The term domestic abuse or violence is always related in people’s minds to physical tangible abuse that results in visible injuries. There are many other types of abuse that women must be aware of.
Since the 25th of November marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we decided to shed light on other forms of domestic abuse and violence.
If you’re going through any type of domestic violence, remember that you’re not alone and it was never your fault. However, It’s time to speak up because abusing you today will definitely affect your children tomorrow.
Types of domestic abuse
- Controlling behavior
- Verbal abuse.
- Physical abuse.
- Sexual abuse.
- Financial abuse.
- Emotional/psychological abuse.
- Digital / technological abuse.
Controlling behavior
Via: Leh La’a Series – Types of domestic abuse
The problem with controlling abusive behavior is that it’s inherited in our Eastern culture and considered a form of masculinity. Controlling men usually want to maintain dominance over their partners. The tricky part is that this kind of abuse is always indirect and insidious. It includes but is not limited to:
- Controlling every action of his partner
- Using tracking devices in a partner’s cell phone to monitor her location, phone calls, and messages
- Prohibiting a partner from choosing her own clothing style
- Coming home unexpectedly
Verbal abuse
Via: Halawet ElDonia Series – Types of domestic abuse
Verbal abuse is any abusive language used to denigrate, embarrass, or threaten a partner. It includes but is not limited to:
- Threatening to hurt or kill the victim or her children
- Threatening to damage any property she owns
- Threatening to tarnish her reputation
- Yelling and screaming
- Name-calling and insulting
Physical abuse
Via: Elly Maloosh kebeer Series – Types of domestic abuse
Physical abuse is the most recognizable form of domestic violence. It’s any physically aggressive behavior, withholding of physical needs, or threatening to hit. It includes but is not limited to:
- Hitting with or without an object; beating, kicking, biting, slapping, pushing, pulling, punching, choking, scratching, pinching, pulling hair, and stabbing
- Burning
- Threatening with a weapon
- Withholding any necessities like food
- Locking into or out of the house
- Injuring or threatening to injure children
Sexual abuse
Via: Le’beit Newton Series – Types of domestic abuse
In our culture, sexual activity in marriage without the woman’s consent is not considered sexual abuse. The abuse can be verbal or physical behavior. It includes but is not limited to:
- Using force to have any sexual activity
- Hurting the victim during sex
- Forcing a partner to have sex without contraception against her will
- Forcing a partner to have an abortion
- Forcing the victim to have sex with others
- Sexual activity while the victim is asleep, intoxicated, drugged, or disabled
- Making fun of the partner’s sexuality or body
- Making sexual contact with the victim in any nonconsensual way including oral, vaginal, or anal sex, in addition to stroking, kissing, licking, or sucking
- Withholding sex from the partner as a control mechanism.
Financial abuse
Via: Ela Ana Series – Types of domestic abuse
Financial abuse is one of the least recognizable types of abuse. However, it’s very common in our community since many women are financially dependent on their husbands. It’s a way to control the victim through the manipulation of economic resources. It includes but is not limited to:
- Not allowing a partner to access money
- Refusing to pay for life’s necessities as food and medicine
- Restricting a partner’s access to joint bank accounts
- Preventing a partner from having a job or getting any sort of education
- Using a partner’s money or property without permission
- Forcing a partner to give him control of her money, bank accounts, or property
- Spending the victim’s money on drugs or alcohols
Emotional/psychological abuse
Via: Ela Ana Series – Types of domestic abuse
While physical abuse causes body scars, emotional abuse leaves scars on the victim’s soul. Unfortunately, it’s very common in unhealthy relationships. That’s why women fail many times to recognize this typical form of abuse. Emotional abuse is any behavior that exploits the victim’s vulnerability or insecurity. It includes but is not limited to:
- Criticizing and undermining the victim’s self-confidence
- Public humiliation
- Manipulation by saying one thing and doing another
- Denying the abuse and convincing the victim that she herself is the abuser
- Disregarding, ignoring, or neglecting the partner’s requests and needs
- Convincing the victim that she is mentally unstable
- Discriminating against the victim for her religion, race, past, disability, gender, or sexuality
- Forcing the victim to take drugs or alcohol
- Using religion as an excuse for abuse
- Not allowing the victim to practice her religious beliefs
Digital / technological abuse
Via: Ela Ana Series – Types of domestic abuse
This form of abuse usually happens outside the frame of marriage. However, recently we have heard and read about digital crimes that were committed by husbands towards their wives. It’s when a husband threatens, monitors, or impersonates his partner using technology. Technological abuse includes but is not limited to:
- Hacking a partner’s social media accounts
- Posting false information online about a partner
- Impersonating a partner online to monitor her
- Threatening to share a partner’s intimate photos on the Internet
Further reading:
- What to Do If Your Children Witness Your Husband Beating You
- My Husband Is on Tinder and I Don’t Know What to Do
- Why Do People Fake Happiness on Instagram When They Are Sad?
Sources used in this article:
- Types of Domestic Violence – Arizona Coalition to end sexual and domestic violence
- Types of Abuse – Women Against Abuse
- Types of Domestic Violence – FindLaw
- Financial Abuse – DVConnect
- Psychological/ Emotional abuse – DVConnect
- Technological abuse (Digital abuse) – DVConnect
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