My Sister’s Place is a full member of the Women’s Aid Federation of England (WAFE) and adheres to the Federations definition of domestic abuse.
My Sister’s Place is a full member of the Women’s Aid Federation of England (WAFE) and adheres to the Federations definition of domestic abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is very common. In the vast majority of cases, it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men.
Domestic abuse is a gendered crime which is deeply rooted in the societal inequality between women and men. It takes place ‘because she is a woman and happens disproportionately to women’. Women are more likely than men to experience multiple incidents of abuse, different types of domestic abuse (intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking) and in particular sexual violence. Any woman can experience domestic abuse regardless of race, ethnic or religious group, sexuality, class, or disability, but some women who experience other forms of oppression and discrimination may face further barriers to disclosing abuse and finding help.
Domestic abuse exists as part of violence against women and girls, which also includes different forms of family violence such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation and so called “honour crimes” that are perpetrated primarily by family members, often with multiple perpetrators.
The Survivor’s Handbook provides practical support and information for women experiencing domestic abuse, with simple guidance on every aspect of support.
