 |
| Meslow's Hierarchy of Needs |
Domestic violence is the number one cause of homelessness for young girls and women. It is archaic to limit one's comprehension of domestic violence in its extent as physical battery alone. Domestic violence and abuse take on a much darker, more sinister incarnation in more sophisticated forms such as abuse of process and legal abuse. Abuse is about power and control. Isolation and deprivation are the two most powerful tools abusers can use to control and humiliate their victims, and isolation is easily accomplished by adult bullying and public humiliation. Deprivation is even easier to accomplish by limiting a woman's access to employment, income, money, education and resources. A self-actualized person may have resilience in an emotionally abusive relationship, but as the abuser works his way down the pyramid of Meslow's hierarchy of needs - systematically depriving a woman of basic human rights - that resilience is ultimately depleted. When basic needs such as shelter and safety cannot be met - a woman's self esteem and emotional welfare become secondary in her fight to survive. Bruises heal after a few days. But the effects of homeless traumatic stress and post traumatic stress take longer to heal. Restoring a woman's dignity cannot take place in a homeless environment. Ensuring a woman's lack of dignity is essential for abusers. Forcing a woman into homelessness and poverty is accomplished using law enforcement and the legal system to abuse process, while simultaneously publicly humiliating and bullying the victim.
This is power and control.
