ABOUT ABUSE
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviors that a person uses against an intimate or former partner. It might include:
Physical Abuse: Shoving, hitting, kicking, burning, choking, using weapons or other objects to cause injury; restraining.
Sexual Violence: Forcing or coercing, unwanted sexual acts, refusing to practice safer sex, treating a partner like a sex object.
Emotional Abuse/Intimidation: Name calling/ put-downs; denying/shifting blame; treating a partner as an inferior; threatening to harm others/self or to reveal information that might be harmful; using threatening looks, actions, or gestures.
Property/Economic Abuse: Destroying/ stealing property; denying money for basic
needs such as food or medical care; interfering with a partner’s work or education.
Stalking: Monitoring activities, phone calls, or emails; following a partner; impersonating
or questioning others about a partner. This may be done without the victim’s knowledge.
