Continuance of Women Abuse Affect Our Children

IMPACTS ON CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Watching, hearing, or learning later of a mother being abused by her partner threatens young people's sense of stability and security.

• Children and adolescents may experience increased emotional and behaviourial difficulties.

• Some young people display traumatic stress reactions ( e.g. flashbacks, nightmares, intensified startle reactions, constant worry about possible danger).

• Children and adolescents living wit hdomestic violence are at increaed risk of experiencing physical injury or childhood abuse (e.g. physical and emotional).

• The abuser might use the children and adolescents as a control tactic against adult victims. Such as;
• claiming the children's bad behavior is the reason for the assaults on their mother.
• threatening violence against children and pets in front of the victim.
• holding the children hostage and abducting them in an effort to punish their mother or to gain compliance.
• withholding childrne's health cards or other essential documents (e.g. birth certificates, passports)
• talking direspectfully about their mother to the children.

• Children and adolescents may experience strong mied feelings towards their violent parent; affection existing along with feelings of resentment and disappointment.

• Young people may imitate and learn the attitudes and behaviors modelled when woman abuse occurs in the home. They might;
• use violence and threats to get what they want.
• learn that people do not get into trouble when they hurt others.
• believe men are in charge and get to control women's lives.
• believe that women don't have the right to be treated with respect.

• Exposure to violence may desenitize children and adolescents to aggressive behavior. When desensitzation occurs, aggression becomes part of the "norm" and is less likely to signal concern to young people.

• Whatever a young person's cultural background, she or he is likely to experience similiar feelings about living with women abuse. However, some students face additional barriers to seeking assistance because of differences from the dominant culture, such as;

• cultural and linguistic barriers
• the visibility of their mother's situation within their community
• distrust of adults in positions of authority
• increased concerns about confidentiality
• increased isolation
• limited resources and supports
• racism
• discrimination
• lack of immigration status

Children and mothers living in rural/remote areas may experience additional challenges such as;

• increased isolation and lack of social support networks
• difficulty accessing services due to lack of public ransportation and long distances to travel
• the visibility of their situation within their community
• increased concerns about confidentiality.

Barriers resulting from cultural differences may be compounded when students live in rural or remote areas.

SIGNS OF SOMEONE HAVING DIFFICULTIES

Students may display difficulties when they are living in abusive homes. These problems can occur for other erasons as well (death of a parent, homelessness, being bullied, traumatic events, experienced by a refugee or immigrant, or parental alcoholism). You may want to consult with other educators, the guidance counselor, and or administrative or support personnel to discuss your concerns.

Difficulties often include:

• physical complaints (headaches, stomaches)
• tiredness
• constant worry about possible danger/ or safety of family members (going to check on sisters, or brothers, phoning home)
• sadness and/ withdrawl from others and activities
• low self-esteem and lack of confidence, especially for trying new things (including academic tasks)
• difficulty paying attention in class, concentrating on work, and learning new information
• otubursts of anger directed towards educators, peers, and or self
• bullying and/ aggression directed towards peers, or self
• stereotyped beliefs about males as aggressors and females as victims.

In addition to the behaviours listed above, older students may display:

• Inflicted self-injury or mutilation
• suicidal thoughts and actions
• high risk behavior (including criminal activities (alcohol and sbustance abuse)
• school trauancy or leaving home
• getting involved in a violent relationship