Part 1: Reading

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is violence committed by someone in the victim’s domestic circle. This includes partners and ex-partners, immediate family members, other relatives and family friends.

The term ‘domestic violence’ is used when there is a close relationship between the offender and the victim. There is usually a power gap between them. The victim is dependent on the offender. Domestic violence can take the form of physical, sexual or psychological abuse.

Forms of domestic violence

The following are forms of domestic violence:

Victims of domestic violence

Women form the largest group of victims. However, men, children and elderly people can also be victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence occurs at all levels in society and in all population groups.

Abuse is usually deliberate, but not always. For example, sometimes people can no longer cope with caring for relatives. The situation can then escalate and result in abuse.

 

Exercise 1: What do you think domestic violence is?




 

Exercise 2: answer the question about the text

Example questions: What do social workers do?

Answer: Help people in need.

  1. What is domestic violence according to the text
  2. When is the term domestic violence being used
  3. Which group of people is most of the time victim of domestic violence
  4. Name examples of domestic violence

 

Physical and sexual abuse

Physical abuse occurs when physical force is used against you in a way that injures or endangers you. Physical assault or battering is a crime, whether it occurs inside or outside of a family. The police have the power and authority to protect you from a physical attack.

Any situation in which you are forced to participate in unwanted, unsafe, or degrading sexual activity is sexual abuse. Forced sex, even by a spouse or intimate partner with whom you also have consensual sex, is an act of aggression and domestic violence. Furthermore, people whose partners abuse them physically and sexually are at a higher risk of being seriously injured or killed.

 

Exercise 3:  True or false questions about the text

Example question: Social workers work with people?

Answer:True

  1. Physical abuse is abusing someone sexually?               True/False
  2. Abusing someone is a crime?                                         True/False
  3. Any situation in which you are forced to participate in unwanted, unsafe, or degrading sexual activity is sexual abuse                                                    True/False
  4. People who are physically and sexually abused are at a higher risk of being killed?                                                                         True/False
  5. The police have no power or authority to protect people from physical attack                                                                                      True/Fals

 

Exercise 4: Read the text again and highlight difficult words. Look up the meaning of the words.

 

Words

Meaning in context

Example question

work

Answer: activity involving mental or physical effort

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Write below questions about the exercises. Make sure to bring the questions to class!