Domestic violence crosses all ethnic, racial, orientation, religious and socioeconomic lines. Some societies feel that a man has the right to be physically aggressive as a means of asserting his authority. Bullying behaviour comes in various guises. Some approaches are cloaked in sentiments of love or even affection. Men often use a woman's love for them to make her feel obliged to give them the sex they need. Men can't understand why women are not more willing to cooperate with intercourse. Men get frustrated because women control their sexual opportunities. Men often use any means available to pressure their partner into obliging them.

Domestic violence or abuse is a deliberate strategy to control women rather than an impulsive act. Abuse is a learned behaviour. It is learned from seeing abuse used as a successful tactic of control typically in the home in which the abuser grew up, but also in schools, peer groups, and the media. The behaviour is target-specific. Men, who abuse, don't use this behaviour at work. They use abuse at home as a means of control over their partners.

Abusers often use violence or defence mechanisms to justify abusive behaviours, extreme jealousy, and conflicting personalities. Abusers deny responsibility for their actions and they also often deny that any type of abusive behaviour has taken place. They typically present a different personality outside the home than they do inside, which makes it difficult for a woman to describe her experiences to people outside the relationship.

Abusive behaviour can include physical abuse (violence directed at causing bodily harm) and sexual abuse (forcing a partner to perform sexual acts against their will). Psychological or emotional abuse may precede or accompany physical violence as a means of control. Economic coercion is used to make a partner dependent on the abuser for money and survival.

Domestic violence (violence in the home), with women and children as primary victims, is a major worldwide epidemic. The majority, an estimated 90 percent to 95 percent, of victims in heterosexual relationships are women. In the US, battering is the top cause of injuries to women (more incidences than rape, muggings and car accidents combined). It is estimated that at least 3 million to 4 million women are beaten by their husbands or partners annually in the US. Women may also abuse their children. Women inflict abuse more typically verbally rather than physically. Given the absence of physical injuries, emotional abuse is rarely identified.

A woman is more likely to be assaulted, injured, raped or killed by a male partner than by any other type of assailant. About half of all marital relationships involve some form of domestic violence. More than one-half of the female homicide victims in the US are killed by their male partners.

Men tend to express their emotions primarily through violence. But equally one has to ask why men have such strong negative emotions towards women in the first place. Men's sex drive and women's lower sexual interest is certainly one reason why men might resent women's control over them. Another possibility is women's greater inclination to argue articulately when it comes to discussing relationship issues. Men are much more inclined to hit out or fall silent rather than offer rational discussion of emotional issues.

A woman stays with a man because she loves him and she believes he can change. Men have many have times when they are generous with their affection. A woman may try to be perfect so that her partner will show his loving side. Unfortunately, an abuser is driven by his own emotional needs and so continues his behaviour regardless of her actions. Sex may be a male problem but women can be sentimental about those they love. Men know this well and they often use a woman's love as a means of bartering for sex.

There are various factors that appear to place certain women at a somewhat greater risk for abuse. Young women (aged 19 to 29) are most at risk. Separated or divorced women are 14 times more likely than married women to report having been a victim of domestic violence. It is, however, likely that the separation or divorce was a directly result of the violence.

A woman can have intercourse during her period and during pregnancy. No harm is done. Not all women want to. They may worry about being unclean or that intercourse will harm a foetus (only in the case of rape). They may also use their period or pregnancy as an excuse for a rest from the regular intercourse men require. Advanced stages of pregnancy leave a woman less able to defend herself. Medical sources suggest that about 37 percent of obstetric patients are physically abused while pregnant. About 21 percent of women who were previously abused, report an increase in abuse during pregnancy. The risk of injuries to a woman and her foetus increases.

Women who have an excessively jealous or possessive partner are more at risk. Women who abuse drugs or alcohol or have a relationship with someone who abuses drugs or alcohol are at greater risk. Men who have witnessed domestic violence between their parents are three times more likely to abuse their own wives than men who have nonviolent parents.