Ebook: Battered women

Domestic violence represents a serious and long-standing problem in
the United States as well as many other parts of the world. Domestic
violence can take place between partners of the same sex, and men
are sometimes battered by their female partners. However, in the vast
majority of cases, the victims are women who are battered by their
male partners or former partners. In fact, statistics show that women
are ten times more likely than men to be victims of domestic violence.
Furthermore, the number of women who are battered is high:
Four mill ion incidents of domestic violence against women are
reported every year. These statistics are based on crime survey estimates
that rely largely on FBI, police, and emergency room medical
reports. However, many women report domestic violence to friends,
family, relatives, clergy, physicians, and nurses-sources not reflected
in crime surveys. Therefore, the number of battered women may be
even greater than crime surveys reveal.