People do not have to use violence to hurt you. There are many ways someone at home can inflict emotional stress or damage, typically by hurling insults. Washington protects its residents with laws against domestic violence, but it is not immediately clear if the law covers other, less physical forms of abuse.
Is it domestic violence if a person does not physically hurt you?
Domestic violence goes beyond physical abuse. Washington defines it as acts or behavior that do not just cause bodily harm, but also inflict the fear of physical harm. Spouses often use threats as a means of frightening a spouse into compliance.
However, there are ways your spouse can abuse you without physically assaulting you. Washington has its own laws regarding stalking, harassment and sexual assault:
- Stalking (RCW 9A.46.110): When your abuser persistently follows, monitors or initiates contact with you without your consent
- Coercive Control (RCW 7.105.010): When your abuser verbally or psychologically abuses you, typically by undermining your mental stability with degradation, financial exploitation, humiliation, punishment and isolation
- Sexual assault (RCW 70.125.030): When your abuser initiates sex or any form of sexual contact without your consent
Knowing how to recognize abuse in all its forms is important if you want to protect yourself. Actions such as verbal degradation, stalking and sexual harassment are emotionally draining and have the potential to be just as harmful and life-altering as domestic violence.
What can you do after experiencing domestic violence?
Recovering from domestic violence is an exhausting ordeal, and one that many consider traumatic. If your spouse or partner physically assaults you or threatens bodily harm, you may file a case against them or seek civil protection. To do so, you will need to gather as much evidence related to the incident as possible. Laws regarding domestic violence can be complex, which is why many seek guidance from legal professionals.