What Is Family Violence?

Family Violence includes violent, threatening and repeated use of coercive and controlling behaviour that occurs within families or intimate relationships. This conduct, whether physical, emotional or sexual, causes severe damage to others in the family and has long term detrimental effects.

It affects 1 in 5 women during their lifetime, regardless of age, socio-economic status, culture, ability, ethnicity or religion and it ALWAYS has adverse effects on the children.
Although women have been known to be controlling and violent, the greater percentage of this violence by far, is perpetrated by the male partner in the relationship.

Other forms of family violence include child abuse, sibling abuse, violence perpetrated by adolescents towards parents, (usually single mothers), abuse of the elderly and the disabled, as well as same sex violence.
Some forms of family violence eg physical and sexual assault, stalking and harassment, are against the law.
However, other abusive behaviours, which are not recognized as criminal but are just as damaging, include emotional, psychological, verbal, financial, social and spiritual abuse.

Violence and abuse occurs in families with a wide range of  backgrounds. Abusive family members can be well-liked and respected by friends, workmates, extended family and neighbours,
and may be active in community affairs.  Because of this, our community often fails to recognize or condemn their abusive behaviour within the family.

Examples of physical, sexual and other abusive behaviour include:

• Hitting, kicking, slapping, choking or other forms of assault
• Forcing a partner to do unwanted sexual acts or forcing a child to perform any sexual act.
• Refusing to let you see friends or family
• Threatening to hurt you, the children, other family members, or to take them from you
• Disconnecting the phone, locking you in the house
• Controlling all the money
• Repeatedly insulting you at home and/or in front of others
• Smashing objects, breaking walls, furniture etc.

In many families, violence is not an isolated incident but occurs on an ongoing and often escalating basis.

The Jewish Community Is Not Immune To Family Violence and the

behaviours described CAN and DO occur Amongst Jews.

There are NO excuses for family violence!!