What kind of women get abused

Alcohol use, stress and mental health issues do not cause a man to be an abuser but may trigger or exacerbate an abusive episode. Woman abuse creates fear, can make the woman feel humiliated and gives the abuser power and control over the woman. A woman may be subjected to abuse by her partner during an intimate relationship, while she and her partner are breaking up or after they have separated.

Many, but not all, forms of woman abuse are against the law in Canada. It is a serious problem that occurs throughout society and has negative effects on the health and well-being of women, children, families and the community.

Woman abuse is not usually limited to one act. It is a pattern of behaviour, involving a number of tactics. When it happens in an intimate relationship, the abuse usually follows a pattern and gets more serious over time.

The list below highlights the most common tactics of abuse in intimate relationships. In most situations, the woman is subjected to a combination of tactics. Whichever tactics an individual abuser uses, the goal is the same: to control the woman by making her afraid of him. Physical abuse is the most obvious kind of woman abuse, but it is not the most common and is not necessarily the most serious. It includes such actions as:.

Any behavior that maintains power and control over finances constitutes financial abuse. Examples include causing a partner to lose their job through direct and indirect means, such as:.

There are specific tactics of abuse that may be used against immigrant partners, including:. It is important to remember that in the U. Women Against Abuse has bilingual staff, and also uses Language Line to provide services to people of any language.

For information about resources for immigrant victims of domestic violence, contact:. Any of the above behaviors may be used to control or exert power over a partner, and they may be part of a larger cycle of violence and reconciliation.

Trevor is a college student and advocate who shared his story at our iPledge Campaign press conference. A valued corporate partner, Verizon has been committed to empowering survivors of domestic violence in Philadelphia through HopeLine by Verizon.

Pro bono representation provided by local law firms makes a meaningful difference for the thousands of clients seeking help at our Legal Center. Chanda is a survivor and advocate for Women Against Abuse. She first shared her story at the iPledge Campaign press conference. Contact Us. To learn about and apply for employment and volunteer positions, please visit our Opportunities page To request a workshop or training on domestic violence, please complete our Training Request Form To host a fundraiser or request a Women Against Abuse speaker or materials for a health fair or community event, please fill out our Event Information Form For all other questions and requests, please fill out the form below.

It might not be easy to identify domestic violence at first. While some relationships are clearly abusive from the outset, abuse often starts subtly and gets worse over time. You might be experiencing domestic violence if you're in a relationship with someone who:. If you're lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you might also be experiencing domestic violence if you're in a relationship with someone who:. You may not be ready to seek help because you believe you're at least partially to blame for the abuse in the relationship.

Reasons may include:. Therapists and doctors who see you alone or with your partner haven't detected a problem. If you haven't told your doctor or other health care providers about the abuse, they may only take note of unhealthy patterns in your thinking or behavior, which can lead to a misdiagnosis.

For example, survivors of intimate partner violence may develop symptoms that resemble personality disorders. Exposure to intimate partner violence also increases your risk of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD.

If health care providers focus on your symptoms, this may worsen your fear that you are responsible for the abuse in your relationship. If you're having trouble identifying what's happening, take a step back and look at larger patterns in your relationship.

Then, review the signs of domestic violence. In an abusive relationship, the person who routinely uses these behaviors is the abuser. The person on the receiving end is being abused. Sometimes domestic violence begins — or increases — during pregnancy, putting your health and the baby's health at risk. The danger continues after the baby is born. Even if your child isn't abused, simply witnessing domestic violence can be harmful. Children who grow up in abusive homes are more likely to be abused and have behavioral problems than are other children.

As adults, they're more likely to become abusers or think abuse is a normal part of relationships. You might worry that telling the truth will further endanger you, your child or other family members — and that it might break up your family — but seeking help is the best way to protect your children and yourself. The longer you stay in an abusive relationship, the greater the physical and emotional toll.

You might become depressed and anxious, or begin to doubt your ability to take care of yourself. You might feel helpless or paralyzed. If you're an immigrant, you may be hesitant to seek help out of fear that you will be deported. Language barriers, lack of economic dependence and limited social support can increase your isolation and your ability to access resources. Laws in the United States guarantee protection from domestic abuse, regardless of your immigrant status.

Free or low-cost resources are available, including lawyers, shelter and medical care for you and your children. You may also be eligible for legal protections that allow immigrants who experience domestic violence to stay in the United States. Call a national domestic violence hotline for guidance. These services are free and protect your privacy. The only way to break the cycle of domestic violence is to take action.

Start by telling someone about the abuse, whether it's a friend, loved one, health care provider or other close contact. You can also call a national domestic violence hotline. At first, you might find it hard to talk about the abuse.