Although some items are clearly more dangerous than others are, almost all of them are potentially dangerous and all show a lack of respect and an effort to intimidate and control you. Many men and women occasionally push, hold or slap each other, but that doesn't necessarily make it right. If everyone in your neighborhood or family has always done those things, that doesn't mean you have to continue the pattern. One problem with accepting a certain level of abuse is that there's a tendency for the abusive man to interpret it as permission to escalate the assaults into more dangerous and more frequent acts. You're the only one who can decide how much is too much and what you're ready to do about it.
Sexual abuse is so common that it too is beguiling to seem almost normal to some people.
Have historically had so little to say about their sexuality that it's a very confusing area for many of us. You might give in to your partner's wish because you truly want to, and you know he'll do the same for you. But if you give in because you're afraid not to, or because you know he'll keep at you until he wears you down, it will be an important step to admit that he's really forcing you. Emotional abuse is sometimes even harder than sexual abuse to define and recognize. And almost everyone does it at some time or other and many couples develop a habit of hurling insults at each other.