Forms of violence

Am I a victim

of domestic violence?

Questionnaire

Verbal abuse

Verbal abuse is any abuse that can be heard.

Here are some examples:

• Raising their tone to intimidate their partner

• Using threats

• Insulting or name-calling

• Blackmailing

• Giving orders

Psychological abuse

Psychological abuse is a series of abusive and humiliating remarks or attitudes.

Here are some examples:

• Denigrating intellectual abilities or appearance

• Criticizing their way of educating children or cooking

• Making negative comments in public

• Commenting or criticizing their sexual performance

• Leading them to think they are incompetent/a loser

• Ignoring the person

Psychological abuse is a form of subtle abuse, and therefore more difficult to identify. It often starts with comments that do not seem so serious.

Physical violence

Contrary to what everyone believes, a partner doesn’t always need to hit, squeeze someone’s arms or try to strangle them to be violent and to dominate.

Physical violence is a physical manifestation of violence, but not necessarily contact between individuals:

• Throwing objects directly towards or near the person

• Blocking their way, pushing them

• Punching or kicking objects

Financial abuse

Financial abuse is everything related to the control of money, such as:

• Forcing a partner to pay for all their essential needs

• Forcing a partner to go into debt

• Prohibiting a partner from buying certain essential items

• Criticizing purchases made for children

• Forcing a partner to steal or commit fraud

• Controlling a partner’s income and managing their finances without consulting them

This form of violence deprives a partner of their autonomy.

Social abuse

Social abuse primarily involves the victim’s social network:

• Constantly belittling people who are important to their partner

• Constantly criticizing their job, workplace or colleagues

• Denigrating a partner’s hobbies, activities or sports

• Prohibiting visitors, seeing or talking to friends

• Prohibiting contacts with family members

• Controlling emails and phone calls

• Forcing them to drop out of school or prohibiting them from working

Again, this form of abuse develops gradually.

Little by little, victims finds themselves alone and isolated.

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Sexual violence

Sexual violence is more difficult to discern because sexuality refers to a couple’s intimacy and is still considered by many as a "conjugal duty".

It can also be embarrassing for a victim to explain what they are going through or what they are forced to do during sexual intercourse.

Sexual violence sometimes takes the form of:

• Insulting a partner during intercourse

• Humiliating or intimidating a partner by comparing their body to that of others

• Forcing a partner to wear clothing or accessories associated with pornography

• Forcing a partner to watch pornography and imitate pornographic films

• Hitting or biting during intercourse

• Forcing a someone to have sex or perform certain sexual acts is sexual assault. Yes, sexual assault also happens within a couple.