Here are some common reasons why women may stay in abusive intimate relationships: - Fear of retaliation or escalation of violence if she leaves - Economic dependence on the abuser - Low self-esteem from the abuse and belief she deserves the treatment - Hope or belief that the abuser will change his behavior - Pressure from family or community to stay in the relationship - Love and emotional attachment for the abuser, despite the abuse - Cultural or religious beliefs that discourage divorce or separation - Threats or actions by the abuser to harm children or other family members - Isolation from social support systems by the abuser - Lack of safe housing or shelter options if she leaves

1. Chapter 24 Violence Against Women
On average, more than three women are
murdered by husbands or boyfriends every
day in the United States.

2. Understanding Violence Against
Women
• Violence against women is about power and coercive control exerted over
another person in the context of a relationship, culture, social and
institutional system
• Every day images of male violence against women in the media make it
appear that violence against women is an accepted fact of life
• Due to the appearance that violence against women is acceptable; women
may feel that they are at fault or should not complain about violent
treatment
• When the perpetrator uses violence against a woman through
beatings, threats, and isolation; they are acting out a wish to
punish, control, and exert dominance

3. Influence of Identity and Violence
Against Women
• Women of color, older women, young women, illegal
immigrants, lesbians, refugees, poor women, women who are
transsexual, are transgender, and women with disabilities are at greater
risk for encountering violence
• Violence against women and racism are greatly connected
• Rape has been used as a means of dominating other races, a tool of
cultural genocide in wars, and throughout history of slavery

4. Reactions to Experiencing Violence
• Post traumatic stress disorder is a term used to describe the reexperiencing of
trauma and the recollection of the event in images, thoughts, or perceptions.
• Some common reactions to experiencing violence include:
– Self blame, shame, guilt
– Fear, terror, feeling unsafe
– Anger and rage
– Anger turned inward, depression, and suicidal thoughts
– Substance abuse
– Eating disorders
– Physical symptoms
– Self harm
– Grief and loss
– Powerlessness
– Changes in sexuality and intimacy

5. Rape
• The most common forms of sexual assault
• The penetration with the use of force and without the person’s consent
• The penetration in the vagina, anus, or mouth with a body part or objects such as
bottles
• Occurs at any age but girls and young women are at greater risk
• Women are often blamed for rape
• Women may not realize that they have been sexually assaulted until sometime
after the assault
• Campus rape is the most common violent crime on campuses today
• Many college administrations underreport sexual assaults in order to not harm the
school’s reputation and finances
• Grey rape is the term used to describe the “grey” area between consent and
denial, and usually happens due to missed signals, hookups, casual sex, and
alcohol
• Grey rape masks the reality and severity of nonconsensual sexual activity

6. Medical Considerations Regarding
Rape
• It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible
• Rape kits includes:
– Collection of any hairs, blood, semen on the woman’s body
– Photographs of any injuries, bruises, or scratches
– DNA testing of the items in the kit can provide forensic evidence if the case goes to trial
• Rape examination includes:
– A verbal history of the sexual assault
– A pelvic or rectal exam
– Checking for external injuries
– Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases by means of an antibiotic injection
– Prevention of pregnancy by means of “the morning after pill”
– A follow up exam that includes STD and pregnancy tests and any treatment for STDs or
pregnancy if indicated

7. Intimate Partner Violence
• Intimate partner violence (domestic violence) and battering is
the most common and yet least reported crime in the world.
• If intimate violence is not addressed in the early stages, it can
escalate in severity and magnitude and could ultimately lead
to murder
• Intimate partner abuse follows a pattern, these patterns can
include
– Exploiting vulnerabilities
– Wearing down resistance through emotional abuse or
isolation from family and friends
– Increasing emotional dependency by inflicting injuries but
then caring for those injuries

8. Steps to Take if Experiencing Intimate
Violence
• Call National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-
SAFE)
• Build network support
• Teach your children how to call 911 for emergency
assistance
• Look online for additional resources
• Learn computer safety
• Prepare a safety plan
• Study the abuser’s patterns

9. Stalking
• Intentional behavior directed at a person that
would cause that person to feel fear
• Nonconsensual communication
• Verbal, written, or implied threats
• Repeated visual or physical proximity by
perpetrator

10. Stalking
• Women are 3 times more likely to be stalked
• 3 in 4 victims know their stalkers
• 30% of stalking involve current or former intimate partners
• Current or former intimate partners are more likely to use a
weapon

11. Tips on How to Proceed if You are
Being Stalked
• Change your patterns-vary your actions and your travel routes
• Keep a log of all the encounters with the stalker and record all
attempts to contact you
• Don’t communicate with the stalker
• Make a safety plan
• Let friends, neighbors, and family know you are being stalked
• Protect your personal information
• Install dead bolt locks and hide keys

12. Sexual Harassment
• Unwanted sexual attention
• Perpetrator will make direct or implied threats
– “Have sex with me or you will be fired”
• Refusal to demands may lead to:
– Poor work assignments
– Sabotaging of projects
– Denial of raises, benefits, or promotions
– Loss of job

13. Sex Work and Violence Against
Women
“When I turned 18, I worked as an erotic dancer. There were
several cases of women, myself included, getting attacked by
clients after our shifts or if we went outside to have a
cigarette. In my case, it was a client that we saw quite
regularly and knew by name. The boss found out when I
showed up for work with bruises, and he told me that if I
reported the client to the police not only would I lose my
job, but that the police wouldn’t care because I was just a
stripper. He then gave me three nights off with minimal pay
so my bruises could heal enough to be covered with body
makeup. He was more concerned about losing money from
clients than he was about the safety of his employees”.

14. Sex Work and Violence Against
Women
• All sex workers are at risk for violence
• Prostitutes are at risk for contracting HIV and other STDs
• Sex workers have little or no protection from police
• Criminal justice system prosecutes sex workers while “Johns”
or pimps are often let go

15. Defense and Ending Violence Against
Women
• Self defense classes
– Assertiveness training
– Exercise
– Boxing
– Other sports that promote self reliance, self confidence, and self
knowledge
• Teach and model nonviolence
• Strengthen family and community sanctions against violence
• Insist our government officials to take violence against women seriously
• Intervene when we see expression of violence, silence helps continue it
• Speak out against messages that glorify and encourage
violence, domination, and exploitation

16. Study Question
Why do you think women stay in abusive
intimate relationships?