Imagine yourself in the following situations:
You’re at a restaurant and you’re seated next to a large group of couples. During the meal their voices escalate and suddenly one of the women takes a wine bottle and breaks it across the back of the man’s head seated next to her.
You’re at the Waffle House with your friends after a party, and you see a couple you kinda know from the yard. It looks like they are arguing because she’s all in his face and talking loud. The next thing you know, he’s pimp-slapped her so hard. she flies across the counter.
You’re reading a story in the paper about a lady who is the sole care-giver for her husband who is paralyzed from the waist down. In a fit of anger, she dumps him into a bathtub full of water and watches as he struggles to breathe.
If any of the above scenarios sound familiar, they should. Can you say “Tyler Perry” movies? All of these examples illustrate a form of domestic violence (DV). DV is defined as behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control another. Some common control tactics include:
Sarcasm
Ridicule
Yelling out or shouting
Interrupting
Swearing
Towering over you
Not listening or refus ing to respond
Using a tone of abso lute certainty and final authority
Statistics:
Twenty percent of dating couples report some type of violence in their relationship(s)
Thirty percent of college students are in a physically or emotionally abusive relationship
Nearly one-third of college students report physically assaulting an intimate partner in the previous 12 months
Students often have difficulty recognizing verbal and emotional abuse, or do not have enough experience in relationships to know that the abusive behavior is not normal or healthy. College students may feel trapped by the social network and closed environment of many campuses. If you find yourself or someone you know in this situation, remember you don’t have to suffer in silence.
Numerous resources are available to provide you with professional and confidential assistance. If you have any questions or for further information, please contact the Student Counseling Services (936) 261-1400 or Prairie View Police Department (936) 261-1375.