Myths about Battered Women

Myth: Battered women are masochistic.
It is often believed that if a woman chooses to stay in an abusive relationship, then she must enjoy the abuse in some way. This rationale, while entirely false, is often used to place the blame on the victim in an attempt to change her.

Myth: Battered women are crazy.
Victims of abuse find many different ways to cope with the terror that they face on a daily basis. To some, these coping strategies may seem irrational or "crazy". For example, some victims may become withdrawn or have problems with anxiety. Many times our society attempts to "pathologize" away the plight of domestic violence victims, rationalizing their behavior as a sign of mental illness.

Myth: Battered women are poor and uneducated.
Battered women come from all socio-economic levels. It can happen to you regardless of how wealthy or educated you are. It can happen regardless of age, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Myth: Battered women can always leave.
There are many barriers that prevent women from leaving abusive relationships: money, children, fear, and social expectations are just a few of them.