10 different types of domestic violence explained

What does denying someone birth control, forcing them to speak another language or spying on them online have in common?

Despite its name, domestic violence isn’t just physical acts like hitting or punching.

Instead it’s an umbrella term given to the abuse one partner inflicts on the other in an intimate relationship.

Domestic violence can be anything from being coerced into certain sexual acts, having limited access to money or being denied the right to practice your religion.

Here two experts break down the different types of domestic violence.

On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner.

Almost 10 women a day are hospitalised for assault injuries at the hands of a spouse or domestic partner.

Every day in May, as part of Domestic and Family Violence Awareness Month, news.com.au will tell the stories behind those shocking statistics.

Domestic violence isn’t just physical abuse. Picture: iStock.

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence can take many forms but there is one common factor, 1800 RESPECT’s clinical engagement manager Ali Howarth explains.

“It is about enforcing power and control, imbalance in the relationship,” she said.

“It is any behaviour that intimates, controls or leaves a person feeling disempowered or isolated.

“It can of course be physical, it can be physical threats, it can be coercive it can be financial, it can be emotional, it can be technological, it can be spiritual and it can even be reproductive.”

What are the most common types of domestic violence?

“A lot of domestic and family violence goes unrecognised or unreported, especially within LGBTQ+ relationships,” DVConnect CEO Beck O’Connor said.

Types of domestic violence that people commonly report to DVConnect are psychological and emotional abuse, isolation and monitoring, threats to kill, sexual coercion, financial abuse and strangulation.

Psychological and emotional abuse

This is abuse that involves humiliating, degrading or gaslighting behaviour.

Social abuse

Social abuse involves isolating a person from their social supports such as their family, friends and other communities.

Technology abuse

Using technology to spy on or monitor the victim.

Financial abuse

Financial abuse can involve preventing a victim from working or limiting a person’s access to finance.

Sexual abuse

This can involve sexual coercion, revenge porn or sexual assault.

Reproductive abuse

Reproductive abuse can see a person forced to take contraception against their will or end a pregnancy as well as restricting access to birth control.

Systemic abuse

Systemic abuse involves undermining or controlling access to government or justice systems.

Cultural or spiritual abuse

Cultural or spiritual abuse can involve denying a person’s freedom to practice their own culture, religion or language

Physical abuse

This can be threats or actual acts of violence like choking, punching or shoving.

Pet abuse

Pet abuse is threats or actual harm to family pets.