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In communities where violence against women is common and considered “normal”, a young woman who is beaten by her husband may be told by others that she likely deserved it. In small Aboriginal communities where everyone knows everyone else and people talk, it's difficult to hide domestic abuse for very long. The question is: “What happens when others in the community find out?”

Do family and community members stop the abuse?
Do the council members, mental health workers and child protection workers help?
Does anyone call the police? Do they help?
Do the men of the community confront the abuser?
In short, what punishment do abusers face?

Research in the United States states that, “men most likely to re-offend [after completing a batterer’s intervention program] are those that have the least to lose...”
~ Bennet and Williams, 2001:3,6 ~

In other words, if men have a lot to lose, family, employment, status and their freedom, they aren't likely to risk getting in trouble again. Consequences matter!