"Each year an estimated 2 million to 4 million woman in the Untied States are abused by their male partners. Many of them are severely physically assaulted, and thousands are killed" (www.mayoclinic.com). Statistics such as these are phenomenal. Domestic abuse appears not only with violence, but it is very prevalent in psychological abuse. Domestic violence is widespread through the United States, mostly due to fear caused by the abuser. The problem is recognized in the United States and much is being done to correct this problem. The statistics of woman and domestic violence are very high .
"Domestic violence is the victimization of a person with whom the abuser has or has had an intimate, romantic or spousal relationship" (Barkley, Lynn, vol. 2, No. 7). Many types of domestic violence are used such as hitting, pushing and shoving. In extreme cases, guns and knives are used as well as sexual assaults. Another form of domestic violence is psychological abuse. An abuser will use humiliation and degradation as a weapon. Men will make their victims feel as if they are worthless. They also leave their victims in a state of helplessness, such as leaving them without money, transportation or any type of communication, such as a telephone. Women are battered by those in which they thought that they could place their trust in. It is a very frightening fact that domestic abusers are always intimate with their victims, at one time or another. . .
Currently, domestic violence is widespread, and not all cases are reported. Some woman adjust to life with domestic violence. Shame seems to play a large part in why most cases are not reported. Woman have been convinced by the abuser that the violence in all their fault. Also, many woman have lost their self esteem and believe all of the humiliating words that have they heard from the abuser. Another reason that woman stay in an abusive relationship is that they are afraid to leave.
