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Swansea University is committed to providing a positive experience and safe campus for everyone. We believe that domestic abuse is never acceptable, and the University takes a zero-tolerance approach towards violence and abuse. Domestic abuse hurts individuals, communities and disclosing it allows the University and the Police to better understand and deal with what is happening.
Some of the terminology and concepts may feel alien to you, as there are a lot of stereotypes, myths and misconceptions around Domestic Abuse. That’s why we talk about domestic abuse at the University, but we are using the terms interchangeably (relationship abuse/domestic violence).
Definition of Domestic Abuse
Domestic Abuse, also commonly known as domestic violence and relationship abuse, is defined as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, and can also include sexual violence. The majority of cases are perpetrated by a partner or ex-partner, but could also be a family member or carer. It is very common. Anyone can experience domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, race or sexuality. There is no requirement for the person being abused and the person(s) abusing them to live in the same household.
Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
- Psychological and/or emotional abuse.
- Physical violence or threats of violence
- Sexual abuse or rape
- Financial or economic abuse.
- Harassment and stalking.
- Online or Digital Abuse
- This can include forced marriage, so-called “honour-based” violence and ritual abuse.
It can be an individual incident, or a pattern of incidents, but always involves one person having control and power over another.
What is Coercive Control?
Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.
Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, frighten, isolate, or create dependence.
There are links and overlap between domestic violence and the continuum of sexual violence.
What is 'Honour'-Based Abuse?
'Honour'-based abuse is a form of domestic abuse that is often thought of as a ‘cultural’, ‘traditional’ or ‘religious’ problem. It can affect people of all ages, but often begins early in the family home.
It can lead to a deeply embedded form of coercive control, built on expectations about acceptable and unacceptable behaviours. Control is often established without overt violence against the victim. For example, family members may threaten to kill themselves, ostracise, or disown the victim.
Perpetrators are often partners or ex-partners, or family members.
The aim of this sort of abuse is to isolate someone and make them subordinate and/or dependent on the abuser in some way. They can convince the person that they are to blame for the abuse and that they are unable to leave which means that on average there are 35 incidents of abuse before someone will report the perpetrator. We would encourage students feel able to seek support from the University as soon as possible.
If you are in a relationship that feels abusive, please consider reporting this to the University. It does not matter how long you have been in the relationship, it may be quite new, it is not about how long you have been together but what is happening within the relationship.
If you are not sure if what is happening is ok, or not, you may find this link to warning signs helpful: Warning Signs | Equation.
Domestic abuse is disproportionately experienced by women and you can read more about gender and domestic abuse.
Whether the person doing this to you is a fellow student or not, Swansea University is here to support you, and will help you to report to the relevant authorities, should you choose to. No one should have to accept violence or control in their lives, and you are not to blame for what is happening to you.