BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME

Educated or not, rich or poor, no matter what is her social or intellectual level, a battered woman always hides the reality from her closest friends and family until she takes responsibility and overcomes her fear.

Most of the time, an abused women will experience denial, guilt and shame especially that physical violence is always accompanied by emotional destructive violence.

Sooner or later the victim will understand that, in order to protect herself and her family, she must escape her harmful relationship.

DENIAL
Denial occurs when victims of abuse are unable to admit that they are being subjected to domestic violence; this is largely due to the manipulative behavior of their abuser.

Until a victims admit the abuse that they are experiencing, they will not be able to provide themselves with the help and the protection that they need.

GUILT
After denial will come guilt stage, low self esteem and depression.
In many cases, the offender will persuade their victim that they have no other alternatives then physical violence, in order to punish the victim for their negative personality and shortcomings.

CLARIFICATION
It is the stage where victim of abuse finally recognizes that the domestic violence they are suffering from is the fault of their abuser and will commit to help him and save their marriage. With no better results.

Most individuals who subject their partners to violence and brutality are repeat offenders and they will continue to expose their victim to intimate partner abuse and dissented sexual intercourse.

RESPONSIBILITY & ESCAPE
During this stage, the victim is completely aware that her safety, and kids welfare, depends on leaving their abusive relationship.
This is exactly where Women encounter the most dangerous phase.
It is essential that, once they decide their escape, to previously plan wisely every move and to ensure their security knowing that the abuser will reach the highest extend of violence once he will confront the situation.

It is very important for the victim who has planned an escape, not to mention anything about divorce or threats about leaving the abuser territory, in order not to provoke an irrevocable act of extreme anger.

“Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.”
Timothy Leary

Men can’t hide their true personality for a long period. Before settling down and getting married, it is primordial to interpret every single sign without disregarding the slightest warning of potential violence.

It is also very important not to misinterpret “cute” jealousy with uncontrolled anger and annoyance with insulting behavior and words.

There are signs that cannot be taken for granted. After all, an abuser always harms his victim in two ways:
Physical & moral destruction, which both reveal his mental disability.

SYMPTOMS OF A POTENTIAL ABUSER
If a man shows signs of aggressiveness
Threatening and trying to intimidate his girl
Pushing, showing a fist about to punch
Requires her to be low profile socially
Forcing her to shut up
Yelling in her face

ABUSERS’ STRATEGIES
Most of the time, abusers intimidate their wife by destroying her self confidence, and putting the blame of their own failure on her.
It is very common, especially in Lebanon that men hide their physical abuse by threatening their victim of hurting members of their family.
This is the routine cover that abuser uses in order to guarantee his victim’s silence.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Most of the time, physical abuse comes along with emotional one.
Abuser tends to put-down their victim, tries to control their activities and social life.

INVALIDATION
PUNISHMENT
CRITICISM
NEGLECT
ISOLATION
CONTROL
DENIAL
SHAME
HUMILIATION
DOMINATION

WHY BATTERED WOMEN DON'T LEAVE

FEAR
Battered women are most at risk during leaving or after having left an abusive relationship.

SEX-ROLE CONDITIONING
PROMISES OF REFORM
LACK OF RESOURCES
LACK OF FINANCES
FEELINGS OF GUILT
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS