Common Myths
Common Myths About Domestic Abuse
Violence can be perpetuated by some commonly held beliefs in our society. The following are examples of these myths.
- Myth: Domestic violence does not occur often.
- Fact: One-quarter of all women have experienced violence at the hands of a current or past marital partner (includes common-law unions)..
- Myth: Domestic violence does not occur when a woman is pregnant.
- Fact: 21% of women abused by a current or previous partner were assaulted during pregnancy.
- Myth: Domestic violence occurs only among certain groups of people.
- Fact: Domestic violence occurs in all ethnic, racial, economic, social and age groups. However, violence in more privileged groups is often hidden because these women use shelters, legal clinics and other social services less often.
- Myth: Women sometimes deserve abuse-they provoke it.
- Fact: No one ever deserves abuse; abuse is never justified. Abusers often claim provocation to avoid responsibility for their own behaviour.
- Myth: Only men who are mentally ill assault women.
- Fact: Most men who assault women limit their violence. They do not assault their co- workers or others. When they assault their partners, they often aim for areas of the body where bruises will not be noticed.
- Myth: Alcoholism and other addictions are the cause of domestic violence.
- Fact: Addictions may make some abusers more prone to be violent. However, the real cause of abuse is the abuser's desire for power over his/her partner.
- Myth: Abused women can leave the men who abuse them if they want to.
- Fact: Women stay in abusive relationships because they seldom have alternatives. A woman never wants to be abused. There are many reasons why a woman remains in an abusive relationship.
Last Updated: 2005-02-22
