women who go back to men who hit them

[Schlobin at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 22664


> 
> Michelle wrote:
> 
> >Mom, well, she's one of those women that always go back to the man 
that 
> >hits her because "he loves her".
> 
.

Actually, battered women in general do not remain with men who hit 
them because she believes he "loves her".

More often, they are terrorized into believing that if they leave 
they will be murdered. And in fact, the majority of domestic violence 
homicides occur after the woman has left, or when she is in the midst 
of leaving, or when the man believes he has lost her forever.

More often, battered women return to their partners because they have 
received no help from the police, or any other institution that is 
supposed to have helpful. Assailants routinely convince the police, 
clergy, doctors, etc. that their victim is really the crazy one.

When you speak of "those women", it sounds as if you think there is a 
difference between women who are battered and women who are not. The 
only difference is that battered women have the misfortune to fall in 
love with an assailant.

Most battered women leave; almost all leave eventually. Their 
assailants then find other women to batter, since society and the 
community are set up to blame them for staying rather than sanction 
men for hitting.

Susan McGee