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Forms of Abuse |
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Sexual abuse may include rape (sexual assault), unwanted sexual touching, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, or forcing a woman to participate in any unwanted, unsafe, degrading, or offensive sexual activity. Sexual abuse may also include denying or ridiculing a woman's sexuality or controlling her reproductive choices. The practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) of girls has serious consequences for young adult women, especially during the childbearing years. Sexual assault and sexual exploitation are against the law in Canada. |
| Psychological abuse describes
living with the constant fear of threats of violence against a woman, her
children or her friends and relatives. It includes being harassed at work
by phone calls or visits, the destruction of prized possessions and even suicide
threats on the part of the victimizer. The intent is to control the behavior
of the woman through restrictions on time, activities, and actions. Threats of violence are illegal under the terms of Canada's
Criminal Code. Psychological abuse is the
never-ending experience of criticism, name-calling, and put downs, alone or
in front of friends and relatives. It includes unjust blaming and displays of inappropriate jealousy. |
Economic abuse means not letting the woman have access to family resources. It includes: preventing her from getting or keeping a job; making her ask for money; or taking her money.
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-They
believe they have the right to control their partner through threats and violence.
-They hold rigid expectations of male/female and adult/child roles.
-They are often extremely jealous and believe that they must guard their partner
in order not to lose her to another man.
-They have been battered or witnessed violence as a child.
-They expect women to meet their emotional needs.
-They blame others for their own problems. |
-Fear
-Economic necessity. The cost of living and childcare is prohibitive.
-Isolation: they may not know that help is available.
-Love for their partner. They don't want to do anything which might hurt him
(e.g., having him arrested).
-Their belief that it is their responsibility to make it work and they blame
themselves when it doesn't.
-They believe children need both parents.
-Religious/cultural beliefs.
-Legal roadblocks.
-Fear of losing custody of the children. |
-Children
who witness abuse exhibit the same symptoms as children who are direct victims.
-Children who have grown up as witnesses or victims of abuse are 10 times
more likely to live in a violent relationship when they are adults.
-Social, emotional and psychological consequences: low self-esteem, lack of
self-confidence, feelings of guilt and responsibility for their mother's suffering.
-Behavioral difficulties and conflict with other children.
-Poor academic performance and difficulty concentrating.
-They develop attitudes and learn behaviors which may perpetuate the cycle
of violence in future relationships. |
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