- Approximately 95% of the victims of dating violence are women.
- Dating Violence Occurs Among all Races and Socio-economic Groups.
- In the United States, a women is more likely to be assaulted, injured, raped or killed by a male partner than other type of assailant. Home can be most dangerous place for some victims.
- An estimated 4 million American women are battered each year by their husbands or partners.
- Each year, more than one million women seek medical assistance for injuries caused by battering, and of these women, they will be treated on an average 8 times in the emergency room before leaving their abusive partner.
- The FBI reports that 30% of female homicide victims are killed by their husbands or boyfriends. 6% of male homicide victims are killed by their wives or girlfriends. Of these homicides, over 50% are committed after the victim leaves the relationship.
- Abuse will occur at least once in two-thirds of all marriages.
- National Crime Survey data shows that once a woman is victimized by dating violence, her risk of being victimized again is high. During a six-month period following an incident of dating violence, approximately 32 % of women are victimized again.
- Women seeking shelter services generally report frequent and severe abuse. For example, data from shelters in Illinois show that 51% of battered women reported the abuse occurred at least once a week, another 25% reported a once-per-month frequency. More than 60% were hit with a fist or object, more than one-half had their lives threatened with a knife or gun.
- Battering often occurs during pregnancy.