Wanda Sue Posey gives a presentation to define domestic violence, explain why it occurs, and how to help victims. She defines domestic violence as the control of one partner over another through physical, sexual, financial, emotional or psychological abuse. Abusers seek to maintain power and control, often learning this behavior from their own upbringing, while victims stay due to fear of increased danger if leaving, believing the abuser may change, or lacking support and resources. The presentation advises developing a safety plan, calling domestic violence hotlines, and providing support to empower victims to help themselves and escape abusive situations.
1. Wanda Sue Posey
Title: Introduction to Domestic Violence
Topic: Domestic Violence
General Purpose: To inform
Specific Purpose: At the end of my presentation, my audience will know what domestic violence is and the
forms it takes; why it does and does not happen; and how they can help avictim.
Thesis Statement: Domestic violence is a problem that affects many of us in this classroom, but a
few of us are not affected. To know whether you are affected or not, you need to know
the signs and symptoms of domestic violence.
Introduction
I. Hello, my name is Wanda Sue Posey and I am a survivor of domestic violence.
II. In October our school is holding activities in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. You
are invited to attend the Domestic Violence Workshop 101 on October 23 12:30 to 1:30 in the
Walmart/Regions Room in the Student Center. You are invited to the Arkansas Clothesline Project
& Silent Witness Project Display on October 29 & 30 from 9:00 to 3:00 in the Own Center Gym.
III. One of the ways to stop Domestic Violence is through education.
IV. I am going to explain what Domestic Violence is, why it does and does not happen, and
what you can do to help yourself.
2. Wanda Sue Posey
Body
I. I Am Going To Give You The Definition Of Domestic Violence.
A. Here are the current definitions of domestic violence.
1. According to Webster’s New Explorer Dictionary domestic is an adjective
relating to the household or family. Violence is a noun that means intense
physical force that causes or is intended to cause injury or destruction.
(Websters Dictionary)
2. In the American Psychiatric Association's Let’s Talk Facts About
Domestic Violence pamphlet, domestic violence is the control of one
partner over another in a dating, marital or live-in relationship. (American
Psychiatric Association)
B. Here are some signs and symptoms that you may be a victim.
1. Domestic violence is more than physical abuse. It includes sexual,
financial, emotional, and psychological abuse. (What are the Roots of
Domestic Violence?) A person is abused when he or she is dominated,
controlled, or humiliated by another person according to the Hope Cottage
pamphlet by White County Domestic Violence Preventions, Inc. (White
County Domestic Violence Prevention, Inc.)
2. Now ask yourself these questions from the pamphlets of the American
Psychiatric Association and the White County Domestic Violence
Prevention, Inc. Do you act differently when your partner is present? Does
your partner destroy property or threaten to kill pets? Are you afraid of
your mate? Does your partner try to control where you go, what you do
and who you see? If you answered yes to some or all of these questions,
you may be experiencing domestic violence. (American Psychiatric
Association) (White County Domestic Violence Prevention, Inc.)
(Transition): Now that you know what domestic violence is, I am going to give a brief explanation as to
why it happens and why the victim stays.
3. Wanda Sue Posey
II. I Am Going To Explain, What Motivates The Abuser And The Victim.
A. Here are some of the abuser’s reasons for abusing
1. Domestic violence arises from the need of one partner to dominate the
other in any way, shape, or form. Abuse is a behavior that may have been
learned by the abuser while witnessing domestic violence in their home.
They may have come to understand that violence was a way to maintain
control in the family unit. (Joyful Heart Foundation)
2. According to the article “What are the Roots of Domestic Violence?” on
the Joyful Heart Foundation website, domestic violence can be triggered
by significant life changes and financial difficulties. (Joyful Heart
Foundation) According to the “Dynamics of Domestic Violence” on the
Hope Cottage website, domestic violence is not caused by drug abuse,
mental illness, losing control, or needing anger management skills by the
abuser. Also the belief that it is the victim’s fault for their own abuse is
false. (White County Domestic Violence Prevention)
B. Here are some of the reasons the victim stays.
1. Many people wonder why the victim stays. An article in Psychology
Today by Hara Estroff Marono named A Saga of Spouse Abuse says that
the victim stays because she is in more danger if she tries to leave, or she
believes that they can work things out. Sometimes she leaves but goes
back because she doesn’t know what else to do, doesn’t have anywhere
else to go, or because the abuser said that he was sorry and that it would
never happen again. (Marano)
2. According to the same article, there were not enough shelters and most did
not accept children. In 1996, when this article was written, the police,
courts, and shelters did very little to help victims of abuse. (Marano)
Thankfully the police, courts, and shelters are doing more today than they
did then.
(Transition): Now that you know what motivates the abuser and the victim, let us find out what
we can do to change our circumstances.
4. Wanda Sue Posey
III. Here Is What You Can Do To Help Yourself Or A Friend.
A. First, let us learn what you can do to help yourself.
1. If you choose to stay, the White County Domestic Violence Prevention website
advises you to stay away from the kitchen, bathroom, closet, or small spaces when
you are being threatened or attacked. Go to a room with a door, window, or phone
to stay safe during an attack. Keep a phone near you and memorize emergency
phone numbers. Plan an escape route out of the house and where you will go to be
safe. (White County Domestic Violence Prevention) Go to counseling.
2. If you choose to leave, again the White County Domestic Prevention website
advises that you call a domestic violence program or shelter and ask them to help
you make a safety plan. I did this when I was planning to leave. I followed their
advice and packed a bag with my clothes, my baby’s clothes, and important
papers. My friend held onto my bag for me. If you have someone that you can
trust then you need to do this too. Get you another phone so your partner can’t
trace your calls and do not use your home computer to look up or contact
domestic violence shelters.
B. Next let us learn how to help a friend.
1. If they choose to stay in the relationship, then be supportive and non-judgmental.
Let them know you are concerned about him or her. Help your friend develop a
safety plan. Encourage him or her to call a domestic violence hotline for more
advice. Along with all this advice the Domestic Violence Sourcebook also
cautions you to remember that you cannot rescue your friend. (MSU Safe Place
and the National Domestic Violence Hotline)
2. If they choose to leave then give them the same advice that I gave you earlier.
Have them pack a bag with their personal items and important paperwork. Let
them store the bag with you. Help them develop a safety plan. Let them use your
phone or computer to contact a domestic violence shelter. Take them to the
doctor. Go with them to court for moral support. (MSU Safe Place and the
National Domestic Violence Hotline)
Conclusion
I. Now you know that domestic violence is the control of one partner over another in a dating,
marital or live-in relationship. That it involves physical, sexual, financial, emotional, and
psychological abuse. It is caused by the abuser needing to have control over the victim and not
by drug abuse, mental illness, losing control, or needing anger management skills. The victim is
not responsible for the abuse and stays in the relationship for differing reasons. You have heard
how to help yourself or a friend.
II. If you need to talk to someone or need someone to help you, I am available. See me after class or
catch me somewhere on campus.
5. Wanda Sue Posey
BIBLIOGRAPHY/WORKS CITED
AmericanPsychiatricAssociation."Let'sTalkFacts AboutDomesticViolence." Healthy Minds.Healthy
Lives. 2005.
Joyful HeartFoundation."Whatare the Rootsof Domesticviolence?"2014.
http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org. Article.8September2014.
Marano, Hara Estroff."A Saga of Spouse Abuse." Psychology Today May/June1996: 59. Periodical.8
September2014.
MSU Safe Place andthe National DomesticViolence Hotline."DomesticViolence Sourcebook." Healthy
ReferenceSeries 3rd edition (2008): 1-10. Book.
WebstersDictionary.n.d.
"What are the Rootsof DomesticViolence?"2014. http://www.jofulheatfoundation.org. Document.8
September2014.
White CountyDomesticViolencePrevention."DynamicsOf DomesticViolenc."2014.
http://www.hopecottage.info. Document.8September2014.
—."SafetyPlan."2014. http://www.hopecottage.info. Online Document.8September2014.
White CountyDomesticViolencePrevention,Inc."Abuse-thereisHelp.There isHOPE!" HOPECOTTAGE.
Searcy,n.d.Pamphlet.