Domestic abuse can happen between family members and is not limited to abuse between current or former partners. This can include abuse by parents, siblings, adult children or other relatives.
Abuse within families can take many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional or psychological abuse, controlling or coercive behaviour, financial abuse, threats, intimidation, neglect or isolation. Family members may use their relationship, financial dependence, cultural or family expectations, or access to other sources of support to control or intimidate someone.
Examples may include:
- Being prevented from seeing friends, partners or other family members
- Being monitored or controlled in your everyday activities
- Having your access to money, education, employment or accommodation restricted
- Being repeatedly criticised, humiliated or threatened
- Being pressured to behave in a particular way to meet family expectations
- Being threatened with violence or being physically harmed
- Being prevented from making your own decisions about relationships, education, work or where you live
- Being threatened with being disowned, excluded from the family or sent away
- Being pressured or forced to participate in cultural, religious or other practices against your wishes.
Abuse within families can be particularly difficult to recognise or seek help for. You may feel that you are expected to protect your family, that speaking about the abuse would have consequences for other family members, or that you will not be believed.
Being related to someone does not give them the right to control, threaten or harm you.