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Why Do Women Stay?
A woman's reasons for staying in an abusive relationship are complex. Often there are many aspects to the relationship that do not allow the woman to leave. Most often, she is afraid and fears for the safety of herself and her children. Some reasons women don't leave:
- She fears she may lose custody of her children or cause emotional or physical harm to her children if she tries to leave.
- She may have no financial resources, access to alternative support or skills to secure work.
- Many times a woman will stay in a relationship because of religious beliefs. If she leaves or divorces her partner, her religious community may not support her.
- Her friends and her family may not support her leaving. Her partner may have convinced her friends and family that everything is good in their relationship, that any problems are her fault or “in her head”.
- She may have grown up with violence- so she may consider her own relationship normal.
- Many times a woman does not want the relationship to end. She loves her husband or boyfriend and she just wants the violence to end. She may believe that her love can change her husband, boyfriend, or significant other's behavior.
- She may feel shame about being abused and reluctant to let anyone know that abuse it occurring in her relationship.
- She may not know who to turn to for help or where to get assistance.
- She may face language barriers to seeking help or independence, and may fear deportation.
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