A common misperception exists that woman abuse is not a serious issue. This is a myth. Woman abuse is a widespread problem. In Canada, one in four women is physically or sexually abused by an intimate partner (Stats Can, 1993). No woman is exempt from abuse. It occurs regardless of a woman's age, religion, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. Pregnant women, able-bodied women, disabled women, women with chronic illnesses, rich and poor are all at risk of abuse. However, research shows that women between the ages of 25-34 report the highest rate of abuse by a partner or spouse (Stats Can, 2003). Abuse may be a one-time event or occur on a regular basis.

Types of Woman Abuse

 
Physical Abuse - may include, but is not limited to:

• any unwanted physical contact
• hitting, kicking, punching, slapping, choking, or shakin
• hitting with an object, such as belts, whip
• burning her
• restraining her in anywa

Sexual Abuse - may include, but is not limited to:

• any unwanted sexual touching
• forcing her to have sex
• forcing her to have sex with others
• forcing her to have sex when she is ill, immediately after childbirth or surgery
• forcing her to do sexual things that she does not want to do, such as video taping se
• forbidding the use of birth control, insisting on an abortion
• criticizing or insulting her body and/or sexual performance
• denying sexual intimacy
• infecting her with a STD (sexual transmitted disease/infection)

Emotional/Verbal Abuse - may include, but is not limited to:

• name calling
• constantly yelling and screaming
• threatening injury and/or death to her and/or someone she cares about
• threatening to take away her children
• withdrawing affection, "the silent treatment"
• isolating her from family and friends
• humiliating and criticizing her in front of family, friends and in public
• controlling her whereabouts and who she sees

Financial or Economic Abuse - may include, but is not limited to:

• taking and/or withholding money
• preventing her from obtaining employment
• controlling her employment choices
• keeping family finances a secret
• spending money on addiction, gambling, and sexual services
• forcing her to pay the bills

Religious/Spiritual Abuse - may include, but is not limited to:

• preventing her from participating in spiritual and religious practices of her choice
• using religion to justify abuse
• mocking and ridiculing her spiritual beliefs

Information adopted from Liz Hart and Wanda Jamieson, "Woman Abuse: Overview Paper", 2002, available online @
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/familyviolence/pdfs/woman%20abuse%20-%20e.pdf

For more information on woman abuse go to the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence website @ http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/familyviolence/ under the Publications Section, click on woman abuse.