Index of what is on this page

History of Abuse ***some interesting facts**
Is Wife Abuse A New Issue?
Did The Law Protect Women?
How Bad is Wife Abuse?
The "Rule of Thumb" expression
The Impact of Violence

History Of Abuse
As a social worker, I had been trained to deal with all sorts of situations. We were trained to understand how and why abuse is such a large issue today.

Back to Top

Is Wife Abuse A New Issue?

It is definitely not a new issue, it's been around since the beginning. So why is it such an issue today?
Women are now finally talking about it.

That is why it has finally surfaced now. Finally women are saying "I don't deserve this". I have the right to life, a life without fear"..

For many years abusing a wife was not talked about or treated. It was accepted as a everyday thing and a necessity. Children were property and could be disposed of the same way a wife could. Animals held more value than a human.  

Back to Top

Did The Law Protect Women?

No, the law was set up to control it but never to stop it. The law sided with and gave men protection. The law stating that a man could not beat his wife with anything bigger than his thumb....thus the "Rule of Thumb" became a phrase.

That law told men that it was okay to beat your wife, you just couldn't beat her with anything thicker than your thumb. The punishment for beating your wife with something thicker than your thumb wasn't even a slap on the hand.
The judge would sometimes order that the man buy his wife a box of chocolates and not to beat her again with anything thicker than his thumb.

Although society today is more aware and now has laws protecting women against been beaten, the old thoughts and ways still are there. I've seen people and police turn their back when they know wife abuse/domestic violence is happening. They don't want to get involved.

Back to Top

How Bad is Wife Abuse?

Even today in some cultures, wife abuse is common. Death is common in some arranged marriages because the men marry the woman for her dowery and then claim she died in a kitchen fire.

Apparently, in India - many wives are now (even today) dying from kitchen fires. The government, the police, everyone knows what is happening but no one is dealing with it. Sometimes the girl's family will avenge her death but most often, she is just a memory.

Let us finally end the violence. Stand up, state your opinions, put graphics and links on your site to show your support to end this violence.

Back to Top

The "Rule of Thumb" Phrase

Have you heard the expression "Rule of Thumb"?

Do you know where it comes from? It was actually a law that prohibited men from hitting their wives with anything thicker than his thumb. Yes, it was the law that you could hit her, but not with anything bigger than his thumb.


The punishment for beating your wife with something larger (if she did complain) was usually a judge ordering the husband to buy her a box of chocolates and to tell the husband not to beat her with anything larger than his thumb.

Back to Top

The Impact of Violence

While studying to become a social worker, one of the topics I had chosen to write on was "Wife abuse and the Impact on the Family". You will see and learn of the effects that Wife Abuse has on the whole family...and the cycle that causes it to go from one generation to another.


It was actually okay to hit a wife and it wasn't that long ago either. Society has come some way in this issue but not enough. Now men are not just beating their wives, they are killing them as well.

Someone has to take a stand and say "This is enough....no more violence!" and end the cycle of abuse that will affect every generation in that family.  

For more on the Impact - read my story.  Thanks

Back to Top

If you are planning on leaving, please do not forget to sign our guestbook. Thanks! I've made it real easy. There is a link on every page as a reminder.