Rise in Domestic violence in Chicago
Chicago is poised to conclude 2023 with a significant decrease in both shootings and homicides, signaling a reduction in the upswing of gun violence witnessed during the pandemic. However, citywide data reveals a specific subset of shootings in Chicago, those associated with domestic violence, have surged this year, causing heightened concern among advocates for victims.
As 2023 approaches its conclusion, shootings categorized by Chicago authorities as domestic in nature have risen by 19 percent compared to the same period last year, according to city data. While the number of fatal domestic shootings remains unchanged from 2022, nonfatal incidents have seen a notable increase of 27 percent.
The 127 domestic shootings recorded as of this week encompass a diverse range of situations, often unfolding within domestic settings. Examples include violence against women perpetrated by their partners, instances of women defending themselves by shooting abusive partners, and conflicts resulting in a person shooting a family member during an argument.
Although victims of domestic violence constitute only a small fraction of the over 2,800 people shot in Chicago in 2023, the growing number of domestic shootings is a cause for concern.
Experts specializing in domestic violence assert that the reasons for this increase are unclear and could be influenced by various factors. The surge might be linked to the uptick in gun ownership since the onset of the pandemic, particularly in 2020, when applications for gun ownership licenses in Illinois surged by 56 percent compared to the previous year.
What Constitutes Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is a recurring pattern of harmful conduct within any relationship, utilized by one partner to establish or uphold power and control over another intimate partner. This form of violence encompasses physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, or technological actions, threats of actions, or other coercive behaviors influencing a person within an intimate partner relationship. This includes behaviors such as intimidation, manipulation, humiliation, isolation, fright, coercion, threats, blame, harm, injury, or inflicting wounds on someone.
- Physical Abuse:
- Physical abuse involves acts like hitting, slapping, shoving, grabbing, pinching, biting, and hair pulling. It extends to denying a partner medical care or compelling alcohol and/or drug use.
- Sexual Abuse:
- Sexual abuse entails coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact or behavior without consent. This includes acts like marital rape, attacks on sexual body parts, forcing sex after physical violence, or treating someone in a sexually demeaning manner.
- Emotional Abuse:
- Emotional abuse undermines an individual’s sense of self-worth and self-esteem. This may involve constant criticism, diminishing one’s abilities, name-calling, or harming one’s relationship with their children.
- Economic Abuse:
- Economic abuse involves controlling or restraining a person’s ability to acquire, use, or maintain economic resources they are entitled to. This includes using coercion, fraud, or manipulation to restrict access to money, assets, credit, or financial information.
- Psychological Abuse:
- Psychological abuse includes causing fear by intimidation, threatening physical harm to oneself, the partner, children, or the partner’s family or friends, destroying pets and property, and forcing isolation from family, friends, or school/work.
- Technological Abuse:
- Technological abuse refers to acts or patterns of behavior intended to harm, threaten, control, stalk, harass, impersonate, exploit, extort, or monitor another person through technology, including internet-enabled devices, online platforms, computers, mobile devices, cameras, apps, location tracking devices, or communication technologies.
Domestic violence can affect anyone, irrespective of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, sex, or gender identity. It transcends socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels, occurring in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships, whether partners are married, cohabiting, dating, or sharing a child.
The repercussions of domestic violence extend beyond the abused individual, impacting family members, friends, co-workers, witnesses, and the community at large. Children exposed to domestic violence are particularly vulnerable, facing social and physical challenges and an increased risk of perpetuating or falling victim to violence in the future.
This discourse on domestic violence aims to educate the public about the dynamics of abuse in intimate partner relationships, aiding victims in understanding their experiences, and assisting family and friends in recognizing signs of abuse in their loved ones’ relationships. It is essential to note that the definition of domestic violence in the Violence Against Women Act remains unchanged, as discussed here.
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