Defining Domestic Violence

The U.S. Department of Justice defines ‘Domestic Violence’ as “ is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, or technological actions or threats of actions or other patterns of coercive behavior that influence another person within an intimate partner relationship. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.”

34% of Women and 6% of Men in America Murdered by an Intimate Partner

In America, of the 4,970 female victims of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in 2021, law enforcement agencies reported that 34% were killed by an intimate partner. By comparison, about 6% of the 17,970 males murdered that year were victims of intimate partner homicide. About 16% of female murder victims were killed by a nonintimate family member—parent, grandparent, sibling, in-law, and other family member—compared to 10% of male murder victims. These statistics are reported by the 50-years-old Bureau of Justice Statistics.

**U: Chart by Bureau Of Justice Statistics; L**: **Mika Baumeister** **@ Unsplash**

Jolie does not minimize the impact of domestic abuse on white women. But she highlights how survivors who belong to marginalized communities, such as racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with disabilities, often encounter additional barriers when seeking support and healthcare.

Angelina Jolie Calls Out Undetected Skin Bruising on People of Color as a Major Medical Problem

We are familiar with the absurd but widespread belief that women of color can handle greater pain. But this device deals with the very real problem of not even seeing or detecting bruising, when a doctor has the best of intentions to offer quality healthcare in communities of color.

Angelina received a demonstration of how a handheld device can highlight bruising on darker skin tones that had been previously invisible to the naked eye.

“Alternate Light” Devices Are an Answer

The simple, portable device directed “alternate light”—in this case violet light with a yellow lens—toward the skin. The technique is up to five times more effective at detecting bruising than white light, as much as four weeks after injury.