As Women’s History Month comes to a close after honoring the many contributions women have made to our society, the abuse of women in this country is increasing.
If Jeffrey Epstein were a rare exception, it would be a sad, isolated tragedy, but Carol Gall, executive director of Sarah’s Inn in Forest Park, says the abuse of women and girls is too prevalent even in the village with small-town charm.
“Calls to both Sarah’s Inn’s 24-hour crisis line and the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, have surged and continue to climb each year since 2019,” she reported. The state hotline alone received almost 60,000 callers in 2024 — almost double the previous levels. Last year alone, Sarah’s Inn answered 2,933 calls on our crisis line — each one representing someone urgently seeking safety and support.
“The rise in domestic violence,” she said, “is also reflected in fatalities in Illinois — domestic violence deaths in Illinois rose by 14% in 2024 to 137 victims — a 140% increase since 2022. Firearms are a major factor in domestic violence homicides, accounting for 68% of deaths in 2023.
“We are deeply concerned about both the increase and the severity of domestic violence. Most people associate physical violence with domestic violence, though most domestic abuse is mental and emotional.”
Gall defined domestic violence as “a pattern of behavior used to establish and maintain power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence.”
The pattern includes various behaviors that can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial, psychological, or technological, threats or other kinds of coercive behavior that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.
Gall told the story of a woman she called Client A to give a more concrete feel for the women Sarah’s Inn works with.
Client A came to Sarah’s Inn while still living with her abusive partner. She had been in the relationship for 10 years and was preparing to leave. During her initial meetings, staff worked with her to create a safety plan that prioritized her immediate physical and emotional well-being.
Over the next several months, she consistently engaged in advocacy sessions. These sessions focused on safety, navigating systems, and identifying her goals for stability and independence. She utilized Sarah’s Inn’s financial assistance program to help meet basic needs during the transition. She also participated in support groups, where she connected with others who had experienced similar situations.
Client A has since moved into a safer living situation. She reports feeling more secure and in control of her life, and recently adopted a cat. She continues to build on her progress and remains connected to supportive resources at Sarah’s Inn.
Here’s an analogy. Gall defined domestic abuse as “a pattern of behavior used to establish and maintain power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence.”
It’s spooky how much that definition fits with the foreign policy of this nation right now.
The major change in war in the last thousand years has been technological. Ken Burns in his film about the American war of independence said Native Americans who fought on both sides were shocked at the carnage they witnessed. They were used to fighting with spears and clubs. Gunpowder used in muskets and canons multiplied the death toll.
How has domestic abuse changed?
“Domestic abuse foundationally is the same,” Gall replied, “though the behaviors, tactics and tools used to exert power and control over an intimate partner have evolved along with technology, social media and the severity and risk factors. Access to firearms, economic stress and housing instability have made situations more complex and even dangerous.
“Technology such as tracking tools, smartphones and social media have allowed for constant abuse, control and harassment to be more accessible for those who choose to cause harm. Locations can be tracked, messages can be monitored on multiple devices, and with AI, victims can be manipulated and impersonated.”
Gall believes that some good has come out of the public attention given to the Epstein files.
“High-profile cases,” she said, “such as Jeffrey Epstein, and larger movements by victims to courageously share their stories, have helped more survivors speak out, come forward and have begun to shift the public’s perception of domestic violence and the multiple forms of abuse, as well as highlighted systemic failures to help support survivors and hold those who cause harm accountable.”
One concluding thought: An online site called Safe Alliance reports, “One in 10 men in the U.S. has experienced sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner and suffered some form of related impact. The Centers for Disease Control confirms what so many quietly endure.”
Contact info: INFO@SARAHSINN.org Emergency 24 hour crisis line: 708-386-4225.