Why would a woman stay in an abusive relationship?
• Leaving a violent relationship is the most dangerous time for a woman: she may fear for her safety and her children’s safety if she leaves • He may promise to change, or she may believe that things will get better • He may threaten her if she tries to leave • She may live in an isolated area, or be socially-isolated, and lack access to information, resources and support • She may face communication, language or cultural barriers • She may be economically dependent on her partner and lack access to financial resources • Emotional abuse may affect her confidence and cause her to fear failure or the unknown • She may blame herself for the violence or think that she provokes the abusive behaviour • She may have been abused as a child, or witnessed abuse in her home, and accepts it as normal behaviour • She may hold beliefs about keeping family together, or may experience pressure to do so from relatives • She may fear losing her children
