Are You Being Abused?
IF YOU ARE NOT SURE YOU ARE BEING
ABUSED, ASK YOURSELF IF:
My partner pushes and shoves me
My partner grabs/slaps me and pulls
my hair
My partner calls me names
My partner makes me have sex when
I don't want to
My partner touches me in an inappropriate
manner (unwanted touching, fondling,
caressing)
My partner uses verbal and non-verbal
sexual expressions at me (inappropriate body
language, gestures, suggestions,
requests, and threats)
My partner controls all the money
My partner yells at me in an abusive
manner
My partner humiliates me in public
or private by calling me names, put-downs,
embarrassing me
My partner prevents me from visiting
my family and friends
My partner threatens to take the
children away if I leave
My partner continually criticizes
me
My partner prevents me from going
to work
My partner threatens physical violence
My partner uses violent behaviour
(punches holes in the wall,
breaks dishes or household furnishings)
My partner throws objects at me
My partner isolates me from the community
and social gatherings
My partner uses weapons or objects
to apply force on me
My partner keeps me from leaving
the house
My partner locks me out of the house
My partner destroys things that belong
to me
If you answered YES to even one
of the above questions, you ARE being abused.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE BEGINNINGS
OF ABUSE:
Your partner calls to check up on
you several times a day,
is overly possessive and extremely
jealous.
Your partner follows you around.
Your partner loses interest in his/her
own activities to
become more and more involved with
you.
Your partner attempts to isolate
you from friends, both
male and female.
Your partner discourages you from
outside interests
and activities you enjoy.
Your partner needs total control
- he makes the decisions.
Your future is decided by your partner,
although
you don't agree.
Your partner can't settle differences
with words.
Your partner uses alcohol or drugs
as an excuse for
violent behaviour.
