Domestic violence can occur in different forms of abuse.

• Physical - Hitting, slapping, kicking, shoving, pushing, shaking, biting, and pinching
  
  
• Verbal/Emotional - Constant criticism, making humiliating remarks/name calling, ignoring what the victim is saying, mocking, yelling, interrupting, swearing, threats/intimidation, emotional withholding, and degrading the victim
  
  
• Sexual - Forcing sex on an unwilling partner, demanding sexual acts, forcing uncomfortable sex, and criticizing sexual ability
  
  
• Isolation - Keeping the victim from seeing family or friends, monitoring phone calls, reading mail, and restricting victim's movements
  
  
• Financial - Not paying the bills, refusing to buy food/necessities for the victim and/or family, not letting the victim have money, or not letting the victim work
  
  
• Coercion- Threatening the victim into decisions, manipulating children and other family members, always insisting on being right, making up impossible "rules" and punishing the victim and children for breaking them, self-destructive behavior, making the victim feel guilty
  
  
• Harassment/ Stalking - Following or stalking, constantly checking up on the victim, multiple telephone calls and visits, and refusing to leave when asked

Why do battered women stay?

Denial Love Children Dependence Hope of change

Financial Isolation Culture Religion Status

Language barriers Pride Low self-esteem Fear of retaliation Loneliness