Domestic violence

Myths/facts/figures

One quarter of women living in Germany have already experienced violence perpetrated by (ex)-partners.

A German representative inquiry on violence against women revealed that approximately 25% of all women living in Germany have experienced physical or sexualised violence (or both) by current or former intimate partners.

In the case of violence in a close social circle, men are predominantly the perpetrators and women and children the victims. There are significant gender-related differences regarding the perpetrators; this means: violence is not exercised coincidentally, but there is a gender-related structure involving those that exercise violence and those that suffer from violence.

For many women, violence by their partner is an everyday reality. Violence is hardly ever a one-time event, but is instead recurring. The frequency and intensity of violence can escalate over time. Women suffer violence in many different guises, i.e. psychological and physical violence as well as sexualised violence.

Domestic violence can have negative psychological and physical, social and economic consequences for the women affected. Aside from the physical effects, the psychological consequences can be particularly profound. This may lead to the restriction of possible courses of action and defence possibilities. The longer the abuse continues, the more difficult it becomes to get help from outside, and the more difficult external intervention becomes. Moreover, violence is still trivialised by society. Violence exercised by a partner is seen with many prejudices (e.g. “Cads' fighting when ended is soon mended“).