Violence by intimate partners.

Abstract

One of the most common forms of violence against women is that performed by a husband or an intimate male partner. This is in stark contrast to the situation for men who in general are much more likely to be attacked by a stranger or acquaintance than by someone within their close circle of relationships. The fact that women are often emotionally involved with and economically dependent on those who victimize them has major implications for both the dynamics of abuse and the approaches to dealing with it. Intimate partner violence occurs in all countries irrespective of social economic religious or cultural group. Although women can be violent in relationships with men and violence is also sometimes found in same-sex partnerships the overwhelming burden of partner violence is borne by women at the hands of men. For that reason this chapter will deal with the question of violence by men against their female partners. Women’s organizations around the world have long drawn attention to violence against women and to intimate partner violence in particular. Through their efforts violence against women has now become an issue of international concern. Initially viewed largely as a human rights issue partner violence is increasingly seen as an important public health problem. (excerpt)