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The
Battered Woman
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Battered
women come from all walks of life. She
may be your mother, sister, friend,
co-worker or neighbor. Women are the
victims of battering; they do not
provoke or deserve it, they cannot,
and are not responsible for stopping
it. |
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The
emotional effects of battering can be
even more devastating than the
physical assault. |
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She
may lose touch with friends and family
due to her partner's attempt to
isolate her. |
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As
a battered woman's support system
diminishes, so does her sense of
self-esteem. This loss of self-esteem
can be initiated, or exacerbated, by
the negative messages about being
female that she experiences from
religion, media and general social
sexism. The constant insults of her
abuser cause her to feel that she is
in fact unworthy of the respect of
others. If the criminal justice system
fails to protect her rights and
safety, she begins to lose hope. |
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Domestic
violence takes a serious toll on its
victims, both physically and
emotionally. |
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Despite
the physical and emotional abuse they
endure, battered women are usually
strong survivors. With adequate
resources, support and safety, many
women not only create new lives for
themselves, but also become advocates
for battered women's rights. |
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Battered
women suffer physical injuries that
endanger their health and may result
in life-long disabilities. These
injuries may interfere with job
performance, resulting in lost
promotional opportunities or
dismissal. The long-term effects of
living in a violent relationship can
only be compared to the experience of
the front-line battle veteran and the
prisoner of war. |
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