DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEFINED
What is an Abusive Relationship?
Abuse occurs when someone you live with or are related to uses physical violence, threats, stalking, harassment, emotional, or financial abuse to control, manipulate, coerce, or intimidate you. Abuse is also called "battering" or "domestic violence".
If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you are involved in an abusive relationship:
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Does your partner or relative throw you down, punch, slap, shove, kick, choke or threaten you?
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Does your partner or relative frighten you by smashing things, destroying your property, using looks, actions, gestures or a loud voice?
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Does your partner or relative devalue your opinions, feelings or accomplishments?
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Does your partner or relative try to keep you from getting or keeping a job, make you ask for money, or take your money?
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Have you given up important activities or people in your life in order to keep your partner or relative happy?
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Does your partner or relative bewilder you by switching from charm to rage without warning?
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Does your partner or relative make you do sexual things against your will?
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Does your partner or relative yell, threaten, or withdraw into angry silence when you displease him or her?
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Is your partner or relative extremely jealous and possesive?
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Do you "walk on egg shells" rehearsing what you will say so as not to set your partner or relative off?
Abusive relationships not only involve husbands hitting their wives. Abuse can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of age, gender, or sexual preference. Parents hit their children, children hit their parents, wives abuse husbands, husbands batter wives, brothers beat sisters, sisters beat brothers. Cousins, uncles, aunts, live-in mates, girlfriends, boyfriends - all have been party to or victims of abusive relationships.
