WHAT IS DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE?
Domestic (in the home) and family violence happens when one person in a relationship becomes violent and abusive to maintain power and control over the other person in a relationship. Victims of abuse or violence often feel afraid and unsafe. Domestic and family violence can happen between married and unmarried couples and in other family relationships. DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE CAN TAKE MANY FORMS: • physical abuse (including slapping, hitting, punching, pushing, biting, kicking); • threatening to hurt you, your relatives, friends or work colleagues in some way; • damaging property such as furniture, the house or pets in order to frighten and intimidate you; • emotional abuse (making you feel worthless, criticizing your personality, your looks, the way you dress, constantly putting you down, threatening to hurt you, your children or your pets); • verbal abuse (including yelling, shouting, namecalling, and swearing at you); • SEXUAL ABUSE (forcing or pressuring you to have sex or pa
