Addressing the Increase of Domestic Violence and Abuse During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Need for Empathy, Care, and Social Equity in Collaborative Planning and Responses

• Author: Beth M. Rauhaus,Andrew F. Johnson,Deborah Sibila
• Published date: 01 August 2020
• Date: 01 August 2020
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0275074020942079
• Subject Matter: Street-Level Crisis ManagementManaging Domestic Violence During a Public Health Crisis

https://doi.org/10.1177/0275074020942079

American Review of Public Administration

2020, Vol. 50(6-7) 668 –674

© The Author(s) 2020

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DOI: 10.1177/0275074020942079

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Managing Domestic Violence During a Public Health Crisis

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, local government officials

and governors have issued various stay at home and shelter

in place orders to protect the greater community. Being con-

fined to the home may have harsh impacts to vulnerable

populations, especially victims of domestic violence and

child abuse. Without having a separation of domestic and

public life, victims may find themselves trapped in a violent

situation while sheltering in place. Typically, there is an

increase of domestic violence in times of turmoil, when indi-

viduals are stressed with job loss, discrimination, trauma, or

community dislocation, as Gruber and Goodmark (2020)

claim “domestic violence is also a virus.” Research has found

that “incidences of domestic violence rise after natural

disasters, such as hurricanes” (Jeltsen, 2020). Financial cri-

sis, such as the Great Recession of 2007–2009, have shown

to increase domestic violence (Schneider et al., 2016). The

pandemic is particularly troubling in that it has created a situ-

ation where victims may be confined near their abusers for

an extended period. There also exist several stressors includ-

ing financial strains (e.g., unemployment), health concerns,

and a lack of social support.

While much of the discussion surrounding COVID-19

remains focused on the global health pandemic and faltering

economies, there is growing pandemic in cases of domestic

violence and child abuse internationally. As quarantines are

in effect globally, communities across the globe are experi-

encing an increase in “intimate terrorism,” a term used to

describe domestic violence (Taub, 2020). The New York

Times reports an increase of intimate terrorism while shelter-

ing in place throughout much of Europe and China. The

United Nations has called for worldwide action to combat

the surge of domestic violence, by considering women’s

safety as governments respond to the pandemic (Taub, 2020).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2020),

data on violence against women remain scarce, however,

reports from China, the United Kingdom, the United States,

and other countries suggest an increase in cases of domestic

violence since the emergence of COVID-19. To further illus-

trate the sudden increase of intimate terrorism or domestic

violence in China, the situation has been referred to as a

domestic violence epidemic. The number of cases reported

to the police in Jingzhou, a city in Hubei province at the epi-

center of the COVID-19 outbreak, tripled in February 2020

942079ARPXXX10.1177/0275074020942079The American Review of Public AdministrationRauhaus et al.

research-article2020

1Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, USA

Corresponding Author:

Beth M. Rauhaus, Department of Social Science, Texas A&M University,

6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5826, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA.

Email: beth.rauhaus@tamucc.edu

Addressing the Increase of Domestic

Violence and Abuse During the COVID-19

Pandemic: A Need for Empathy, Care,

and Social Equity in Collaborative

Planning and Responses

Beth M. Rauhaus1, Deborah Sibila1, and Andrew F. Johnson1

Abstract

During COVID-19, stay at home orders have led to the rise of domestic violence and abuse claims in many localities globally,

leaving community leaders unprepared to address the increase of domestic violence incidences. As local public officials are

becoming concerned about the increase of domestic violence and in some instances, the decrease due to the inability of

victims to report instances, a collaborative response is necessary. This work examines how social equity and public service

values, such as compassion, empathy, and an ethic of care, may be incorporated into collaborative planning and responses to

domestic violence plaguing communities during the pandemic. Recommendations for raising awareness, incorporating social

equity in public service, and collaborative reporting are made.

Keywords

domestic violence, social equity, collaborative planning, COVID-19