Domestic violence is physical, psychological, sexual or financial violence that takes place within an intimate or family-type relationship and forms a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour. Crime statistics and research both show that domestic violence is gender specific, usually the perpetrator of a pattern of repeated assaults is a man. Any woman can experience domestic violence regardless of race, ethnic or religious group, class, sexuality, disability or lifestyle. Battering is a pattern of behavior …showed first 75 words of 2078 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2078 total…efforts to break the silence will make a difference in the long run. Bibliography Bright, M (2000) "Domestic Violence Explodes" in The Observer July 16th 2000 Crites, L (1992) "Preventing Domestic Violence" in Prevention Communique March 1992, crime Prevention Division, Department of the Attorney General: Hawaii http://www.advicehq.co.uk Accessed on 12/11/01 http://www.silcom.com Accessed on 11/11/01 http://society.guardian.co.uk Accessed on 12/11/01 National Crime Prevention Council (1995) "Preventing Violence Against Women: Not Just a Women's Issue."