Yasmin Mohammed, Amanda Persaud, Bibi Sulaman, Samantha

Yasmin Mohammed, Amanda Persaud, Bibi Sulaman, Samantha Scheiman, Albert Cruz
Gender Studies 140, FYS09, Professor Rachelle Germana
Introduction
• Domestic violence is any threatening
behavior, violence, or physical, sexual and/or
emotional abuse between partners.
• Domestic violence during pregnancy can
lead to miscarriages, premature birth, fetal
injury and low birth weight.
• Abuse often continues after the baby is
delivered, through verbal abuse, preventing
the mother from getting a job, or withholding
money to care for the baby.
Statistics
• 1.5 million women each year are abused by their
partners.
• 1 our of 3 women worldwide will be physically
or sexually abused during their lifetime.
• 1/3 of domestic violence starts when a women
gets pregnant.
• Only 4-8% of pregnant women actually report
violence during pregnancy to the police.
• Domestic violence during pregnancy endangers
both pregnant women and the unborn baby.
Women who
experience domestic
violence during
Advocates
A strong advocate for women experiencing abuse
during pregnancy is the March of Dimes Foundation.
pregancy
Women who report
violence during
pregancy
Maternal deaths occur
when women tell their
health professionals
• The March of Dimes Foundation works to
improve the health of mothers and babies.
• They teach that abuse can come in many forms.
• Emotional abuse may lead a woman to feel
scared or depressed, eat unhealthy foods, or pick
up bad habits such as smoking and drinking.
about the violence
References
Domestic violence during pregnancy. (2013). Retrieved
from http://www.babycenter.com/0_domestic-violenceduring-pregnancy_1356253.bc?page=1.
Weiss, R. (2013). Domestic violence in pregnancy.
Retrieved
from http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/domesticviolence/a/
domesticviol.htm.
Point of View
• We believe women should not be physically, sexually,
or emotionally harassed or hurt when pregnant.
• This behavior can cause lasting damages to a woman
and fetus.
• The emotional damage can greatly impact the unborn
child as well as the mother.
• A woman and her significant other should enjoy the
pregnancy and be happy that she is expecting.
• Every women should have a safe and healthy
pregnancy, not one where she is being abused and
mistreated due to her significant other.
Violence Against Women Act
• The Violence Against Women Act is a federal law drafted by then-Senator Joe Biden in 1994.
• The act mandates a tough criminal justice response for holding abusers accountable.
• The act also provides support and services for those who experience abuse so they can rebuild
their lives.
• Although the act was recently renewed, it was heavily opposed by conservative Republicans.
Domestic abuse against pregnant women. (2013).
Retrieved
from http://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/domestic-abuse.
Drouin, R. (2010). Domestic violence. Retrieved
from http://www.womensweb.ca/violence/dv/pregnancy.
php.
Fullam, L. (March, 2013). Usccb opposes violence
against women act. Retrieved from
https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/usccbopposes-violence-against-women-act.
Strasser, A. (March, 2013 4). Gop congresswoman: I
opposed domestic violence bill because it protected too
many groups. Retrieved from
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/03/04/
1669601/blackburn-vawa/.
Violence Against Women Act. (n.d.). Fact Sheet. The
White House. Retrieved from
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/vawa
_factsheet.pdf