According to the report, an estimated 4.9 million women and 2.9 million men are raped or physically assaulted every year. The report offers information that should help our policy makers understand the special nature of family violence. The survey found that women with controlling, jealous and verbally abusive partners are much more likely to be physically abused. These findings support the theory that domestic violence is a systemic pattern of dominance that is different from random crimes. A point that cannot be stressed enough is the role gender plays in domestic violence.
Women experience more chronic and debilitating physical assaults by their partners than do men.
There is a reason why programs aimed at stopping domestic violence need to focus on protecting women. The most compelling piece of information is about resolution. For those who think domestic violence is a private matter, consider what millions of rapes and assaults cost taxpayers in often unpaid medical expenses. Each year an estimated 680,000 victims receive medical treatment from paramedics, emergency room staff or dentists as a result of violence in the home. Domestic violence is a public health problem.