Myths and Facts about Family Violence

There are many commonly held beliefs surrounding Family Violence. These myths portray false ideas about family violence and often shift the blame from the perpetrator to the victim. Below you can find some of these myths about family violence.

Myth - Family violence doesn't affect the children.
Fact - Children are aware of violence if it is going on. Living in a house with family violence can cause them significant trauma.

Myth - Children are too young to know about what's going on.
Fact - Children are very sensitive to what's going on, no matter what age they are. They are affected even if they don't see it.

Myth - Family violence only happens to poor women.
Fact - Family violence can happen to any person no matter their gender, age, culture, ability, or socio-economic status.

Myth - Some people deserve to be hit.
Fact - NO ONE DESERVES TO BE HURT BY ANOTHER PERSON. Violence is not the way to solve problems or deal with stressors.

Myth - Family violence is only physical.
Fact - Emotional, verbal, social, sexual, spiritual and financial abuse are just as destructive as physical abuse and are forms of family violence.

Myth - It won't happen again.
Fact - Acts of family violence are often repeated, sometimes in different forms, and, if not dealt with, tends to escalate over time. Violence needs to be acknowledged before it can be changed. Pretending that it doesn't exist will not stop it from happening again.

Myth - If it were that bad, she would just leave.
Fact - Most women stay in violent or abusive relationships for long periods of time. When a partner is controlling and violent in every part of your life, you may believe that you do not have the resources, strength, or ability to leave the relationship.

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