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If you are in an abusive relationship, or you know someone who is, here is some information you need to know.
Women may be afraid of strangers, but it's a husband, a lover, a boyfriend, or someone they know who is most likely to hurt them. According to a U.S. Justice Department study, two-thirds of violent attacks against women are committed by someone the woman knows. In the United States, the most dangerous place for a woman is in her own home, where anger may explode into violence. Approximately 1,500 women are killed each year by husbands or boyfriends. About 2 million men per year beat their partners, according to the F.B.I.
Forms of Abuse:
Physical -- actions which cause physical pain or injury, such as
kicking, pushing, or punching.
Emotional -- actions which cause loss of self-esteem, such as
name calling, swearing, or criticizing.
Psychological -- actions which create fear, such as isolation or
threats.
Sexual -- acts of a sexual nature that are unwelcome or
uncomfortable.
Behaviors characteristic of abusive partners:
Jealousy
Controlling Behavior
Unrealistic Expectations
Isolation
Blames Others for Problems
Blames Others for Feelings
Hypersensitivity
Cruelty to Animals or Children
Verbal Abuse
Rigid Sex Roles
J
ekyll and Hyde Personality
Past Battering
Threats of Violence
Breaking or Striking Objects
Use of Force During an Argument
Constantly checking up on partner
Forces sex on partner
Relationship Rights:
I have the right to:
Be treated with respect.
My own body, thoughts, opinions, and property.
Have my needs be as important as my partner's.
Not take responsibility for my partner's behavior.
Keep my friends.
Grow as an individual.
Change my mind.
Determine how much time I want to spend with my partner.
Pay my own way.
Assert myself.
Not be abused physically, emotionally, psychologically, or
sexually.
Break-up, fall out of love, and leave a relationship.
What Victims of Domestic Violence Need to Know:
The abuse is not your fault.
You don't deserve to be abused.
You can't change someone who is abusive.
Staying in the relationship won't stop the abuse.
Over time the abuse always gets worse.
You are not alone.
If you stay, make a plan to keep yourself safe when the abuse happens again.
If you are in an abusive relationship, find a friend or relative you can trust and tell him or her about it. Call your local community center, or contact a national organization that can link you to a local affiliate. For local referrals or confidential counseling, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TDD). For emergencies, please call your local police at 911.
Source: No Safe Place: Violence Against Women
