What is Domestic Violence?

Physical Abuse*:

  • Pushing, slapping, punching, biting, kicking, or strangling.
  • Throwing or otherwise destroying valued objects.
  • Harming children or pets.
  • Hair pulling.
  • Restraining or trapping.
  • Forcing you to leave your home.
  • Using a weapon to threaten or hurt you.
  • Driving recklessly.
  • Abandoning you in a dangerous or unfamiliar place.
  • Preventing you from calling police or seeking medical attention.

Sexual Abuse:

  • Views women as objects and believes in rigid gender roles.
  • Insults you in sexual ways or calls you sexual names.
  • Has ever forced or manipulated you into to having sex.
  • Held you down during sex.
  • Demanded sex when you were sick, tired or after beating you.
  • Hurt you with weapons or objects during sex.
  • Involved other people in sexual activities with you.
  • Withholds sex from you.
  • Forces you to become pregnant, get an abortion, or kills your fetus.

*National Domestic Violence Hotline, Get Educated, What is Domestic Violence

Verbal, Emotional, or Psychological Abuse:

  • Controls what you do, read, think, say, where you go, who you see.
  • Expects you to ask permission, treats you like a servant.
  • Calls you names, insults you or continually criticizes you.
  • Humiliates you in any way.
  • Does not trust you and acts jealous or possessive.
  • Tries to isolate you from family or friends.
  • Makes you think you are crazy, plays mind games with you.
  • Intimidates you with looks, actions and gestures.
  • Punishes you by withholding affection.
  • Threatens to kill himself.
  • Threatens to hurt you, the children, your family or your pets.
  • Uses the children against you.
  • Blames his abuse on you, or claims it never happened.

Economic Abuse:

  • Keeps you from getting or keeping a job, or takes your money.
  • Controls finances, refuses to work (for the home or outside the home).
  • Gives you an allowance, or refuses to share money.

 Spiritual Abuse:

  • Twists or distorts biblical scripture to control you or make you feel guilty.