Myth: “Most people who are beaten ask for it.”

Fact: No one deserves to be beaten. Violence is never an acceptable solution to a problem.

Myth: “Most violent people come from lower income homes.”

Fact: Domestic violence does not discriminate. It crosses all sociologic and economic levels, and occurs among all races, cultures, incomes, professions, and educational levels.

Myth: “Drinking (or drug abuse) is a cause of domestic violence.”

Fact: While drugs and alcohol may lower a person’s inhibitions and increase the severity of the abuse, substance abuse does not cause an abusive episode.

Myth: “I would know if someone I knew was in a domestic violence relationship.”

Fact: If a person is being physical abused, the abuser may hit the victim in areas of the body that are never exposed, such as the thigh, stomach or back.

Myth: “Only weak women are victims.”

Fact: Anyone can be a victim. Statistics show that most often women are victims of abuse at the hands of their boyfriends or husbands. However, teenagers, the elderly, men, children, gays and lesbians, people with disabilities, and animals can also be victims.