Published: 11:53 PM, 12 July 2026
Domestic Violence Has Various Shapes and Colours: Only Judging Physical Abuse Seriously Does Not Suffice
Mamun Abdul Quayum
Domestic violence is often imagined as bruises, broken bones, or visible injuries. While physical abuse is one of the most obvious forms of violence, it is far from the only one. Millions of people around the world suffer from emotional, psychological, verbal, financial, and digital abuse every day. These forms of violence may leave no visible scars, but they can deeply affect a person's confidence, mental health, and overall well-being. Therefore, treating only physical abuse as a serious issue is not enough. Society must recognize that domestic violence has many shapes and colours, and every form deserves attention, protection, and justice.
Domestic violence refers to abusive behaviour within a family or intimate relationship where one person seeks to control or dominate another. It can happen between spouses, parents and children, siblings, or other family members. Although women and children are the most common victims, men and elderly family members can also experience abuse. Domestic violence exists across all social classes, educational backgrounds, religions, and cultures, proving that it is a universal problem rather than one limited to any particular group.
Emotional and psychological abuse are among the most common yet overlooked forms of domestic violence. Constant criticism, humiliation, threats, intimidation, manipulation, and isolation from friends and relatives can gradually destroy a person's self-esteem. Victims often begin to believe they are worthless or responsible for the abuse they suffer. Unlike physical injuries, emotional wounds cannot be photographed or easily proven, making it harder for victims to seek help or for others to understand the seriousness of their suffering.
Verbal abuse is another harmful form of domestic violence. Repeated insults, shouting, name-calling, and degrading language may seem less severe than physical assault, but their long-term effects can be devastating. Continuous verbal attacks can lead to anxiety, depression, fear, and even suicidal thoughts. Children who grow up in such environments often experience emotional trauma that affects their education, relationships, and future mental health.
Financial abuse is also a powerful tool of control. In many households, one partner prevents the other from working, controls all financial resources, withholds money, or creates financial dependence. Victims trapped in financially abusive relationships often find it extremely difficult to leave because they lack the resources needed to support themselves or their children. Economic control can be just as imprisoning as physical violence.
With the rapid growth of technology, digital abuse has become an emerging concern. Abusers may monitor phone calls, track locations, demand passwords, send threatening messages, or publicly humiliate victims through social media. Such behaviour invades personal privacy and creates a constant sense of fear and surveillance. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into daily life, digital abuse deserves greater legal and social recognition.
The consequences of domestic violence extend beyond individual victims. Families become unstable, children's emotional development is disrupted, and communities suffer from increased healthcare costs, reduced productivity, and greater social problems. Children who witness violence at home may either become victims themselves or repeat abusive behaviour later in life, creating a harmful cycle that continues across generations.
One of the greatest challenges is that many victims remain silent due to fear, social stigma, financial dependence, or concern for their children. In some societies, domestic violence is wrongly considered a private family matter. Such attitudes discourage reporting and allow abusers to continue without accountability. Communities, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement agencies must work together to identify warning signs and provide timely support.
Governments should strengthen laws that recognize every form of domestic violence, not only physical assault. Legal protection, counselling services, emergency shelters, financial assistance, and accessible reporting systems can help victims rebuild their lives. Schools and media also play an important role by promoting healthy relationships, mutual respect, and awareness about different forms of abuse. Public education can encourage people to recognize controlling behaviour before it escalates into more serious violence.
Domestic violence wears many disguises. A person may smile in public while silently enduring emotional manipulation, financial control, or constant fear at home. Measuring abuse only by visible injuries ignores the invisible suffering experienced by countless victims. A truly compassionate society must acknowledge that violence is not limited to physical harm. Every form of abuse that threatens a person's dignity, freedom, and safety deserves equal recognition and firm action. Only by broadening our understanding of domestic violence can we ensure that every victim receives the protection, respect, and justice they deserve.
Mamun Abdul Quayum
is a banker.
