What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is any type of abusive behaviour by one partner that attempts to gain and maintain control over the other.

Domestic violence is when one partner consciously tries to, or does, manipulate and dominate the other. It is about power and control.

Domestic violence can take many forms including physical violence, sexual assault, emotional abuse or social or financial control. Abuse does not have to
be physical or sexual to be domestic violence. (See page 4-5 for more information on each type of abusive behaviour.)

“She wasn’t physically violent at that stage but she was capable of shooting me down in words and making me feel humiliated and scared.” KIM, 42.

It can happen in all types of relationships: gay, lesbian or heterosexual; monogamous, open or three-way; dating, new relationships or long-term; livein or not. And it happens across all communities, social classes, ages, cultural backgrounds and geographical areas.

Throughout this booklet domestic violence is referred to as abuse from one partner, or ex-partner, towards the other in an ‘intimate or romantic’ relationship. However, domestic violence also includes abuse within other
types of relationships including: carer, either paid or unpaid; a housemate; or between relatives.

All types of domestic violence are wrong and some like physical violence, sexual assault and stalking are criminal offences.