Domestic Violence Education

Domestic violence, intimate partner violence, wife-beating, spousal abuse, and woman abuse are all terms to describe acts of violence committed against women–violent actions that if committed against a non-intimate would be considered severe crimes.

Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, is about power, control, and dominance. It is a pattern of coercive behaviors used by one person to control the thoughts, beliefs and/or conduct of an intimate partner or to punish her for refusing to be controlled. Once the abusive and violent behavior has breached the loving bonds of a relationship, it will likely increase and intensify over time-often resulting in frequent and severe injuries, child abuse, stalking, rape, murder and/or suicide.