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Violence Against Women: Signs of Abuse Violence and abuse affect all kinds of people every day. It doesn't matter what race or culture you come from, how much money you have, how old you are, or if you have a disability. Violence does not discriminate. Abuse can be physical, mental, and emotional. Violence against women in any form is a crime, whether the abuser is a family member; someone you date; a current or past spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend; an acquaintance; or a stranger. You are not at fault. You did not cause the abuse to occur. One important part of getting help is knowing if you are in an abusive relationship. Sometimes it is hard and confusing to admit that you are in an abusive relationship, or to find a way out. There are clear signs to help you know if you are being abused. If the person you love or live with does any of these things to you, it's time to get help: monitors what you're doing all the time criticizes you for little things constantly accuses you of being unfaithful prevents or discourages you from seeing friends or family, or going to work or school gets angry when drinking alcohol or using drugs controls how you spend your money controls your use of needed medicines humiliates you in front of others destroys your property or things that you care about threatens to hurt you, the children, or pets, or does cause hurt (by hitting, beating, pushing, shoving, punching, slapping, kicking, or biting) uses or threatens to use a weapon against you forces you to have sex against your will blames you for his or her violent outbursts
If you're in an abusive relationship, be careful when using the Internet. Your computer use can be tracked. It is impossible to fully erase the web sites you have visited. If you think someone is tracking your computer use, please use a safer computer. You may be able to use a friend's computer or a computer at your local library. If you're a victim of violence at the hands of someone you know or love or you are recovering from an assault by a stranger, you are not alone. To get immediate help and support call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Both can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Last updated June 01, 2008
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