The Definition of Abuse

What is Abuse?

Abuse can take on many forms. Some types are more subtle than others and might never be seen or felt by anyone other than the battered woman. The abuser uses a combination of tactics that work to control a victim. The abuse also usually increases in frequency and severity over time.

How is your relationship? Does your partner:

• Embarrass you with bad names and put-downs?
• Look or act in ways that scare you?
• Control what you do, who you see or talk to, or where you go?
• Stop you from seeing or talking to friends or family?
• Take your money or Social Security, make you ask for money, or refuse to give you money?
• Make all the decisions?
• Tell you you're a bad parent or threaten to take away or hurt your children?
• Act like the abuse is no big deal, it's your fault, or even deny doing it?
• Destroy your property or threaten to kill your pets?
• Intimidate you with guns, knives, or other weapons?
• Shove you, slap you, or hit you?
• Force you to drop charges?
• Threaten to commit suicide?
• Threaten to kill you?

Four Types of Abuse Include:

1. Psychological Abuse: Verbally attacks you, humiliates you, plays mind games, ignores your feelings, threatens you, or keeps you from your family.
2. Physical Abuse: Slapping, punching, hitting, spitting, shoving, biting, kicking, strangles, burns, or restrains you.
3. Economic Abuse: Not allowing you to work, destroying your things, withholding money and basic needs, or controls all the money.
4. Sexual Abuse: Forcing you to submit to sexual activities, coercion into sexual acts you are not comfortable with, or insist that you dress in a more sexual way than you want.

Victim's Rights

Abuse is never your fault. You are not the cause of your abuser's behavior. You have the right...

1. Not to be abused.
2. To leave.
3. To ask for help.
4. To make life choices and changes.
5. To be safe.
6. To leave.