The Oklahoma Bar Journal October 2025

Importance of Helping Immigrant Victims of Abuse Domestic abuse is abuse that occurs in a domestic relationship or household. It mostly occurs between partners but also hap pens from parent to child, as well as child to parent. Abuse never happens in isolation. In fact, abuse has last ing effects that echo beyond the primary victim. 4 Family members, children and community mem bers feel the impact of domes tic abuse. Witnessing or being around abuse causes psycholog ical trauma that impacts future relationships. It could cause a child to believe abuse is normal and expected and participate in abuse as they grow up. It could cause a community to be tolerant of abusive practices and not advo cate for resources or protection. It could cause an individual to have low self-esteem and believe they do not deserve better and settle for a life of abuse and marginal resources. These examples and more show how abuse does not just occur to an individual, but it also creates waves in communi ties. The effects of abuse eventu ally infiltrate every community

Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL