Legal Definitions - battered woman

The term battered woman refers to a woman who is a victim of ongoing and systematic abuse by an intimate partner, such as a spouse, dating partner, or cohabitant. This abuse is not a single incident but a pattern of behavior designed to exert power and control, and it can manifest in various forms, including:

• Physical abuse: Involving bodily harm, such as hitting, kicking, pushing, or restraining.
• Emotional or psychological abuse: Including constant criticism, threats, intimidation, isolation from friends and family, or manipulation that erodes self-worth.
• Sexual abuse: Forcing unwanted sexual acts or exploiting someone sexually.
• Financial abuse: Controlling access to money, preventing employment, or creating financial dependency.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of this term:

• Example 1: Maria's husband frequently yells at her, calls her derogatory names, and often throws objects near her during arguments, though he rarely makes direct physical contact. He also controls all their finances, giving her only a small allowance for groceries and refusing to let her get a job. Maria feels constantly on edge and worthless.

  This illustrates a battered woman because Maria is experiencing a consistent pattern of emotional, psychological, and financial abuse from her spouse, which is designed to control her and diminish her sense of self-worth and independence.

• Example 2: Sarah has been in a relationship for two years where her boyfriend regularly pushes her against walls, pulls her hair, and has on several occasions slapped her face. He also monitors her phone calls and text messages, demanding to know her whereabouts at all times and threatening to harm her family if she tries to leave him.

  Sarah fits the description of a battered woman as she endures repeated physical violence and intense psychological control and threats from her intimate partner, creating an environment of fear and coercion.

• Example 3: Emily's live-in partner has, over the past year, increasingly pressured her into sexual acts she doesn't want to perform, often after verbally demeaning her. He also deliberately sabotages her efforts to maintain friendships, telling her friends she's too busy or making her feel guilty for spending time with them, leading to her becoming isolated.

  Emily is considered a battered woman because she is subjected to ongoing sexual abuse and psychological manipulation by her partner, which isolates her and violates her bodily autonomy and emotional well-being.