Facts About Violence Against Women

WHAT IS ABUSE?
Abuse is a pattern of control that physically harms, induces fear, prevents another from doing what they wish, or forces them to perform in ways they do not want to. Abuse can be found among married and unmarried heterosexuals, lesbians and gay males. It cuts across the geographic, religious, economic, and racial barriers. Abuse includes physical, sexual and/or emotional attacks and economical deprivation.
PHYSICAL ABUSE IS:

  • physically hurting you: pushing, scratching. punching, kicking
  • driving recklessly with you in the car
  • throwing or locking you out of the house
  • physically restraining/holding you against your will
  • throwing or destroying objects
  • abandoning you in dangerous places
 SEXUAL ABUSE IS:

  • insisting on particular sexual dress or undressing that makes you uncomfortable
  • forcing unwanted sexual acts, unwanted touching
  • criticizing you sexually
  • calling you sexual names
  • withholding sex
EMOTIONAL ABUSE IS:

  • ignoring or ridiculing your feelings or beliefs
  • threatening: to leave you, to take the children
  • being manipulative
  • abusing your children or pets
  • isolating you from friends, family, and supportive activities
 ECONOMICAL ABUSE IS:

  • choosing not to be employed
  • not allowing you equal access to money
  • expecting you to pay and support the family without the finances to do so
  • neglecting to pay the bills
  • creating large debts through credit
  • taking your money without your permission

Why Women Stay
  • Lack of Self-Esteem
  • Pressure from Family and Friends
  • Religious Beliefs
  • Inadequate Responses from the Professional Community
  • Socialization
  • Fear: of Partner, the Unknown, Loneliness, Losing Children, Being Homeless, etc.
  • Learned Behaviour from Childhood and Abusive Partner
  • Belief that Partner will Change
  • Lack of Information/Education
  • Isolation

Family Violence and Children
  • It is estimated that as many as 80% of children of abused women witness the abuse of their mothers.
  • Children are present in 41-55% of homes where police intervene in domestic violence calls.
  • In one out of three families where the mother is assulted the children are also directly abused.
  • Children who witness violence often suffer from low self-esteem, tend to lack self-confidence, feel fearful and vulnerable, and may have feelings of guilt and responsibility for their mother’s suffering.
  • Children in homes where abuse occurs may “indirectly” receive injuried. They may be hurt when items are thrown or weapons are used. Babies may be hurt if they are being held by their mother when the batterer strikes out.
  • Boys who witnessed domestic violence as children are more likely to batter their female partners as adults than boys raised in benevolent homes.
  • Girls who witnessed their mothers being battered are more likely to have abusive partners in their adult life.