***Notes1) “Physical violence in intimate relationships almost always is accompanied by psychological abuse and, in one-third to over one-half of cases, by sexual abuse.” (Heise 1999: 5)
1.3 How Violence in the Home Affects Women
Statistically, men are more likely to suffer violence from strangers and women from family members. A basic consideration, then, is that “women are often emotionally involved with and financially dependent upon those who abuse them,” a fact that shapes the experience of violence and influences how to best help end the cycle. The perpetrator often has power over the woman economically, physically, emotionally, and/or sexually. (n1) (Heise 1999: 3) Whereas violence perpetrated by a stranger is often an isolated case, violence in the home tends to occur in cyclical patterns (see 1.2 The Cycle of Violence) with devastating affects on both physical and mental health.
