One of the most popular trending hashtags on Twitter recently was #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou. It dealt with domestic violence by acknowledging that simple physical violence isn’t all that exists. Some have noted that society has taken a lot of steps toward standing against physical abuse, but that things like emotional abuse and sexual abuse don’t always get the same publicity.
The hashtag gave people a way to talk about different types of abuse, exposing how real they can be even when things never devolve to physical violence. A few examples include the following:
— One person mentioned that trauma that happened in the past could be used as a current way to control and manipulate a partner.
— Another person noted that an abusive partner may try to change a woman into the partner he really wanted by making fun of her hobbies and ridiculing her for the things that she likes.
— Another described mocking mental illness, saying an abusive partner could try to make someone feel terrible about an illness that could not be controlled and belittling that illness.
— One woman said that a partner could be abusive and then turn it around, forcing the victim to apologize and saying her actions were the ones that were detrimental.
— Another woman talked about abusive partners who focused on a woman’s physical appearance, telling her she was ugly to reduce her self-esteem and self-worth.
If you’ve been suffering from domestic violence in your marriage in California, whether it’s physical or not, make sure you know what legal options you have.
Source: Affinity Magazine, “#MaybeHeDoesntHitYou But He Doesn’t Make You Feel Good Either,” Maddy Louise Rambeau, accessed May 13, 2016