What Does a Battered Wife Look Like?

After speaking about domestic violence to groups of people, there is typically at least one person who will come up to me afterwards and say, "You just told my story. I went through the same thing." We hug as we recognize we are part of a sisterhood. Sadly, a few women have come up to me after a speech and shared they are going through the nightmare at the present time. These women don't look any different than anyone else. They don't have obvious signs of abuse. I haven't seen a beat up face since I saw my own in the mirror 14 years ago.

Now that one of my speeches has been played over and over on the local television station, I have strangers come up to me at school functions, recitals, and the grocery store who share their stories with me. Most of these women are what I would categorize as "Soccer Moms." They look like smart, pretty, well put together women. Yet, as they are leaving the store, pushing their buggies to their cars, I know some of them are going home to die the slow death of being made to feel as though they are worthless.

Maybe you have a picture in your mind about what a battered wife looks like. Maybe you think she is a poor, uneducated, weak minded person. Maybe you think she is ugly or has scars all over her face.

You must change your mental picture because she looks like me. She looks like your child's teacher. She looks like your sister, your mother, your best friend. Domestic Violence happens to at least one out of every four women in America. Chances are you know someone who is living in hell right now.

The National Domestic Violence Hot Line

1 800 799 SAFE (7233)

Lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

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