Different Forms of Violence

Aggressive behaviours directed at another person’s body such as pushing, pinching, squeezing, shaking, grabbing, biting, hitting, slapping, choking, kicking, throwing objects at or near partner, murder

More often overt than other forms of abuse

Behaviours are used to make the victim feel powerless and gain control

Forced participation in any type of sexual activity

Birth control sabotage or control over using birth control/protection

Forced into sex work

Sexual assault

Reproductive coercion

Infliction of emotional pain and suffering by doing things to control or degrade

Persistent verbal attacks on self-esteem

Repeated accusations of infidelity

Threats of suicide, threats to harm others, threats to take children

Not allowing access to basic needs

Ignoring partners feelings

Insulting or making fun of partner’s values, beliefs, religion, class, etc

Calling names, putting person down

Yelling at them constantly

Continually criticizing the person

Refusing to socialize with people important to their partner

Regularly threatening to leave or telling partner to leave

Making the other person feel bad about themselves; making them thinks they are crazy, playing mind games

Having no access to money

No control over how money is spent, what can be bought

No money for personal use

Not allowed to work or must give all earnings to the abuser

Misusing partner’s name for financial reasons

Assigning an allowance

All bank accounts are in abusers name; not allowed own personal bank account

Forced to sign documents against their will such as taxes, immigration papers, etc.

Controlling financial independence and freedom of the other person

Using intimidation to control the other person: Making them afraid by using looks, actions, gestures, smashing things, destroying their property, displaying weapons.

Using isolation: Controlling what they do, who they see, where they go, what they read, limiting outside involvement, using jealousy to justify actions.

Minimizing, Denying, and Blaming: Making light of the abuse and not taking the other persons concerns about it seriously, saying the abuse didn’t happen, shifting responsibility for abusive behaviours, victim blaming.

Abuse towards pets or property: Destruction of property or animals with the explicit or implicit threat that “she is next.”

Using children: Making them feel guilty about the children, using the children to keep the person there, using the children to relay messages, using visitations to harass the other person, threatening to take the children away.

Using coercion and threats: Making and/or carrying out threats to harm a person, threatening to leave, to commit suicide if they leave, to report her, making the other person do illegal things, making them drop charges.