The Facts

Violence against women - domestic violence and sexual assault - happens within all ethnic, cultural and age groups.

Domestic Violence in Texas

In Texas in 2005:

• almost 188,000 family violence incidents occurred.
  


• 143 women were killed by their intimate partner.
  


• almost 12,000 adults and more than 17,000 children received shelter from their abusive relationships.
  

According to a 2002 statewide poll by the Texas Council on Family Violence:

• Three of every four Texans have either themselves, a family member or a friend experienced some form of domestic violence.
  


• Almost half of all Texans say they have personally experienced one or more forms of domestic violence - severe, verbal or forced isolation from friends and family - at some point during their lifetime.
  


• Almost one of every three Texans say they have been severely abused at some point during their lifetime.
  


• Two of every five Hispanic Texas females reports having experienced severe abuse.
  


• About 5.2 million Hispanic Texans are personally affected by domestic violence.
  


• Three of every four Texans believe domestic violence is a serious problem for our state.
  

Sexual Assault in Texas

• More than 226,000 children and 104,000 adults a year are raped in Texas.
  


• One of every five Hispanic Texas females reports having been forced to have sex.
  


• One of every five college women reports having been forced to have sexual intercourse.
  


• 35% of college men surveyed anonymously confessed if they knew they could get away with it, then they would commit rape.

Teen Dating Violence

• About 20% - or 1 in 5 - adolescent girls report being physically or sexually hurt by a dating partner.
  


• One-third of teen report experiencing some type of abuse in their romantic relationships, including verbal and emotional abuse.
  

Sources: V-Day; Texas Council on Family Violence; Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, Texas Health and Human Services Commission.