Types of Domestic Violence

Types of Domestic Abuse

Regardless of whether it is physical, emotional, or takes some other form, abuse often follows an escalating pattern in which the controlling behaviors worsen over time.

The abusive partner may use oppression systems already set in our society to assert his or her privileges against the other person.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is any violence or intentional and unwanted contact with your body.

Some examples of physical abuse are:

• Scratching, punching, biting, strangling or kicking.

• Throwing something at you such as a phone, book, shoe or plate.

• Pulling your hair.

• Pushing or pulling you.

• Grabbing your clothing.

• Grabbing you to prevent you from leaving or to force you to go somewhere.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse refers to any action that pressures you to do something sexually you don’t want to do.

Some examples of sexual abuse are:

• Unwanted kissing or touching.

• Unwanted rough or violent sexual activity.

• Rape or attempted rape.

• Refusing to use condoms or restricting your access to birth control.

• Threatening you with unwanted sexual activity.

• Pressuring or forcing you to have sex or perform sexual acts.

• Using sexual insults toward you.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse includes threats, insults, humiliation, intimidation, isolation or stalking.

Some examples of emotional abuse are: 

• Calling you names and putting you down. 

• Yelling and screaming at you. 

• Intentionally embarrassing you in public. 

• Preventing you from seeing or talking with friends and family. 

• Telling you what to do and wear. 

• Damaging your property when they’re angry (throwing objects, punching walls, kicking doors, etc.) 

• Blaming your actions for their abusive or unhealthy behavior. 

• Threatening to commit suicide to keep you from breaking up with them. 

• Threatening to harm you, your pet or people you care about. 

• Making you feel guilty or immature when you don’t consent to sexual activity. 

• Threatening to have your children taken away.

Financial Abuse

can be very subtle — telling you what you can and cannot buy or requiring you to share control of your bank accounts.

Some examples of financial abuse are:

• Giving you an allowance and closely watching what you buy.

• Placing your wages in their account and denying you access to it.

• Keeping you from seeing shared bank accounts or records.

• Forbidding you to work or limiting the hours you do.

• Preventing you from going to work i.e. by taking your car or keys.

• Getting you fired by harassing you, your employer or coworkers on the job.

• Maxing out your credit cards without your permission.

• Refusing to give you money for food, rent, medicine or clothing.

• Spending money on themselves but not allowing you to do the same.

Sources:

STOP DOMESTIC ABUSE. (2020). Stop domestic abuse. Domestic Abuse. https://stopdomesticabuse.uk/domestic-abuse-types

Women Against Abuse. (2020). Types of abuse. Abuse. https://www.womenagainstabuse.org/education-resources/learn-about-abuse/types-of-domestic-violence