Love & Danger

After almost two decades of trying to understand and respond to violence in partner relationships, the persistence of physical assaults between intimate partners force the prevention community to re-examine the problem. Experts estimate that 25% to 34% of all women will be assaulted by an intimate male partner during adulthood; a survey of 930 women revealed that rape by a husband or ex-husband was twice as common as rape by strangers or acquaintances.

Approximately 70% of murdered women are victims of their current or former husbands or boyfriends. Most believe that a women should leave her partner immediately after a physical assault; however, this is when she may be least able to make or plan such a move. Even leaving the partner often does not end the violence; the fear of abused women that their assailant may find them and retaliate is often justified. Thus, many women rather tolerate the domestic situation of abuse that constant fear of reprisals they would feel if they left it.