But it never did. Fowler said that s common in violent households. Many battered women minimize what s going on. At first, they make rationalizations such as I ve never had to get stitches, or I ve never actually been punched. They raise the bar to justify staying with an abuser.
Many victims remain out of fear.
In some cases, they re scared that they can t survive on their own, that they can t earn enough money or that they can t care for their children. And, they don t necessarily want to see their abuser their lover go to jail. It s home, Fowler said of an abusive environment. It s that familiarity that makes it tolerable, as opposed to the constant fear of upheaval and leaving. Fowler cautioned against stereotyping abusers.