WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

Domestic violence, or battering, is a pattern of abusive behaviors that some individuals use to control their intimate partners.  Domestic Violence is any type of violence, abuse, or threat of violence that one partner in a relationship commits against another. It includes physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse.  Domestic violence is a serious problem that has been happening for centuries. In the U.S. each year it affects millions of people, most often women.

Domestic Violence involves a continuum of behaviors. Examples include punches, kicks, slaps, hits, shoves, forcing partner to perform degrading tasks, using degrading remarks, sexual assault, rape, and any other tactics used to establish power and control over a partner. Domestic Violence can occur in any relationship, married or unmarried, homosexual or heterosexual.

The following questions may help you decide whether you are being abused:

Does your partner ever...

•	Hit, kick, shove, or injure you?
•	Use weapons/objects against you or threaten to?
•	Force or coerce you to engage in unwanted sexual acts?
•	Threaten to hurt you or others, have you deported, disclose your sexual orientation or other personal information?
•	Control what you do and who you see in a way that interferes with your work, education or other personal activities?
•	Steal or destroy your belongings?
•	Constantly criticize you, call you names or put you down?
•	Make you feel afraid?
•	Deny your basic needs such as food, housing, clothing, or medical and physical assistance?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above, it may be time to think about your safety.