Trigger warning: this page contains sensitive language and content that might be triggering and upsetting to some.
What is it?
Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading or violent behaviours. This includes any behaviours that frighten, terrorise, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone, including sexual violence and abuse that is influenced by cultural or religious factors such as honour-based violence.
Domestic abuse can be physical, emotional, psychological, financial, or sexual and takes place within the context of a close relationship, usually by partners, ex-partners, family members or carers. It can happen at any point in a relationship, including after you have split up.
An abuser’s behaviour can vary, from being very brutal and degrading to small actions that leave you humiliated. Those living with domestic abuse are often left feeling isolated and exhausted.
Signs of abuse include someone who:
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Is jealous and possessive
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Is charming one minute and abusive the next
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Tells you what to wear, where to go, and who to see
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Constantly puts you down
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Plays mind games and makes you doubt your judgment
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Controls your money or makes sure you are dependent on them for everyday things
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Pressures you to have sex when you don’t want to
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You feel you have to walk on eggshells to avoid making them angry
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Controls your access to medicine, devices or care that you need
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Monitors or tracks your movements or messages
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Uses anger and intimidation to frighten and control you
If you experience domestic abuse or know someone who has within the University, you can report it to a member of staff, a relevant staff member found on the University’s Safeguarding webpage, or by filling out a Safeguarding Concern Reporting Form. If you fill in the form, you must also contact a staff member.
You can find external sources of support under Gender-based violence in our External Support Services or visit the tab Get Help on this page.