News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
New state data reports boyfriend/girlfriend relationship made up more than 42 percent of domestic violence cases in 2021.
Genesis House Sexual Assault Program Manager Danielle Girt said there are two reasons. One, Girt said in today’s culture, fewer couples are getting married and remain partners in a different capacity.
“But also I would say the second reason is that married people are sometimes less likely to report,” Girt said. “And a lot of our married clients that come in seeking help, their testimony is ‘I’ve been going through this for ten years, I’ve been going through this for 15 years,’ And sometimes even more.”
Girt said on a local level, Genesis House has seen an increase in requests for assistance, but a decrease in the types of abuse. She said a source of concern is that there has been a significant increase in cases of psychological abuse.
Girt said that in instances of psychological abuse, the primary warning sign is if a victim drastically changes their personality.
“Especially in dating relationships and on campus, if you see any kind of unwanted contact that’s happening like through repeated phone calls or messages, a person sending unwanted gifts, tracking you through technology, showing up and waiting for you at your dorm or at the gym,” Girt said. “Things that 10 years ago you might not have identified as creepy in a sense should be things that we look for now. The best, most proactive thing for us to be able to do as community members is to not always be a hero, but know what resources are out there to connect those who need help.”
