CDC: Quarter of U.S. women suffer domestic violence

A new survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about a quarter of women in the U.S. have been a victim of intimate partner violence.

The CDC said 23.6 percent of women and 11.5 percent of men reported being a victim of what it called “intimate partner violence” at some time in their lives.
The CDC defined this as threatened, attempted or completed physical or sexual violence or emotional abuse by a spouse, former spouse, current or former boyfriend or girlfriend or a dating partner. The CDC estimates that 1,200 women are killed and 2 million injured in domestic violence annually.

The CDC also reported that many of these women have other long-term health risks. Rita Smith, executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, says that the report confirms “that living in a dangerous and stressful environment has long-term health impacts…it’s like living in a war zone.”
The survey also showed high rates of sexual and dating violence on college campuses. (How long before someone is calling it a “gray rape” survey, I wonder?)