Common Domestic Violence Myths

• Domestic violence is only physical:

Abuse presents in many forms including physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, financial, spiritual etc.

• Domestic violence only happens to people of a certain background:

Anyone can experience domestic violence regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic standing, ethnicity, or life experience.

• Domestic violence is rare:

Almost one third (30%) of all women, across the world, have experienced physical and / or sexual violence by their intimate partner. As many as 38% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners, according to the World Health Organisation.

In Ireland, 1-in-3 women have experienced psychological violence from a partner at some point in their lives and 1-in-6 have experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner since the age of 15.

1-in-4 Irish women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner or non-partner since the age of 15.

• Domestic violence is a loss of control:

Violent behavior is a choice. Perpetrators use it to control their victims. Domestic violence is about perpetrators using their control, not losing their control. Their actions are very deliberate.

• The victim is responsible for the violence because they provoke it:

No one asks to be abused. And no one deserves to be abused regardless of what they say or do.

• Alcohol/drugs cause abusive behavior:

Although many abusive partners also abuse alcohol and/or drugs, this is not the underlying cause of the abuse. Many abusers use alcohol/drugs as an excuse to explain their violence.