What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is all about control, a pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening or degrading behaviours, violence or abuse by those who are, or have been, an intimate partner. Domestic Abuse can be very different for each individual.

You may feel isolated from your friends and family. You may feel like you are walking on eggshells, afraid of how your partner might react or what they might do. You may feel that you have no autonomy, freedom or access to financial resources. You may have experienced physical or sexual abuse or fear that this will happen to you. You may feel that your partner does not respect your boundaries and regularly behaves jealously, possessively or degradingly towards you. You may feel pressure to do things you would never do socially, emotionally or sexually. Your partner or ex-partner might also be abusing you over the internet, for example through online stalking, access to your online bank, or control of your social media accounts.

The Scottish Government definition of domestic abuse is gender specific, defining domestic abuse as a form of male violence against women.

“Domestic abuse (as gender-based abuse) can be perpetrated by partners or ex-partners and can include physical abuse (assault and physical attack involving a range of behaviour), sexual abuse (acts which degrade and humiliate women and are perpetrated against their will, including rape) and mental and emotional abuse (such as threats, verbal abuse, racial abuse, withholding money and other types of controlling behaviour such as isolation from family and friends).

Although women and girls are disproportionately affected, domestic abuse can exist in every kind of relationship and can happen to anyone. Aura provides gender informed support for anyone affected by domestic abuse, including; women, men, LGBT+, non-binary people and children. We recognise that everyone’s experience is different and our support is tailored to your individual needs and circumstances.