Facts on Spousal Abuse
Spousal abuse is a very serious matter that affects both women and men who may feel trapped in their relationship. Although most victims tend to be women, there are men who are abused by their spouses as well. Staying in an abusive relationship can be potentially fatal for the victim if she does not try and get out.
Other People Are Reading
-
Facts
-
Spousal abuse consists of more than just physically beating the victim. Forms of abuse include sexual, financial, verbal, emotional and physical abuse. If a man or woman is forced into degrading sexual acts, denied money for necessities, degraded verbally or hit, then she is being abused. Women make up the greatest numbers of abuse victims. Between 1998 and 2002, 84 percent of spouse abuse victims were females.
Warning
-
An abuser will try and make his spouse feel as though she deserves to be abused. Sometimes he will make up excuses why he acts the way he does. An abuser claims that he cannot control his actions. He does everything he can to try and keep his victim in the relationship.
-
What to Look for
-
It is hard to pinpoint what goes on behind a closed door. If you suspect that someone is being abused, you should look for the warning signs. A victim will appear withdrawn or may miss several days of work at a time. An abuser likes to isolate his spouse as much as possible from friends and family. The person who is being abused will make excuses for her spouse's actions or blame it on herself.
Misconceptions
-
It is a common belief that a woman's background will make her more susceptible to getting involved in an abusive relationship. There is no significant proof that provides evidence to this belief. Some women believe that they will be OK in an abusive situation. According to medical experts Roxanne Dryden-Edwards M.D. and Melissa Conrad Stoppler M.D., "victims who live in a household where weapons are present and drugs are used have a greater risk of being killed by their abuser."
Prevention/Solution
-
It is important to educate everyone about the dangers and warning signs of abuse. By educating the public it will be easier for men and women to stay away from potential abusers. If you are in an abusive relationship, you should speak with your local police department about a restraining order and look into local shelters for battered men and women so that you can remove yourself from such a dangerous situation.
-
