12/12/2024
🎄Domestic Violence Awareness During Festive Season 🎄 The festive season is often portrayed as a time of joy and togetherness, but for many (1 in 6 women, 1 in 18 men, and ~61% of LGBTQI+ people), it can amplify the effects of domestic violence, particularly psychological and emotional abuse. Subtle or overt control, manipulation, criticism, or isolation can leave deep, lasting scars, especially during a time when societal expectations around ‘family harmony’ are heightened.
Here are specific signs to look for:
Control and Isolation
* Preventing someone from attending social or family gatherings.
* Monitoring or dictating interactions with others at festive events.
* Using guilt or obligation to manipulate behavior (“If you cared about us, you’d stay home”).
Financial Abuse
* Controlling holiday spending or denying access to shared funds for gifts, food, or celebrations.
* Criticising gift choices or financial decisions to diminish self-esteem.
* Forcing you to justify every holiday-related expense.
Criticism and Belittling
* Undermining efforts to create a joyful celebration by criticising cooking, decorating, or event planning.
* Making public or private disparaging remarks to embarrass or humiliate.
* Dismissing your holiday traditions or preferences as unimportant.
Gaslighting
* Denying previously agreed-upon holiday plans to create confusion and self-doubt.
* Insisting that conflict or tension is your fault, especially if others notice issues.
Emotional Withholding
* Deliberately being cold, unresponsive, or distant to punish or manipulate.
* Withholding affection, communication, or attention during celebrations.
Heightened Conflict
* Creating unnecessary arguments or tension to ruin festivities.
* Sabotaging joyful moments or special plans to assert control.
Exploiting Expectations
* Using holiday pressures to enforce compliance (“Don’t ruin Christmas for the kids”).
* Pretending to be the ‘perfect partner’ in public while continuing abusive behaviour privately.
Recognising these signs is crucial for offering support to those experiencing abuse, as the stress and isolation of festive times can amplify its impact. CONTINUED IN COMMENTS…
