Have you ever met up with a friend you haven't seen for a long time because you thought she was avoiding you, and she had bruises on her face? Have you wanted to ask her why she had them, but you weren't sure how to approach it? Did you think deep inside she was being abused by her spouse, but was not sure how to ask her if she was or not?

Most women who are going through this do not tell anyone what they are going through, some have spent many hours, days, or even weeks in the hospital from being abused by their spouses. Women who are going through this are not able to say anything for fear of what could happen to them if they do say anything, and it happens more than you think. Ask them if there is something they would like to talk about, try to get them to talk to you and tell you what is going on. You could possibly save their lives.

Domestic violence is the best kept secret in many homes and covers a broad range of different types of circumstances. The only way to change that is to tell someone. Talk about what is going on and give your support to these victims. Be there for them and urge them to come forward. Together, we can help these victims begin a safe and secure new life without being abused.

More and more women are coming forth, fighting back, and living normal lives after being in an abusive relationship, but for the ones who aren't, this section of our site is for doing everything we possibly can to help.

There are so many alternate routes to take in this day and time if you are being abused. With safe houses, counselors, job opportunities, and proper treatments to get you back on track. You do not have to put up with the abuse. You CAN move forward and live a productive life.

Definitions of Battering:

Definitions of Battering: Battering may include emotional, economic, and/or sexual abuse, using the children to make you do things you would not normally do, or to keep you from doing things you want to do to help yourself. Threats, using male privilege, they might also use intimidation, isolation, and a variety of other behaviors used to maintain fear, intimidation and power. In all cultures, the abusers are most commonly the men of the family. Women are most commonly the victims of violence.

In a small number of cases, men are abused by female partners, but because men are responsible for 91 to 95 percent of all adult domestic violence assaults against their female partners, most of the information provided on this site will refer to victims as female and abusers as male. In any case, every victim of domestic violence, whether female or male, has the right to legal relief.