Woman abuse refers to violence by a woman's current or former spouse, intimate partner, or date. It clearly acknowledges women are often the victims of abuse and men are most often the perpetrators of abuse. While abuse most often occurs within an intimate heterosexual relationship, it also occurs within gay and lesbian relationships. Woman abuse may involve physical or sexual assault, emotional abuse and/or control of finances and access to family, friends and community. Woman abuse hurts, damages, humiliates, isolates, intimidates, traps and sometimes kills.

(Source: Neighbours, Friends and Families: Community Action Kit to Prevent Woman Abuse, 2006)