  • May involve coworkers, bosses, family members, intimate partners, or acquaintances.

  • Signs include:

    • Withdrawal, isolation, abnormal behavior

    • Depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation

    • Cognitive control issues, emotional regulation problems

    • Poor academic or work performance

  • Signs in children:

    • Nightmares, developmental delays

    • Loss of memory, emotional expression difficulties

    • PTSD symptoms and poor choice-making behaviors

  • Health consequences:

    • Endometriosis, infertility, unintended pregnancies, abortions, miscarriages, STIs