Why Women Remain in Volatile Relationships

THE FOREMOST REASON women remain in violent and abusive relationships is their fear of reprisal if they leave. In most cases, by the time a victim has come to terms with the abuse, fear has been instilled in her and death threats have been made against her if she attempts to leave the relationship.

Some factors are:

They lack of family or community support or they are isolated.

They will stay because of the children, especially if the children have not been abused.

They stay because they are financially dependent on the abuser.

They believe if they work hard enough at the relationship the abuse will stop.

They know no other way of life, have left before and been coerced back and have no place to go.

They are in denial or have become submissive.

They still love their abuser, they just want the violence to stop.

They fear retaliation.

They fear charging their partner and testifying in court.

They were raised to accept the abuse.

They accept blame for the abuse.

They can’t access a shelter or due to overburdened shelters and lack of beds.

Their children don’t want to leave.

The partner has promised to change and is remorseful.

The victim suffers from the Battered Women Syndrome.