What is Wife Assault?
Wife assault is also referred to as domestic abuse, partner abuse/assault, and family violence.
Wife assault refers to: physical, sexual spiritual, mental/emotional and/or financial abuse within an intimate relationship Many women experience abuse from their husbands/boyfriends or partners regardless of their race, ethnic, economic, education, social and age groups. Abuse hurts women from all walks of life.
Physical abuse is: any physical act intended to harm, injure or inflict pain on the victim. The abuse may include hitting, striking with an object or weapon, punching, slapping, kicking, pushing, shoving, spitting, pinching, burning, biting, choking, hair pulling, and/or any other act that causes physical harm.
Emotional/Mental abuse is: the abuse of power and control toward the victim. The abuse may include: intimidating, terrorizing, threatening to hit or hurt you, using abusive and/or insulting language about your looks, habits, intelligence, ability, family and/or friends, It may also include humiliating pressuring, controlling your movements, isolating you from family and friends, not trusting you, destroying your belongings and/or your household furniture, not allowing you to have food and/or money, threatening to throw you out of your home, take your kids away, or take you to a mental hospital, as well as not showing emotions such as love, caring and understanding.
Spiritual abuse is: putting down or making fun of your culture or beliefs or forbidding you to exercise or practice your spiritual beliefs.
Sexual abuse is: unwanted sexual attention or exploitation. Sexual abuse is any touch that feels inappropriate or makes you feel uncomfortable. The abuse may include forcing you to participate in sexual activity, forcing you to participate in sexual activity that is uncomfortable, degrading, humiliating or embarrassing; forcing or exposing you to pornographic material. Sexual abuse also includes molesting, date rape, gang rape, rape within an intimate relationship, harassment and any touch that makes you feel uncomfortable.
Financial abuse is: using money to exert power and control, stealing your money or belongings and denying money for food and/or shelter. Financial abuse may include not allowing you to obtain employment, forcing you to account and report all dollars spent and unrealistically expecting you to make purchases with insufficient money.
(Reprinted with permission from Handbook for First Nations Women, Native Women's Resource Centre, Toronto, Ontario)
Websites
Aboriginal Super Information Highway
Aboriginal Super Information Highway
provides links and information
any aboriginal organization can list themselves here
Resource details:
Excerpted from Resource List for Native Communities in Ontario (September 1998). Full text, including print resources directory, organizations directory, etc. available from Education Wife Assault. Cost: $3.50 + postage. Please contact Springtide Resources to order. (With help from the Native Women's Resource Centre of Toronto)
Type/Format of Resource: Article
Category/Topic of interest: Aboriginal Woman and Abuse
Population Group: Aboriginal Women
Language of Resource: English
Year of Publication: 1995-1999
Contact Information:
Program Manager
Springtide Resources
t- 416-968-3422
f- 416-968-2026
[email protected]
http://www.springtideresources.org