Intimate partner violence (IPV) and its causes are often surrounded by myths and misconceptions. Here are three common myths and the truths to debunk them:
Myth #1: Intimate partner violence is only physical
The truth: Intimate partner violence includes a wide range of forms, including:
- Emotional abuse
- Psychological abuse
- Financial abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Physical abuse
Myth #2: Intimate partner violence is a private family matter
The truth: Keeping intimate partner violence a secret can create a negative impact within communities that leads to normalizing abusive behaviours.
Myth #3: Victims provoke their partners’ violence
The truth: We need to put an end to victim-blaming. It is critical for us to recognize that a person’s behaviours and actions cannot justify the way their partner reacts or behaves.
