In preparation for this issue, we sent out an email to our distribution list that included a 40-question-long survey on abuse, culled from various abuse surveys. To view the full survey, click ABUSE. You still may participate by copying and pasting the survey and your responses into an email and sending it to us at Brooke@Invasivethoughts.com. We will publish new results in our Abuse Issue Part Two.
Below, we have summarized our findings from approximately 20 respondents.
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-One-third of our respondents have been target of indecent exposure by a stranger. Some reported this occurring 3-4 times in their lives so far.
-One-third have been shoved by a stranger.
-Nearly half of our respondents have been slapped or hit in the face by a family member or partner, 4 repeatedly over time.
-4 respondents have been hospitalized due to physical abuse from a family member or partner.
-One-third have been date-raped.
-1 respondent was raped by a relative.
-Two-thirds of respondents have been pressured into having intercourse, 6 as a teen, 2 as an adult, and 4 as both a teen and an adult. A few other respondents experienced pressure but were able to avoid having intercourse.
-More than one-third of respondents were pressured into giving oral sex, 2 as teens, 3 as an adult, and 2 as both.
-One-third of respondents were molested as children (by an adult mostly, a couple by other children as well).
-Two-thirds have been called degrading names (such as "bitch, cunt, slut, idiot, stupid") by a relative or partner repeatedly over time.
-5 respondents were exposed to pornography as a child.
-One-third of respondents witnessed domestic violence in their homes.
-4 respondents' pets were harmed by a relative or partner, and 1 respondent harmed pets as a child.
-3 respondents were forced or pressured into being watched, photographed, or videotaped sexually.
-One-third have had partners who wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
-More than half of respondents have been stalked.
-Two-thirds have been verbally threatened by a relative or partner.
-Nearly half have family members who have experienced domestic violence.
-10 respondents have up to 5 friends who have experienced domestic violence.
-8 respondents have friends who have been raped, with a combined number of 26 victims.
-Half have been hit by a weapon or object by an abuser.
-One-third have intentionally hurt another person.
-More than one-third have had neighbors involved in domestic violence disputes.
-4 respondents have called the police on an abuser.
-Half have been told they were worthless by a relative or partner.
-5 respondents contemplated suicide to escape abuse (2 attempted suicide).
-3 respondents have been impregnated by an abuser, 2 have been married to an abuser, and 2 have children from an abuser.
-1 respondent has worked as a prostitute.
-8 feel they still need or want to heal from abuse.
*Additional Findings: One respondent reported abuse/neglect from the legal system. Several respondents were uncertain of how to answer certain questions, indicating that there is still much that we do not know or understand about abuse and what constitutes abuse.