What is abuse ?
Domestic abuse is defined as "the actual or threatened physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or financial abuse of a woman by a partner, family member or someone with whom there is, or has been, a close relationship. This abuse also relates to the perpetrator allowing or causing a child to witness, or be at risk of witnessing, domestic abuse."
Domestic abuse involves the misuse of power and exercise of control by one person over another with whom there is or has been a close relationship.
Domestic abuse can be physical, emotional, mental, sexual, or financial. It might be a combination of one, some, or all of these elements.
Men try to blame other things for their behaviour such as anger, depression, unemployment, alcohol, drugs, etc., however there are no excuses. They can use different tactics to gain power and control over women and children, these include:
- violence such as punching, burning and spitting; isolation from family and friends;
- verbal abuse such as calling you degrading names and destroying your self esteem;
- bullying such as constantly questioning you, humiliating you in public and sulking;
- having financial control such as hiding money or keeping you short of money and preventing you from working;
- using the children by spoiling the children and not disciplining them and undermining you in front of them or threatening to hurt them;
- blaming you by telling you it is your fault that he loses it and that you nag him too much;
If you are experiencing any of the above behaviours from a family member, please do not hesitate to contact our information centre.
Domestic abuse can and does affect anyone, regardless of race, ethnic or religious group, class, sexuality, disability or lifestyle.
