Domestic Violence and COVID-19

The pandemic that we are currently living in has presented many challenges and has required us to work and learn in unprecedented ways. This pandemic has also significantly impacted people struggling with mental health issues. As a community, in an effort to mitigate the emotional toll of social distancing and isolation we have committed to and have found alternate ways to connect.

For those living with Domestic Violence (DV), the outcomes of the pandemic, including social isolation and increased financial and familial stressors can have particularly devastating consequences. The media have posted some compelling and concerning statistics about the increase in violence in homes locally and globally. Domestic Violence does not discriminate and can impact all people and demographics. While some people in the community at large are at an increased risk of experiencing domestic violence, Laurier staff, faculty and students are also susceptible and we know that some will be impacted by COVID19 and DV just as members of the broader community have been.

Understanding Domestic Violence

The terms Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Domestic Violence (DV) are often used interchangeably. Historically, the view of violence in a relationship focussed on two individuals in a heterosexual marriage with the husband as the abuser and the wife as the victim. This is the origin of the term “domestic violence”. The abusive behaviour was viewed as a form of violence that existed within a domestic relationship. Today the term Domestic Violence is an umbrella term and includes Child Abuse, Elder Abuse, Sibling to Sibling Violence, Adolescent to Parent Violence and Intimate Partner Violence. Domestic Violence isn’t just physical and can also include emotional, verbal, economic, religious, reproductive and sexual abuse.

The term Intimate Partner Violence started to replace the term Domestic Violence as societal views shifted concerning various relationship dynamics and it became recognized that the roles of abuser and victim are not gender specific. IPV is a form of family or domestic violence and happens:

• within a marriage, common-law or dating relationship
• in an opposite-sex or same-sex relationship
• at any time during a relationship, including while it is breaking down, or after it has ended

More recently the term Gender-Based Violence (GBV) has become used to reflect those most at risk of experiencing violence in homes - women, girls, and LGBTQ2+ folks. Additionally, Indigenous and marginalized women and girls are at even greater risk of experiencing violence.

Not all violence is the same. In some cases, one person may want power and complete control over their partner and will use different ways (including physical violence) to get it.

For example, abusers try to control things such as:

• isolation from friends, family and employment
• what that other person can wear
• when and where that person can go out
• whom that person spends time with
• when that person can talk to family and friends
• what that person can spend money on
• whether that person can work or take classes
• all aspects of that person's sexual activity
• access to food, clothing and sanitary products

Domestic Violence During COVID-19

• Home isolation gives more power to abusers.
• Support resources, such as access to safe housing and counselling are overwhelmed or inaccessible.
• Victims are experiencing greater surveillance by controlling partners.
• Escaping the violence is more difficult.

If you, or someone you know, needs help and wants to access resources within the University they can reach out to:

• Dawn McDermott, Senior Advisor of Dispute Resolution and Sexual Violence Support at dmcdermott@wlu.ca.
• Sarah Scanlon, Sexual Violence Response Coordinator at sscanlon@wlu.ca.

External Supports and Resources         

• Find Help Across Canada (Ending Violence Association of Canada)
• Resources on Gender-Based Violence and the COVID-19 Pandemic (Learning Network)