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Myths
Battering is rare. Only some people experience it.
Men who batter are very mean, scuzzy, and “skid row” types. They hate everybody.
Battered women are always uneducated, “lower class” or working class, or poor. Battered women are from minority groups, who don’t know any better.
Battered women always look beat up. They look abused and assaulted. You can always tell who they are.
Notes:
After each false statement read the true statement from below.
1. As I mentioned in the introduction, every nine seconds a women is physically abused in this country.
2. All types of men can batter. Men who batter are often gentle, loving, neat, clean, and successful in many areas of their lives. It is very common for people to believe that the men who batter are unattractive, uneducated and look like batterers but the truth is they can be good friends, good fathers and people that are well liked at work and in their communities. Their battering only occurs at home with their most intimate partner.
3. Battered women are from all groups in our country. Race, lack of education or wealth, and social background do not make battered women. Many rich, educated, and well-to-do women are battered.
4. Most battered women are not beat up everyday. They often go out of their way to hide their injuries and scares.