CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to the Issues
2. Understanding Alcohol Abuse
3. Understanding Violence Against Women
4. Alcohol and Domestic Violence
5. Alcohol, Sexual Assault, and Rape
6. Prevention and Early Intervention
7. Screening and Assessment
8. Diagnosis and Treatment
9. Legal and Ethical Issues

Supplements
Fact Sheets
Videos
Resources

Silence Hurts
Alcohol Abuse and Violence Against Women

Introduction

Women of all ages can be victims of violence. Violence against women involves the threat of force or the actual use of force that results in or may result in injury or death, and includes physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and financial assault. Perpetrators include partners, intimates, family members, and acquaintances.¹

Terms used to define violence against women include:

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

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 have more power and control in the relationship and is usually physically stronger.² For the purpose of this tutorial, abusers are considered male and victims female.

Regardless of the type, violent behavior is generally learned. In some cases, violence may result from a chemical imbalance, biological disorder, or mental illness. However, absent a physical cause, much of violent behavior is learned.