The impact of violence

Home: Survivors: Family Violence: Violence against women

Who is violent?

In the vast majority of cases, men are the perpetrators of family violence and sexual assault, with women and children being the victims.

Research indicates that most women know their attacker in some way. He may be a friend, relative, husband, boyfriend, boss or neighbour. Knowing your attacker should not stop you from seeking help or taking legal action against him.

Where violence occurs

Violence against women occurs in all locations. Women may be assaulted at home, on the streets, in the workplace or in social settings.

Most violence against women occurs in a familiar environment, such as her home, her boyfriend's home, her workplace or in a shared household.

Violence occurs in every sector of the community, including all cultures, races, ages and income levels. It occurs in rural and metropolitan communities.

The impact of violence and common responses to it

Witnessing or experiencing family violence usually has a very damaging effect on children and all who witness or are subjected to it.

If you are or have been in a violent situation, you may be experiencing various physical, emotional or psychological symptoms. These symptoms may effect your ability or wish to take action. Everybody's response is different.

However, there are some common responses which may cause you to:

• blame yourself
• feel numb, dirty or afraid
• feel angry and outraged
• not know how you feel or have a lot of confused emotions
• feel like you are going crazy
• feel very alone
• cry a lot
• have trouble eating or feel sick
• have feelings of hatred for the man who hurt you, or men in general, and even of yourself
• have trouble getting the violence out of your mind, have trouble sleeping, have nightmares

If you do have any of these feelings it usually helps to talk to someone about what happened and what you are going through. This can be friends and family or a support service.

Sponsor

Council Against Violence

Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 2 Nov 2004