Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is about power and control and can manifest itself in many ways. Batterers want to control their domestic partners and will use an array of power plays to accomplish this end.

Here are some ways that domestic violence plays out:

PHYSICAL ABUSE

Hitting, slapping, punching, pushing, strangling, pulling Hair, grabbing, kicking, and using weapons.

THREATS

Making and/or carrying out threats to do something to harm the victim. Threatening to leave her, to commit suicide, to report partner to welfare, making the person drop charges, and making someone do illegal acts.

COERCION

Making the victim feel guilty, pushing the victim into decisions, sulking, manipulating children and other family members, always insisting on being right, making up impossible "rules" and punishing the victim for breaking them.

VERBAL ABUSE

Constant criticism, making humiliating remarks, not responding to what the victim is saying, mocking, name calling, yelling swearing, interrupting, changing the subject.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Forcing sex on an unwilling partner, demanding sexual acts that the victim does not want to perform, degrading treatment.

ISOLATION

Making it hard for the victim to see friends and relatives, monitoring phone calls, reading mail (e-mail), controlling where the victim goes, taking the victim's car keys.

HARASSMENT

Following or stalking, embarrassing the victim in public, constantly checking up on the victim, refusing to leave when asked.