Strengthen Our Sisters • Defining Domestic Violence

1. BATTERING, ABUSE, OR ASSAULT: The use of physical force to control and maintain power over an intimate partner. It involves frightening and intimidating someone repeatedly over a period of time.

A. PHYSICAL (against a person): This is the most obvious -- it involves physical assault. It is hitting, slugging, pushing, kicking, pulling of hair, shoving, slapping, etc.

B. SEXUAL: This involves forcing the partner to do sexual things against her/his will. Genitals may be the target during sexual assault.

C. PHYSICAL (against property): This is not assault of the victim's body directly, but is the destruction of property, pets and other items belonging to the family member.

D. PSYCHOLOGICAL: This comes in many different forms and runs from name calling to a campaign of terrorism equivalent to that directed towards prisoners of war or hostages. There usually has been one physical attack which establishes a context or framework which makes the psychological abuse more intimidating, more credible, and more controlling. Psychological assault includes threats of violence towards a family members, threats of having one's partner committed or taking the children away, threats of homicide or suicide, etc.

2. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Abuse in a family or household that includes woman abuse, partner abuse, child abuse, incest, sibling abuse, or elder abuse.

3. BATTERED WOMAN: A victim of repeated physical, emotional (and often sexual) abuse by husband, former husband, lover, boyfriend or intimate partner. The assailant is jealous, controlling and uses threats, intimidation and verbal abuse, as well as physical violence, to get his way. Once the battering starts, it usually gets worse and more frequent over time.

BATTERING ISN'T
• ARGUING
• FIGHTING OR DISAGREEING
• ASSERTIVENESS
• SELF-DEFENSE

IMPORTANT SAFETY ALERT!

Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are
afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a
computer at your local library or other location. Or call our local hotline at 1-800-767-9470,
and/or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.


World Peace Begins at Home.

	<< Previous Article Return to Articles page Next Article>> Defining Domestic Violence 1. BATTERING, ABUSE, OR ASSAULT: The use of physical force to control and maintain power over an intimate partner. It involves frightening and intimidating someone repeatedly over a period of time. A. PHYSICAL (against a person): This is the most obvious -- it involves physical assault. It is hitting, slugging, pushing, kicking, pulling of hair, shoving, slapping, etc. B. SEXUAL: This involves forcing the partner to do sexual things against her/his will. Genitals may be the target during sexual assault. C. PHYSICAL (against property): This is not assault of the victim's body directly, but is the destruction of property, pets and other items belonging to the family member. D. PSYCHOLOGICAL: This comes in many different forms and runs from name calling to a campaign of terrorism equivalent to that directed towards prisoners of war or hostages. There usually has been one physical attack which establishes a context or framework which makes the psychological abuse more intimidating, more credible, and more controlling. Psychological assault includes threats of violence towards a family members, threats of having one's partner committed or taking the children away, threats of homicide or suicide, etc. 2. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Abuse in a family or household that includes woman abuse, partner abuse, child abuse, incest, sibling abuse, or elder abuse. 3. BATTERED WOMAN: A victim of repeated physical, emotional (and often sexual) abuse by husband, former husband, lover, boyfriend or intimate partner. The assailant is jealous, controlling and uses threats, intimidation and verbal abuse, as well as physical violence, to get his way. Once the battering starts, it usually gets worse and more frequent over time. BATTERING ISN'T • ARGUING • FIGHTING OR DISAGREEING • ASSERTIVENESS • SELF-DEFENSE By Amy Coha, 1993 << Previous Article Return to Articles page Next Article>> IMPORTANT SAFETY ALERT! Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a computer at your local library or other location. Or call our local hotline at 1-800-767-9470, and/or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
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