{"id":6835,"date":"2015-11-18T11:32:20","date_gmt":"2015-11-18T11:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/?page_id=6835"},"modified":"2025-12-16T13:31:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T13:31:15","slug":"what-is-domestic-abuse","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"What is domestic abuse?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"6835\" class=\"elementor elementor-6835\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7d134978 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7d134978\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-725b5b7d\" data-id=\"725b5b7d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e92ebc6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e92ebc6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>What is <b>domestic abuse?<\/b><\/h1>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9465869 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9465869\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW234450599 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW234450599 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"normaltextrun\" data-ccp-charstyle-defn=\"{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;ac0262f4-8a9e-5820-b908-2d943c5f7113|1&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[201342446,&quot;1&quot;,201342447,&quot;5&quot;,201342448,&quot;1&quot;,201342449,&quot;1&quot;,469777841,&quot;Aptos&quot;,469777842,&quot;&quot;,469777843,&quot;Aptos&quot;,469777844,&quot;Aptos&quot;,201341986,&quot;1&quot;,469769226,&quot;Aptos&quot;,268442635,&quot;24&quot;,469775450,&quot;normaltextrun&quot;,201340122,&quot;1&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;normaltextrun&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,469778324,&quot;Default Paragraph Font&quot;]}\">We define domestic abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW234450599 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"normaltextrun\">the majority of<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW234450599 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"normaltextrun\">\u00a0cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW234450599 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"normaltextrun\">very common<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW234450599 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"normaltextrun\">. In the vast majority of\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW234450599 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"normaltextrun\">cases<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW234450599 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"normaltextrun\">\u00a0it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW234450599 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"eop\" data-ccp-charstyle-defn=\"{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;920dbcde-2834-5e15-a5fa-062170b236ba|1&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[201342446,&quot;1&quot;,201342447,&quot;5&quot;,201342448,&quot;1&quot;,201342449,&quot;1&quot;,469777841,&quot;Aptos&quot;,469777842,&quot;&quot;,469777843,&quot;Aptos&quot;,469777844,&quot;Aptos&quot;,201341986,&quot;1&quot;,469769226,&quot;Aptos&quot;,268442635,&quot;24&quot;,469775450,&quot;eop&quot;,201340122,&quot;1&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;eop&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,469778324,&quot;Default Paragraph Font&quot;]}\">\u202f<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW234450599 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/the-survivors-handbook\/im-not-sure-if-my-relationship-is-healthy\/\">Physical abuse<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/the-survivors-handbook\/im-not-sure-if-my-relationship-is-healthy\/\">Psychological and\/or emotional abuse<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/coercive-control\/\">Coercive control<\/a>\u00a0<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/the-survivors-handbook\/im-not-sure-if-my-relationship-is-healthy\/#unhealthy-behaviour\">Financial and economic abuse<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/the-survivors-handbook\/im-not-sure-if-my-relationship-is-healthy\/#unhealthy-behaviour\">Sexual abuse<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/online-safety\/\">Tech abuse<\/a><\/li><li>Harassment and stalking<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7679749a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"7679749a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-530344f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"530344f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW50846627 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW50846627 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"eop\" data-ccp-charstyle-defn=\"{&quot;ObjectId&quot;:&quot;920dbcde-2834-5e15-a5fa-062170b236ba|1&quot;,&quot;ClassId&quot;:1073872969,&quot;Properties&quot;:[201342446,&quot;1&quot;,201342447,&quot;5&quot;,201342448,&quot;1&quot;,201342449,&quot;1&quot;,469777841,&quot;Aptos&quot;,469777842,&quot;&quot;,469777843,&quot;Aptos&quot;,469777844,&quot;Aptos&quot;,201341986,&quot;1&quot;,469769226,&quot;Aptos&quot;,268442635,&quot;24&quot;,469775450,&quot;eop&quot;,201340122,&quot;1&quot;,134233614,&quot;true&quot;,469778129,&quot;eop&quot;,335572020,&quot;1&quot;,469778324,&quot;Default Paragraph Font&quot;]}\">Find out more on <strong>recognising domestic abuse<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2><p>You can find out more on how to recognise domestic abuse: <a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/recognising-domestic-abuse\/\">https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/recognising-domestic-abuse\/<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d8d9cf elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"0d8d9cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-228f403 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"228f403\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Commonly <b>asked questions\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4af7820 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4af7820\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-438de82a\" data-id=\"438de82a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66470fa3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"66470fa3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"725\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/shutterstock_762752839.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-36874\" alt=\"Woman looking out of window\" srcset=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/shutterstock_762752839.jpg 725w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/shutterstock_762752839-300x124.jpg 300w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/shutterstock_762752839-600x248.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 725px) 100vw, 725px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61a828d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"61a828d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/what-we-do\/research\/domestic-abuse-the-facts\/\">Domestic abuse, the facts<\/a><\/h2><p>Domestic abuse is a gendered crime which is deeply rooted in the societal inequality between men and women. Find out the latest statistics and data <a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/what-we-do\/research\/domestic-abuse-the-facts\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5680329f\" data-id=\"5680329f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-545d23ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"545d23ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"275\" src=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/shutterstock_273001901-400x275-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-36875\" alt=\"Adult and baby\" srcset=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/shutterstock_273001901-400x275-1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/shutterstock_273001901-400x275-1-300x206.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28e4812e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"28e4812e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/myths\/\">What are the myths about domestic abuse?<\/a><\/h2><p>There are many myths about domestic abuse and its causes. Help us challenge some of the most widely believed and deep-rooted misconceptions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-26c4322f\" data-id=\"26c4322f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fb031cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7fb031cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Featured-images-for-website-1-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-36891\" alt=\"Woman looking out of a window\" srcset=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Featured-images-for-website-1-1.png 1200w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Featured-images-for-website-1-1-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Featured-images-for-website-1-1-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Featured-images-for-website-1-1-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Featured-images-for-website-1-1-600x300.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5402a240 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5402a240\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/the-nature-and-impact-of-domestic-abuse\/\">What is the impact of domestic abuse?<\/a><\/h2><p>When thinking about the consequences of domestic abuse, it is important to consider the impact on the individual survivor and her family and children.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2fce9512 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2fce9512\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1b0f0153\" data-id=\"1b0f0153\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e45e069 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7e45e069\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/children-and-young-people\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/boy-694763_1920-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-36892\" alt=\"Boy lying on couch\" srcset=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/boy-694763_1920-scaled.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/boy-694763_1920-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/boy-694763_1920-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/boy-694763_1920-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/boy-694763_1920-1536x1097.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/boy-694763_1920-600x428.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3e9278 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b3e9278\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/children-and-young-people\/\">What support is there for Children and Young People?<\/a><\/h2><p>Talking to children about what\u2019s happening can help them feel less powerless, confused and angry. We have provided some advice to help you.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e6912ba\" data-id=\"e6912ba\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54f141d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"54f141d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/domestic-abuse-is-a-gendered-crime\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/SWA-LD085web.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-36829\" alt=\"Woman looking out of window\" srcset=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/SWA-LD085web.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/SWA-LD085web-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/SWA-LD085web-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/SWA-LD085web-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2abcb08f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2abcb08f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/domestic-abuse-is-a-gendered-crime\/\">Why do we say domestic abuse is gendered?<\/a><\/h2><p>Every case of domestic abuse should be taken seriously and each individual given access to the support they need.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-65ba7009\" data-id=\"65ba7009\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74c8df77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"74c8df77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1050\" src=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/women-walking-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-36894\" alt=\"Women walking\" srcset=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/women-walking-scaled.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/women-walking-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/women-walking-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/women-walking-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/women-walking-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/women-walking-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/women-walking-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6bcee288 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6bcee288\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/how-common-is-domestic-abuse\/\">How common is domestic abuse?<\/a><\/h2><p>We know from our work, and the work of the Women\u2019s Aid federation of services, that domestic abuse is very common, however this is often difficult to accurately quantify.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is domestic abuse? We define domestic abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in\u00a0the majority of\u00a0cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is\u00a0very common. In the vast majority of\u00a0cases\u00a0it is experienced by women and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":881,"featured_media":12978,"parent":6538,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pmpro_default_level":"","inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6835","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is domestic abuse? - Women\u2019s Aid<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is domestic abuse? - Women\u2019s Aid\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Women\u2019s Aid\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-16T13:31:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/shutterstock_603769481-e1574347853842.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/womensaid.org.uk\/information-support\/what-is-domestic-abuse\/\",\"name\":\"What is domestic abuse? 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