domestic violence/domestic abuse

although these terms are currently the most familiar, "domestic," with its connotations of coziness and warmth, dilutes the violence and abuse. "It makes the violence sound domesticated, and it makes it sound like a special category of violence that is somehow different from other kinds—less serious" (Ann Jones, Ms.). More precise terms include: family violence, violence in the family, intimate partner violence, dating violence, economic abuse. As these terms conceal the genders of the perpetrator and the victim and the kinds of acts involved, identify (whenever possible) who is doing violence to whom, and what specifically, on the continuum of violent acts, they are doing. Avoid "spousal abuse" because the people involved are not always spouses. See also rape, she asked for it, violence.