In reality, a woman is in more danger of physical violence once she separates from her batterer. Once the batterer has established that he will use physical violence, he can use the threat of past violence to control and intimidate his partner. A woman once told the story of how her husband brutally beat her and hit her in the face so hard that he broke her nose. The next time he wanted something, he simply looked at her and touched his nose. The threat of another brutal beating was enough to control her.
Economic abuse is also a common obstacle to women leaving their batterers.
Batterers may prevent their partners from getting a job or restrict their access to money. If a woman relies on her batterer for income, especially if she has children, it is particularly difficult to leave. Battered women will often endure physical violence in order to ensure that their children will be clothed and fed. A batterer will also use the children to control his partner. He may threaten to hurt the children or sue for custody if she leaves him.