Trapped in Silence: Campus Domestic Violence
- Lexi Waite
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Authored by: Lexi Waite
Art by: Ava Shi
Domestic violence isn’t just a headline; it's an unnoticed crisis unfolding on college campuses every day, all around us. Domestic violence is an aggressive or violent behavior involving the abuse of a partner or spouse. This violence creates lasting effects that alter many women’s lives, yet many choose not to report their experiences. This silence often stems from fear and limited access to resources, making it essential to raise awareness and ensure that survivors feel safe to seek the help they deserve.
Roughly 50% of college women report having a friend who has experienced domestic violence with 58% being unsure how to support these victims [1]. As a result, 76.6% of domestic violence cases involve physical injury, ranging from scratches to broken bones [2]. For many women, the effects of domestic violence go beyond their physical bodies and extend into their mental health as well. In the short-term, many college-aged women report poor academic functioning, increased substance and alcohol abuse and greater symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [2]. Additionally, long-term effects on relationships with future partners are seen as well. Women who previously experienced domestic violence are more likely to communicate ineffectively with new partners and become hypervigilant when facing sexual intimacy [2]. Despite these severe consequences, over 65% of domestic abuse victims never report their abuse to law enforcement [2]. Women face numerous detrimental effects due to this unreported violence, creating a potential lifetime of physical and mental struggles. Domestic violence is a perpetuating cycle that creates silence and suffering for its victims.
There are many reasons survivors are hesitant to report their abuse. A major factor is economic dependence, many women often feel trapped without adequate resources of their own to support themselves or their children [3]. This issue of dependency originates through the control that is created by the abuser, leading victims to feel incapable of being independent and surviving on their own [3]. Fear also plays a powerful role. Women have reported feeling fearful throughout their relationship, but this fear is heightened even after leaving the abusive relationship. Victims live with a chronic fear and anxiety that the abuser will retaliate, regardless of whether they stay or attempt to leave [4]. For some women, this chronic fear manifests as panic attacks, nightmares, and anxiety. In some cases these symptoms become the final breaking point before seeking mental health services for the trauma one has experienced [4]. Even when women are willing to report, there are economic disparities in resources and support services that are available. Limited social support and access to resources has been linked to poorer mental health outcomes and an increase in severity of symptoms [3]. While these services try their best to assist victims of abuse, they experience inconsistent funding and are often overcrowded [3]. Understanding these barriers highlights the need for accessible, well-funded support systems on college campuses and the communities that surround them.
Recognizing that domestic violence is a widespread crisis and happens on all college campuses and communities is critical. At Cornell, there are multiple resources that are available to educate and support those who are affected by domestic violence. There is educational information on how to support victims of domestic violence, resources for employees, and additional supporting materials for others in the Cornell community. There are links to access Cornell’s Victim Advocacy Program, a program to report and ask questions while additionally providing 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotlines of different community levels with resources specific to Tompkins County, New York State, and a national hotline [5]. Though the system is not perfect, awareness and accessibility are essential. The willingness to listen and support survivors is critical to ending the silence around domestic violence, beginning with awareness, compassion and the courage to act. Students and other college campus community members can choose to educate themselves about domestic violence and recognize the warning signs of abuse, share information about community resources, and support survivors by listening and supporting them without judgment.
References
Domestic Violence Statisitcs (2020). National Domestic Violence Hotline, https://www.thehotline.org/stakeholders/domestic-violence-statistics/.
Rothman, K., Salivar, E.G., Doss, B. (August 19, 2019). Sexual assault among women in college: immediate and long-term associations with mental health, psychosocial functioning, and romantic relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence,
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0886260519870158?
Weaver, T., Kelton, K., Riebel, J. (June 10, 2022). The relationship between women’s resources and health-related quality of life in a sample of female victims of intimate partner violence. National Library of Medicine,
Pain, R. (August 2012). Everyday terrorism: how fear works in domestic violence. Scottish Women’s Aid, https://womensaid.scot/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/EverydayTerrorismReport.pdf.
Cornell University. Domestic Violence Resources. https://hr.cornell.edu/browse-self-service/domestic-violence-resources.
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