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Introduction to Domestic Violence and Rape

Domestic Violence and Rape

If you have suffered domestic violence or a sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. You can also contact 911/your local police department to speak to the authorities about filing charges.

Domestic violence is a variety of abuse that occurs within the home, between family members or couples. The typical image of domestic violence involves an adult male perpetrator and a female victim, often his wife or girlfriend. However, there are also women perpetrators of domestic violence, and men are sometimes victims. Really, any violence done by any family or group member towards another could qualify.

Domestic violence may take many forms. Destruction of property, psychological and emotional abuse, and physical and sexual assault are all com...More

Fast Facts: Learn! Fast!

What is domestic violence?

  • Domestic violence is a variety of abuse that occurs within the home, between family members or couples.
  • Destruction of property, psychological and emotional abuse, and physical and sexual assault are all common forms.
  • On the milder but still quite serious side, perpetrators of domestic violence may threaten victims or use verbal put downs and bad name, attempt to publically humiliate them, or play manipulative mind games. Abusers may be act very jealously, and work to control victims' access to family and friends or employment.
  • Rape is a crime involving forced sexual activity, usually including sexual penetration, against the will of the victim.
  • In addition to the financial and social adjustment difficulties that are often associated with removing one's self from an ongoing abuse situation, survivors of domestic violence or rape can develop emotional and psychological concerns that last well after the physical injuries have healed.
  • No matter what type of violence you may have experienced (or are experiencing) or variety of emotional difficulty you may have incurred from such trauma, it is important that you not blame yourself for having been victimized.
  • Nobody deserves to be physically, sexually, emotionally, or spiritually abused as a child or as an adult.
  • Abusive people are unable or unwilling to effectively control or cope with their own impulses and to respect human dignity and rights.

For more information


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  • Articles

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    • Teen Boys Who Attempt Suicide More Likely to Abuse as Adults
  • Questions and Answers

    • Should I Put up With Abuse And Morbid Jealousy?
    • The Marriage Corner: Do You Think my Marriage Can be Repaired?
    • Will He Hit Me Again???
    • Extreme Behavior
    • How to Convince my Wife to Seek Help
    • Parent Abuse and My Resulting Disorders?
    • Abused As A Child and Now It's Ruining My Life
    • I Was Living Two Lives.
    • Controlling Husband Who Cheated Several Times
    • Anger
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      • cycle of abuse, but no apologies
      • Father is abusing and controlling my mother
      • Spousal Abuse and Borderline Personality Disorder
      • Living In Fear Of The Next Outburst
      • Stalked
      • Making Excuses
      • What Abuse Looks Like
      • A Moth Attracted To Flame
      • Mom's Protector
      • Harassment Aftermath
      • What Abuse Looks Like #1
      • Why Was I Raped?
      • Is This Abuse?
      • Disclosure #1: Healing From Rape
      • Stalker
      • Are Battered Women Mentally Ill?
      • Abusive Boyfriend
      • Just Left My Abusive Boyfriend
      • Psychotic Ex-Boyfriend
      • Abusive Wife
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    • Speak
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    • Violence Against Women
  • Self-Help Groups

    • Support for Partners
  • Videos

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    • Emotional Abuse Is Far Worse Than You Think
    • Know the Signs of Relationship Abuse
    • Leslie Morgan Steiner: Why domestic violence victims don't leave
    • Just How Common Is Domestic Violence?
    • The Cycles of Abuse