Are You Being Abused?
Domestic Violence Facts for
Women
How do I know if I am being abused?
You may not have a black eye. It may be difficult to identify yourself
as
an abuse victim, but it is a critical first step.
The following checklist may help you in determining if you or
someone you
know is being abused.
Does your partner:
- Control where you go and what you do?
- Constantly criticize you and your abilities as a wife or partner,
mother or
employee?
- Behave in an overprotective manner?
- Threaten to hurt you, your children, pets, family members,
friends, or
himself?
- Get suddenly angry, or "lose his temper"?
- Destroy your personal property?
- Hit, punch, slap, kick, shove, or bite you?
- Prevent you from working or attending school, or from going
where you
want to when you want to?
- Deny you access to family assets such as bank accounts, credit
cards,
or car?
- Give you an "allowance", and insist that you account for what you
spend?
- Force you to have sex against your will?
- Insist that you engage in sexual acts which you do not enjoy?
- Insult you or call you names?
- Use intimidation or manipulation to control you or your
children?
- Humiliate you or your children in front of others?
- Turn minor incidents into major arguments?
- Blame his behavior on you, or on his "temper", "stress", or
drugs/alcohol?
Think back over your relationship: Have any or several of these
happened
more than once, with apologies and perhaps presents or flowers for
you in
between? Have the incidents increased in number and severity over
time?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may be an
abused
woman. You are not to blame and you are not alone. Millions
of women are abused by their partners, and often don't know that
help is
available.
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Domestic Violence in Paradise