Legal Definitions - battered woman

A battered woman is a woman who has experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse from a spouse or partner. This type of abuse is also known as domestic violence.

• A woman who is repeatedly hit by her husband and lives in fear of his anger is a battered woman.
• A woman who is forced to have sex against her will by her partner is a battered woman.

These examples illustrate how a woman can be subjected to different forms of abuse by someone she is in a relationship with. Domestic violence can have serious physical and emotional consequences for the victim.