BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME
The Battered Woman Syndrome develops when a woman is bewildered and
entrapped by a domineering man whose moods swing between sweetness and
rage. He's also jealous, suspicious, and snoops around to check on you.
He accuses, blames, and ridicules you - oftentimes claiming that he's
"just kidding," other times he's dead serious.
Rapists, stalkers, and batterers all have delusions of entitlement
to women – feeling they have the right to "own" a victim. The syndrome usually begins by eroding her self-esteem with belittling
comments. Then he starts using threats and displays of violence to
intimidate her, such as smashing things precious to her, even hurting
her pets. Next comes pushing, slapping, and restraining. Finally comes
punching, kicking, choking, and clubbing that may kill her. The man of
her dreams has become her nightmare.
Typically, it gets worse over time. Up to one-half of all homeless women and children in the U.S. are fleeing domestic violence. Attempts to leave may be seen as a threat to the abuser's control, and killing her may be his only way to maintain control.
EARLY WARNING SIGNS
Rita stayed with her abusive boyfriend because he had a "hypnotic charm." He started mentally abusing her, then physically – pushing, slapping, biting, burning her with cigarettes, throwing a knife at her, holding her down and cutting her dozens of times. Her family tried to help and she even left Alabama for awhile, but she couldn’t stay away. She called it an addiction. Neighbors often called the police, but Rita wouldn’t press charges. She finally decided to leave when he beat her nearly to death.
BATTERED WOMAN PROFILE
Battered Woman Syndrome crosses all demographic lines: any age, class, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and geographic location – including the partners of doctors, lawyers, cops, judges, and pastors. Since it’s often hushed up because of fear, shame, and a perverse desire to protect the batterer, overall statistics are sketchy. But a 2000 Department of Justice survey found that “25 percent of women (and 8 percent of men) reported they’d been assaulted by an intimate partner during their lifetime.”
Other studies show that up to one-half of all women treated in hospital emergency rooms are battered women, one-third of all women murder victims are killed by an intimate partner, and up to one-half of all women's suicides are battered women.
ARE YOU at RISK?
Stacy Peterson, 23, told her 53-year-old policeman husband, Drew Peterson, that she wanted a divorce. Two days later she disappeared without a trace. Stacy Peterson had told relatives she was afraid of her husband – he'd “watched her every move” and threatened to kill her if she tried to leave. He's now in prison. (Also, two former wives of Sgt. Peterson had died mysteriously but his Bolingbrook, IL police department believed his stories.)
Battered women may think the abuse will continue – but not kill. Ask yourself:
• Has he threatened to kill anyone, or threatened suicide?
• Does he abuse pets?
• Does he think he owns you – or can’t live without you?
• Is he depressed or abuse drugs or alcohol?
• Has his behavior changed recently?
• Does he have a history of domestic violence.
• Can he find you?
• Has he received a restraining order or divorce papers? Have you told him you are leaving?
Even if your answers are ‘no,’ he can still be dangerous, especially when you're leaving an abusive relationship.
Britain's Scotland Yard uses six factors to forewarn of domestic murder:
1. Pregnancy: Violence increases if the victim is pregnant or has recently given birth.
2. Stalking: if he behaves obsessively, such as watching, following, and frequent phoning of his partner.
3. Sexual assault: If he has attacked the woman sexually, then he's likely to commit a more serious offence.
4. Increase in violence: A rise in the severity or frequency of assault indicates greater risk.
5. Custody: If the woman is involved in a dispute over contact with a child.
6. Cultural restraint: If the woman is from a culture where contact with
society and police is restricted, then any call for help must be given
added weight.
• See Domestic Violence for batterer's profiles and how to escape the battered woman syndrome.
• See an excellent magazine article at Battered Woman Syndrome
• See how to Start Over After Financial Abuse
• See Domestic Violence Resources and Tips for Victims and Survivors
• See the International Domestic Violence Resource Guide
Personal Safety Devices
• Personal Security Alarm
• Personal Safety Devices
Resources
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence www.ncadv.org
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) www.rainn.org
Crime-Safety-Security > Women Safety Overview > Battered Woman Syndrome
