NCJ Number
101824
Date Published
1984
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This guide for battered women discusses the types and causes of domestic abuse and provides guidelines for dealing with it.
Abstract
A battered woman is one who has been the target of abusive behavior from a man known to her. It may involve threats, pushing, rape, hitting, or even stabbing. Such emotional and physical abuse often contributes to the victim's lack of self-esteem, depression, feelings of helplessness, and social isolation. In understanding battering, it is important that the victim realize she is not to blame and that she did not cause the abuse. Battering is a social problem, not a personal one, that is fostered by acceptance of violence, traditional sex-role stereotypes and attitudes, and economic and power inequalities between the sexes. In addition, battering men tend to have low self-esteem, be jealous and controlling, often come from abusive family backgrounds, blame others for their action, and deny the seriousness of what they have done. Domestic assault is a crime, and it does have serious consequences because it leads to an interpersonal and often an intergenerational cycle of violence. Victims of battering can help themselves and gain greater control over their lives by keeping records of the abuse, talking to other people, considering their long-term prospects, and seeking outside support and counseling from battered women's shelters or family violence programs. 7 suggested readings.