Woman Abuse in Ontario - An Ongoing Problem

If you ask the average person on the street what he or she thinks are the most pressing issues facing Ontario, you will not likely hear about woman abuse. The plight of the manufacturing industry, greenhouse gases, the price of fuel, gridlock - all of those topics will be readily discussed, but the subject of woman abuse will not be mentioned.
Such is the nature of the issue. People have empathy and compassion for women who suffer violence, but woman abuse doesn't strike them as something that affects society as a whole. The breadth of the problem is unknown to most. Many people consider it an affliction that is limited to low-income families.
The many forms that woman abuse can take are also unknown. Few people are aware of the prevalence and tremendous damage caused by emotional abuse. Most are ignorant of the power and control exerted by a spouse who isolates a woman and forces her to be completely dependent on him. Few consider harassment and stalking as woman abuse, even though these crimes terrorize a woman and affect her mental and emotional health.
In 1993 the United Nations published a Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women that defined woman abuse:
"Violence against women shall be understood to encompass, but not be limited to physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation; physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere; trafficking in women and forced prostitution; and physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the State, wherever it occurs."
Given this broad definition, it is clear that woman abuse in Ontario and elsewhere is a far reaching problem that affects women of all backgrounds. Domestic abuse affects 7% of Ontario women. Nearly one-third of Canadian women have experienced at least one incident of sexual assault. Almost one-quarter of Canadian women have suffered sexual harassment in the workplace.
What are the effects of woman abuse? According to the Ontario Women's Directorate, the costs of health care, criminal justice, social services and lost productivity run into the billions. But there is much more at stake than just dollars and cents. A woman's sense of self-worth is shattered, as are her physical and mental health.
Yet many women continue to suffer in silence. Studies by Statistics Canada show that only 36% of victims of spousal violence, and fewer than 10% of sexual assault victims report the crimes against them. Why? Fear is one factor. But, sadly, so are shame and embarrassment.
Despite the lack of reporting to police, nearly half of women (47%) do use the supports available in their community, including counselors (37%), crisis lines or centres (15%) and community centres, like a women's centre or family centre (14%).
What do all of these numbers tell us about woman abuse in Ontario? That it happens often; that its costs are enormous; and that there are organizations that have made it their mission to help. These organizations are lifesavers for women and they deserve the full support of their local communities and governments, even if their work doesn't create the headlines that gas prices and traffic jams do.