CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. Getting The Basics
2. Substance Abuse
3. Violence Against Women
4. Violent Men
5. Alcohol and Violence
6. Alcohol, Drugs and Sexual Assault (Date Rape)
7. Preventing Sexual Assault
8. After a Rape or Sexual Assault
9. Assistance - Women
10. Assistance - Men
11. Legal Options

Supplements
Resources
Glossary
Fact Sheets

It Won't Happen to Me:
Substance Abuse-Related Violence Against Women for Anyone Concerned About The Issues

Introduction

Violence against women is the threat or use of force that results in or may result in injury or death. It includes physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and financial abuse or assault by partners, intimates, family members, acquaintances, and strangers.¹ Terms used to define these types of violence include:

• Rape
• Sexual assault
• Sexual abuse
• Intimate partner violence
• Domestic violence
• Family violence
• Spousal abuse
• Battering
• Marital rape
• Teen dating violence
• Matricide (killing one's mother)
• Elder abuse
• Homicide¹

Although specific abusive acts can occur between any two people regardless of gender, those acts do not always have the same impact or meaning. In heterosexual relationships, the male perpetrator tends to take more power and control in the relationship and is usually physically stronger.

Women of all ages can become victims of violence. In addition, violence affects women of all races, ethnic groups, and income groups. Although men and women in gay and lesbian relationships can be abused by their partners, this tutorial focuses primarily on male violence against women.

A condensed version of this module is available as a Fact Sheet in both HTML, PDF and PDF Espa–ol formats.