October is a month for a call of awareness against Domestic Abuse. Domestic abuse affects women, children, animals, the LGBT community, and even men. Domestic abuse has been a problem since the beginning of human life, but is still continuing. Why?

Sure there is now more support, but there still isn’t enough work being done. There is still a large group of people who ignore the domestic abuse problem. The month of October calls to all of those who have gone or are going through any kind of abuse to receive help. If you are going through domestic abuse speak up, there is no reason to be scared as many people will support you! It’s never too late, but the more you wait, the more hurt you are causing yourself or another. One voice is great, but many together is greater.

In many countries around the world, women are seen as the weak links of society, when in reality they are anything but that. Women have feelings, they are intelligent, and have the capacity to work as hard as men. The world has been battling this topic as women have won their voice over the past decades and have fought bravely for their rights.

On August 18, 1920, not even one hundred years ago, women were finally granted the right of voting by the 19 Amendment. Women aren’t just objects as the people who abuse them think. They have the equal capability as a man and the sexism has to change.

Another group of humans that are affected by domestic abuse are children. According to CDV.Org (Children of Domestic Abuse) five million children witness domestic abuse in their home in the United States. Also, 40 million American adults grew up living with domestic abuse. This is a huge problem worldwide because research shows what children witness causes them to have a high percentage of doing it themselves.

The world needs to end domestic abuse and a very effective way to start is by the roots of it, children. The children that grow up in domestic abuse, are three times more likely to do the same in their adult life.  Also a huge problem with children growing up in this type of environment is that they are six times more likely to commit suicide and 50% of them turn to drugs and alcohol for help. Children are deeply affected by this horrible thing that still continues today, both physically and mentally. There has to be a way where we can help children faster and in a more effective way to stop these abusive actions. The American people have to speak up and prevent this from continuing.

According to recent studies around the US, women make up 60% of domestic violence victims, and men make up the other 40%. In past years, the number of men who were victims of domestic abuse has increased. Thirty-eight percent of men who experience domestic violence will end up homeless, while their abuser goes unpunished. Domestic violence doesn’t just affect women and LGBT people. Men may not be the primary victims of domestic violence, but the ones that do have no place to go because the number of shelters and organizations for women greatly outweigh the ones for men.

Animal cruelty is a subject that is just as much of a problem as child abuse and domestic violence. According to the Humane Society Organization, based on 1,423 cases, 70% of animal cruelty is towards dogs, 20% to cats, and 24% other animals, such as livestock and reptiles. Animal abuse is more than just the owner mistreating or ignoring their animal, some owners give dogs drugs and force them to fight for their life in illegal dogfights. Thankfully, the number of animal abuse cases has gone down, thanks to people realizing how wrong it is, and to TV shows such as Animal Cops that are able to reach out to people and help crack down on animal abuse. Animal abuse can be tied to abusive relationships. In a survey by the Humane Society, 71% of domestic violence victims reported that their abuse also targeted pets.

Abuse doesn’t just happen at home. People everyday are bullied for being gay or lesbian, for their race or religious beliefs, or for their looks. Abuse isn’t always physical. Verbal abuse can be just as powerful, sometimes even worse, leading people to suicide or living their life insecure about who they are or what they look like.

If you ever see someone being abused, please stand up for them. If we all take and stand, the harassers will back down and hopefully stop the abuse.

(Information for this article can be found on the following website:  www.helpguide.org.)