why women stay

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Why Women Stay

Some typical reasons a woman stays with an abusive husband:

She doesn't recognize the magnitude of the abuse.
Her abuser threatens to kill her, to kill others and/or himself if she leaves him.
She has no other support system available (friends, family, etc.).
She stays because of the children.
She stays because of religious or cultural beliefs.
She feels she cannot financially support herself and/or her children.
She still loves him.
She feels sorry for him, and believes she can help him.
He promised to get help.
She feels the good times outweigh the bad.
She believes if she can work harder to please him, he will treat her better.
She blames herself and thinks she deserved the beatings.
She doesn't believe she can escape her batterer's domination.
She may think other people will believe it's her fault.
She believes that if she hangs in there with him, things will change, and get better.
She fears being alone.
She came from an abusive home so the violence seems natural.
She denies or minimizes the abuse, i.e., "It really wasn't that bad. He only hits me every few months."
She believes leaving will mean she is a failure as a wife and mother.
She does not know her legal rights and feels she has no options.
She doesn't know anywhere she can move.
She is too afraid or feels too powerless to leave.
He isn't always brutal ---- he can be very loving when he's not abusive.
She is unaware of the resources available to her.