Spotlight on Intimate Partner Violence, Part 1: IPV and How COVID is Exacerbating It

The Femtastic Podcast

[TW: domestic violence, sexual assault, physical violence, emotional abuse]

A sad but true fact: more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the US will experience intimate partner violence (IPV). Half of all female homicides are from a current or past male intimate partner. And these are just the estimates we have among cisgender people and those who report their abuse. But with the compounded stress and isolation of COVID-19, IPV has reached a tragic, all-time high.

In Femtastic's first ever Spotlight Series, we focus the next two episodes on bringing awareness to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or Domestic Violence (DV).

The months of COVID-associated isolation, fear, and economic anxiety have ignited IPV to new and often deadly ends; specifically, domestic violence homicides have increased dramatically. Today, we focus on the type of abuse more commonly associated with IPV: physical violence. In the next episode, we focus on emotional abuse, an equally damaging type of IPV.

To discuss physical IPV today, Femtastic's guest is Kathryn Jacob, President and CEO of SafeHaven of Tarrant County, a DV shelter in Fort Worth, Texas. Kathryn has been working for over 20 years to shine a spotlight on the issue of domestic violence. As an expert in this field, she has a wealth of knowledge and leads the industry to develop early intervention techniques to reduce DV’s fatal outcomes.

Today on the podcast, Kathryn discusses why and how IPV occurs, how it shows up in all types of romantic relationships (straight; queer; among trans and non-binary folks, etc.), misconceptions around IPV, how COVID has exacerbated it, and what you can do to help.

Resources (all hotlines are confidential):

• National Domestic Violence Hotline (text LOVEIS to 22522 or call 1-800-799-7233)
• Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741); free and confidential mental health texting via SMS message. 24 hours a day in US, Canada, UK, and Ireland.
• The Network/La Red (IPV support for LGBQ/T folks as well as folks in SM/kink and polyamorous communities) 617-742-4911
• Assistance with Finding a Domestic Violence Shelter: Call Safe Horizon at 1-800-621-HOPE (4673)
• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline [phone]); 24-hour, confidential hotline with resources to aid in every child abuse situation. Voice, text, and online messaging available.
• Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project; 800-832-1901 (24-hour emergency hotline)
• Trans Lifeline US: 77-565-8860; Canada: 877-330-6366; Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is an anonymous peer support phone service run by trans people for our trans and questioning peers. Call us if you need someone trans to talk to, even if you’re not in crisis or if you’re not sure you’re trans. Se habla español.
  • Family & Friends Line provides peer support for friends, partners, family members and professionals supporting trans loved ones and community members. To access this service, call our main hotline and ask for our Family & Friends Line.
• How to Identify Abuse (from the National Domestic Violence Hotline)
• How to Support Others (from the National Domestic Violence Hotline)
• Hotlines for LGBTQ+ folks (crisis intervention, suicide, IPV, youth and runaway info, HIV/AIDS)

• HealMyShame.com: Great source of articles, blogs, and other information on emotional abuse and shame (recommended by spotlight series guest Beverly Engel, an expert psychotherapist on emotional abuse)

• Article recommended by Beverly Engel: How to Leave an Abusive Relationship: 18 Expert Tips by Linda Rodgers

• How to support SafeHaven of Tarrant County