Domestic Violence Counseling Manual - Hot Peach Pages

• Does not know where to go to get help
• Is intimidated by the police
• Is disillusioned by police response to domestic violence
She also may be afraid to leave because she is:
• Terrified of the repercussions of an attempt to leave; harassment; increased violence if she fails to
leave or goes to the authorities
• Fears becoming homeless
• Fears losing her children
• Fears poverty and isolation (particularly if her abuser has isolated her from relatives and friends)
• Fears what her family and friends might think of her
She may be financially dependent on her abuser due to the fact that:
• He controls all their money
• She is forced to work at home and raise the children and is therefore unable to seek employment
which would give her the freedom to seek an independent life for her and her children
• Her contribution to a family business is not recognized by him and may not be recognized by the
law
• She did not receive enough schooling to be able to get a job
• She has no job skills
• The property is in her abuser’s name and she is unaware of each Belizean’s right to a plot of land
(and even if she were she may not have the money to do anything with it)
If she has prolonged exposure to abuse she may:
• Start to rationalize her abuser’s behavior
• Blame herself for provoking him (she has consistently been told that the violence is all her fault)
• Believe that she deserves to be hurt
• Be too mentally and physically exhausted to take the necessary steps
• Not have confidence in herself and her ability to take action
• feel like trying to leave is hopeless since the abuser seems omnipotent
Even if she does leave it is tempting to go back because:
• She cannot get enough practical or emotional support
• The children are missing their dad
• She is insecure
• The abuser persuades her to go back
Some of these factors are specific to Belize, in particular the practical aspects such as lack of support
services, education about one’s rights and police response to domestic violence. Most of the emotional
factors are common to victims of domestic abuse, except the last point, which is particular to Belize and
cultures where gender inequality and machismo is strong. Factors specific to Belize are expanded upon
later in the manual.
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