Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.
Abuse can include any or all of the following: physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together, or dating, during the relationship or after separation. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.
What Is
Domestic Violence?
If you are experiencing any of these forms of abuse...
Emotional Abuse
If your partner calls you names, insults you or continually criticizes you.
If your partner does not trust you and acts jealous or possessive.
If your partner tries to isolate you from family or friends.
If your partner monitors where you go, who you call, and who you spend time with.
If your partner does not want you to work or go to school.
If your partner punishes you by withholding affection.
If your partner expects you to ask permission.
If your partner threatens to hurt you, the children, your family, or your pets.
If your partner threatens to “out you” to family members or co-workers.
If your partner reinforces internalized homophobia, transphobia, or biphobia.
Physical Abuse
If your partner damaged property when angry (thrown objects, punched walls, kicked doors, etc.).
If your partner pushed, punched, slapped, bitten, kicked or strangled you
If your partner has abandoned you in a dangerous or unfamiliar place.
If your partner has scared you by driving recklessly or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
If your partner has used a weapon to threaten or hurt you.
If your partner has forced you to leave your home.
If your partner has trapped you in your home or kept you from leaving.
If your partner has prevented you from calling police or seeking medical attention.
If your partner has hurt your children.
If your partner has used physical force in sexual situations.
Financial Abuse
If your partner calls forbids you to work
If your partner sabotages work
or employment opportunities by stalking or harassing you at the workplace or causing you to lose your job by physically battering you prior to important meetings
or interviews.
If your partner forbids you
from attending job training or advancement opportunities.
If your partner controls how
all of the money is spent.
If your partner does not include you in investment or banking decisions.
If your partner does not allow you access to bank accounts.
If your partner withholds money or gives “an allowance.”
If your partner forces you to write bad checks or file fraudulent tax returns.
If your partner runs up large amounts of debt on joint accounts.
If your partner refuses to work or contribute to the family income.
If your partner withholds funds for you or your children to obtain basic needs such as food and medicine.
If your partner steals your identity, property, or inheritance.
Sexual Abuse
If your partner views women as objects and believes in rigid gender roles or defines gender roles.
If your partner accuses you of cheating or is often jealous of
your outside relationships.
If your partner wants you to dress in a sexual way.
If your partner insults you in sexual ways or calls you sexual names.
If your partner has ever forced or manipulated you into having sex or performing sexual acts you did not want to do.
If your partner held you down during sex against your will.
If your partner demanded sex when you were sick, tired, or after beating you.
If your partner hurt you with weapons or objects during sex.
If your partner involved other people in sexual activities with you.
If your partner ignores your feelings regarding sex.
Sexual Abuse
If your partner views women as objects and believes in rigid gender roles or defines gender roles.
If your partner accuses you of cheating or is often jealous of
your outside relationships.
If your partner wants you to dress in a sexual way.
If your partner insults you in sexual ways or calls you sexual names.
If your partner has ever forced or manipulated you into having sex or performing sexual acts you did not want to do.
If your partner held you down during sex against your will.
If your partner demanded sex when you were sick, tired, or after beating you.
If your partner hurt you with weapons or objects during sex.
If your partner involved other people in sexual activities with you.
If your partner ignores your feelings regarding sex.
Sexual Abuse
If your partner views women as objects and believes in rigid gender roles or defines gender roles.
If your partner accuses you of cheating or is often jealous of
your outside relationships.
If your partner wants you to dress in a sexual way.
If your partner insults you in sexual ways or calls you sexual names.
If your partner has ever forced or manipulated you into having sex or performing sexual acts you did not want to do.
If your partner held you down during sex against your will.
If your partner demanded sex when you were sick, tired, or after beating you.
If your partner hurt you with weapons or objects during sex.
If your partner involved other people in sexual activities with you.
If your partner ignores your feelings regarding sex.
Here are some signs of...
(scroll left to right on each box to learn more)