The following factors increase the likelihood of a partner being abused in a relationship:
- A woman who was abused as child can feel it is normal to get abused in life and so would not negotiate to be treated with respect by the husband.
- A husband with violent temper and very possessive in nature might succumb to fits of jealousy whether the partner associates with other males.
- A woman that did not get love growing up from her father seeks love from any man that pretends to love her. Her judgment is impaired because she cannot distinguish true love from lust and so rushes in to marriage to a violent man.
- A woman who married a man against her parents’ wish becomes socially isolated from family leaving her at the mercy of a husband who does not feel accountable to her family and can afford to treat her anyhow.
- A woman married to a substance abuser or alcoholic would be at risk for physical abuse because the husband may not always be in control of himself.
- A husband who neither goes to church nor believes in God may not have any qualms behaving violently towards his wife. He is not accountable to any pastor or religious leader.
- A woman who got pregnant out of wedlock and had to marry the man to mitigate the shame may be subject to violent outburst from the husband because he probably never planned to marry her in the first place.
- A woman planning to leave a marriage where she has been emotionally abused may be attacked by the husband.
- A woman with physical or mental instability who cannot stand up to the husband can be abused.
10. A poor unemployed woman might be of less value to a husband who is chronically strapped for money.
11. A recently separated or divorced woman who is stalked by her former partner may be at risk for an attack.
12. A woman married to an unemployed or underemployed man could be at the receiving end of such a man’s frustrations. A man in such a state is very sensitive to any actions that suggest his waning influence in the home.
13. A woman married to a man that was emotionally and verbally abusive during courtship may become a victim of domestic violence later on.
14. A woman that has little regard for her husband and shows it in her dealings with him may be at risk for physical abuse.
15. A woman married to a man with a history of physical abuse in previous relationships may be at risk for physical abuse in marriage unless the man had gone for professional therapy.
This article was written by Dr Francis Edo Olotu, Physician, Family Counselor, Author, Conference Speaker and host of the Blog Empowering Dads.
