Family violence, also known as domestic violence or battering, is a systematic use of abusive behaviors that one person uses to establish power and control over an intimate partner. Abusive behaviors are any cruel, hurtful, violent or controlling physical/sexual or psychological behaviors intended to inflict pain or demonstrate power over someone with whom one has or had a relationship.

Perpetrators or batterers are men who act in an abusive or violent manner toward a female partner or girlfriend. Occasionally, women are batterers, but the numbers are relatively small. In same-sex relationships, both men and women are capable of being the violent party.

Examples of how men physically abuse women: Slapping, hitting, punching, kicking, pushing, choking, pushing her out of a car, hair pulling, jerking, stabbing, throwing an object.

Examples of how men sexually abuse women: forced sex against her will, any positions against her will, tying her up against her will, forced pregnancy, badgering her to have sex, no concern for her well being or level of satisfaction.

Examples of how men psychologically abuse women: name calling, put downs, destroying her possessions, threats to leave, threats to the children, yelling, twisting her words, having an affair (or threats to do so), threats to hurt her or her family or pets, withholding money or using her for her money, telling instead of asking.