Domestic violence has increased globally since the COVID-19 pandemic, and UCA saw a surge in dating violence cases during February, making educating others and yourself on the statistics surrounding this issue crucial to fostering protection and empowerment for victims.
Dating violence is any form of abuse in a dating relationship, and domestic violence encompasses any form of abuse in any kind of relationship, familial or romantic.
The United Nations labeled the rise in domestic violence a “shadow pandemic” in a 2021 report about domestic violence in 13 countries, stating that an estimated 243 million women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 experienced sexual and/or physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner during the pandemic.
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine also reported alarming trends in the U.S. domestic violence rates during the pandemic, citing data from several police departments.
For example, Portland, Oregon, ordered a lockdown March 23, 2020, and the Portland Police Bureau reported a 22% increase in domestic violence arrests compared to prior weeks.
The San Antonio Police Department implemented stay-at-home orders March 24 and reported a similar increase of 18% following the lockdown.
A 2021 report from the National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice indicates that domestic violence incidents increased by 8.1% in the U.S. after lockdown orders.
Domestic violence increased due to pandemic stressors, such as financial loss caused by unemployment and social isolation because of lockdown orders, raising the likelihood of conflict between families and couples.
Although lockdown orders are over, domestic violence is still on the rise, even within the state.
According to an article from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette written this year, the Women & Children First domestic violence shelter in Little Rock received approximately 6,400 calls to its 24-hour crisis hotline last year.
Executive Director Angela McGraw said the shelter is at full capacity all the time, and it houses 54 beds and serves around 600 people each year.
According to an article from The Echo, there have been four UCAPD dating violence reports since Feb. 8, three involving a male perpetrator and a female victim, which is the most common dynamic in domestic violence, Counseling Center Director Susan Sobel said.
The most recent report was March 2.
UCA has abundant resources, such as its free counseling services, “student of concern” forms and officer Nicole Sumner’s summer self-defense classes.
However, there is almost always more that can be done to spread awareness about domestic violence, especially considering it happens within university dorms.
Despite what some may think, it is not as easy as walking away.
Some partners may control victims by tracking their location, monitoring their Internet usage or through a trauma bond, an attachment created through a cycle of physical and emotional abuse followed by positive reinforcement.
Sharing resources with friends or even strangers could quite literally save someone’s life because domestic violence may lead to death or hospitalization.
Students can speak with the outreach coordinator, Reesa Ramsahai, to request and schedule a program if they want the Counseling Center to speak on specific issues, like dating violence or sexual assault.
Conway also has the Rise House, an emergency shelter for adults and children, whose hotline is 866-358-2265.
As more research on the pandemic’s impact on domestic violence rates surfaces, so should community awareness about the necessary steps to leaving an unhealthy, dangerous relationship.