Myths About Domestic Violence
MYTH
Violence is really only an isolated event. There isn't much of it happening.
REALITY
One in every 15 relationships is currently experiencing the kind of
violence that will send the victim to the hospital.
MYTH
Domestic violence happens only to poor people and minorities. Women
who are battered are uneducated, unemployed, and from the lower economic
level of society.
REALITY
Battering occurs at all levels of society. Reports from police records,
victim services, and academic studies show domestic violence exists
equally in every socioeconomic group, regardless of race or culture,
among the working and unemployed, the educated and the uneducated, regardless
of race or socioeconomic level.
MYTH
Victims “make their partners hit them”
by “getting in their face.” They
“ask for it.”
REALITY
Every relationship has arguments and stress, but most people don't hit
others when they become angry. An abuser has limited skills to deal
with stress. NO ONE EVER DESERVES TO BE ABUSED!
MYTH
The victim actually enjoys the attention, needs the violence or is a
perpetual victim.
REALITY Victims
do not want to be hit. Abusers’ violence is their own responsibility.
MYTH
The abuser is a sick or crazy monster, angry all the time.
REALITY
An abuser can be passive, a “nice
person,” generous to others and sensitive. Anyone can be an abuser.
MYTH
Alcohol and drugs are the causes of violence.
REALITY
Alcohol and drugs do not cause violence. But these substances can reduce
ability to control behavior, and they apparently do increase the lethality
of the violence. Furthermore, they offer batterers another excuse to
evade responsibility for their behavior. Successful completion of a
drug treatment program does not guarantee an end to battering.
MYTH
A woman will nag and run her mouth to the point she sometimes needs
to be hit.
REALITY
Nothing excuses abuse. No one “needs”
to be assaulted with physical contact, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, or
mental abuse. IT IS ILLEGAL! Growing evidence indicates that a victim
does not provoke the attack. No one can force another to hit by his
or her words. Everyone, including a batterer, is responsible for the
choices he or she makes.
Domestic
Violence
