Safety, Hope, Change

What Is 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.

Safety, Hope, Change

My Sister’s Place is a full member of the Women’s Aid Federation of England (WAFE). We follow their definition of domestic abuse: it is one incident or a pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading, or violent behaviour, including sexual violence.

Most of the time, this abuse is carried out by a partner or ex-partner, but it can also come from a family member or carer. Domestic abuse is very common. In most cases, it is experienced by women and perpetrated by men.

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

Domestic abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, or financial.
It can include coercive control, harassment, stalking, or online abuse.
Women are more likely than men to experience repeated abuse and sexual violence.
Domestic abuse affects anyone, no matter their race, religion, sexuality, class, or disability.
Some women face extra barriers to getting help because of discrimination.
Domestic abuse is part of violence against women and girls, which can include forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and “honour crimes.

Women's Aid

The Survivor’s Handbook

The Survivor’s Handbook provides practical support and information for women experiencing domestic abuse, with simple guidance on every aspect of support.