What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents where someone is controlled, coerced, threatened, degraded, or subjected to violence, which can sometimes include sexual abuse.
While domestic abuse is most often carried out by a partner or ex-partner, it can also be perpetrated by a family member, extended family, or carer.
Research shows that one in three women experience domestic abuse or violence in their lifetime. In most cases, women are the survivors and men are the perpetrators.
Types of Abuse
Domestic abuse is not always physical. Understanding the type of abuse you are experiencing can help you access the right support. Abuse can include:
- Coercive control: a pattern of intimidation, isolation, degradation, and control, sometimes involving the threat or use of physical or sexual violence
- Psychological or emotional abuse: being belittled, manipulated, or constantly criticised
- Stalking and harassment: following, monitoring, or repeatedly contacting you in a way that scares or controls you
- Physical or sexual abuse: hitting, slapping, or sexual assault
- Financial or economic abuse: controlling money or access to resources
- Online or digital abuse: harassment, threats, or controlling behaviour through social media or messaging
- Immigration-related abuse: using your immigration status to control you, for example by threatening deportation or convincing you that authorities cannot help
I Need Help
If you need support, it’s important to speak to someone you trust. This could be a friend, family member, neighbour, or a professional such as a Health Visitor, GP, social worker, or domestic abuse service.
If you are in immediate danger, call 999.
I’m Already a Client
If you are already receiving support from Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid and need additional help:
- Contact your key worker directly, or
- Call our Drop-In Centre and provide your key worker’s details to be connected to them.
We are here to support you at every step.
Questions to ask yourself if you are unsure:
- Are you being physically assaulted?
- Are you experiencing rape and sexual assault?
- Are you threatened with exposure of intimate images or text messages being shared on social media?
- Are you being taunted, put down, spoken to in a derogatory manner or verbally insulted?
- Are you isolated from your friends and family?
- Is your freedom to come and go controlled?
- Are you accompanied to appointments?
- Do you have access to a bank account?
- Do you have to ask for money to buy items for yourself or for your children?
- Are you being controlled because of your immigration status?
- Are your phone calls being monitored?
- Are you told that the police will not help you?
- Are you told that you will be deported by the police?
- Are you told that your children will be taken away?
- Are you forced to carry out domestic household chores single handed for the entire household?
- Are you experiencing abuse perpetrated by immediate/extended family members for behaviour(s) considered shameful and a breach of family honour? (Izzat)
