There are many different ways that a man tries to gain power
over a woman. Beating is only one of them. But all of them can
hurt a woman.
Imagine that the circle below is a wheel. Power and control
are at the center of the wheel because they are the reasons
behind all of the actions. Each section of the wheel is a behavior
that a violent man may use to control a woman. Violence is the
rim of the wheel—what holds it together and gives it strength.
Kinds of Violence 317
Kinds of
Violence
The man insults the
woman, puts her
down, or makes
her think she
The
man controls
is going
crazy.
everything the
woman does—who
she sees and talks to,
and where she goes.
The man makes
the woman do sexual
things against her will,
or physically attacks
the sexual parts
The
of her body. He
man tries
treats her like
to keep the
an object.
woman from getting
a job or making her own
money. He makes her ask
him for any money she needs.
Or he may force her to work and
then take the money she earns.
The man uses a look, action,
tone of voice, or makes
threats, that make the
woman feel afraid
The man
that he will
uses the fact
hurt her.
that he is a
man as an excuse
to treat the woman
like a servant. He
makes all the decisions
and tells her that, as a
woman, she has no
right to object.
The man says that the abuse
did not really happen, that
it was not serious,
or that it was
The
man uses
the woman’s
fault.
the children
to make the
woman feel guilty,
or to hurt her.
One form of abuse often turns into another
In many cases, verbal abuse becomes physical abuse after a while. It may not
seem like it at first, but the man may slowly begin to ‘accidentally’ push or bump
the woman, or begin to sit down in the place the woman usually sits, so that she
has to move. If this behavior works for him, it may get worse until he becomes
violent. Not all women who suffer other forms of abuse are beaten, but all women
who have been beaten have suffered from other forms of abuse.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012