To make it easier for people to attend, forums on the same subject are scheduled twice in a month. One is scheduled for common exam time and the other in the evening so that everyone has a chance to attend. October's forum is on dating violence and stalking, which correlates with it being Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The first October forum was held Oct. 7. Mincer said the people who attended the forum seemed to be surprised at how complex the issue of dating violence is.
More people are less aware of dating violence.
The batterer uses acts of violence and a series of behaviors, including intimidation, threats, psychological abuse, isolation, etc. to coerce and to control the other person. Mincer said the group discussed how long-term abuse whittles away at a person's self esteem and that a relationship may at first start out as mental abuse, but often leads up to physical abuse. In fact, according to statistics of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, a woman is beaten every 15 seconds. This does not just mean married, older women. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between ages 15 and 44 in the United States - more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined, according to Uniform Crime Reports.