Is a woman you know being abused?

Are you (or a woman you know) being abused? Asking the following questions may help you find out:

Does your partner (or other significant person...)

• get jealous when you’re around other people?
• make fun of you in front of your friends, family or others?
• destroy, or threaten to destroy, your possessions?
• harm, or threaten to harm, your pet(s)?
• praise you one minute and put you down the next?
• call you names or threaten you?
• ignore you or not take you seriously?
• make you choose between your friends or family and your partner?
• blame you when things go wrong?
• push you around or hit you?
• threaten to take the children?

Do you...

• have to ask permission to spend money or go out?
• feel isolated from friends, family, and activities?
• have to do what your partner wants ... or else?
• feel it’s your fault when anything goes wrong?

Do you feel...

• afraid to make decisions for fear of their reaction or anger?
• that you have to check in if you go anywhere?
• that your partner is trying to run your life?
• afraid to tell them if you have a good time?
• that maybe all the terrible things this person says about you are coming true or happening?
• that you have to put your dreams and goals on hold?
• afraid to express your own opinions or say ‘no’ to something?
• trapped, unable to go out without permission?
• the joy in your life diminishing?
• afraid to break up with or leave your partner?

Discussing these questions with your friend may help her identify behaviours that are abusive.