Domestic Violence Relationships– women who choose to stay and the psychological, emotional, and ment

The most common question for women in a domestic violence relationship is “why don’t you just leave? Although it is a rather simple question, the answer itself is not always easy, nor is the actual “leaving” part. According to an article written by Barrie Davenport, “Why Do Women Stay in Bad Relationships? there are nine most common reasons as to why women stay in an abusive relationship.

The first reason is fear. Being fearful of your abuser is the most compelling factor that forces women to stay with their abuser. Because “abusers are all about control, when a woman exerts control over her own life [by choosing to walk out of an abusive relationship], the violence escalates,” potentially resulting in the woman being seriously injured or murdered. According to Julie Owens, a Violence Against Women Consultant, “the abuser may not only threaten to harm the woman if she leaves but also her family,” – this was the case with Owens, whose ex-husband physically injured her father in a dispute.

Secondly, the concern for their children makes it difficult for women to leave. For instance, she may fear not being able to support the family on her own, or in some instances where joint custody is granted, the woman may also fear leaving her children alone in the home with the abuser. See the infographic below for the additional seven factors.

According to “The Abuse Wheel: How Women Stay Stuck in Abusive Relationship,” the abuser uses power and control in the form of coercion and threats, intimidation; emotional abuse; isolation; minimizing, denying, and blaming; economic abuse; and male privilege. As a result of the aforementioned factors mentioned in the “abuse wheel,” these women often suffer psychologically, emotionally, and mentally. For instance, in an article written by Cathy Meyer, “What are the Negative Effects of Domestic Violence?” women may endure lasting effects that range from depression, anxiety, and loss of hope to suicidal thoughts and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Furthermore, in a SlideShare presentation, “Domestic Violence and Its Effects,” when it comes to emotional abuse, “the abuser tells the victim that they are worthless on their own. Making the victim feel that there is no way out of the relationship.” Moreover, to back Meyer’s article that suicidal thoughts are prevalent in domestic violence victims, this slideshow states that “25% of attempted suicides by women are contributed by women who are in domestic relationships.” Lastly, in an article posted on Twitter by Kamal Koriala, even though “physical abuse might seem worse,” mental, psychological, or emotional abuse can leave some deep scars, which according to studies “can be much more damaging than physical abuse.”