I HAVE THE RIGHT
NOT TO BE ABUSED
I HAVE THE RIGHT TO ANGER OVER PAST BEATINGS
I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE SITUATION
I HAVE THE RIGHT
TO FREEDOM FROM FEAR OF ABUSE
I HAVE THE RIGHT TO REQUEST AND
EXPECT ASSISTANCE FROM POLICE OR SOCIAL AGENCIES
I HAVE THE RIGHT
TO SHARE MY FEELINGS AND NOT BE ISOLATED FROM OTHERS
I HAVE THE
RIGHT TO WANT A BETTER ROLE MODEL OF COMMUNICATION FOR MY CHILDREN
I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE TREATED LIKE AN ADULT
I HAVE THE
RIGHT TO LEAVE THE ABUSIVE ENVIRONMENT
I HAVE THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY
I HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS MY OWN THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS
I
HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEVLOP MY INDIVIDUAL TALENTS AND ABILITIES
I
HAVE THE RIGHT TO LEGALLY PROSECUTE THE ABUSING PARTNER
I HAVE THE
RIGHT NOT TO BE PERFECT
*Patricia G. Ball and Elizabeth
Wyman, "Battered Wives and Powerless Loss: What Can Counselors Do?" quoted
in Sinclair, D. Understanding Wife Assault, p. 108.
"the term 'rule of
thumb' comes from a 1767 English common law that permitted a husband to
chastise his wife with a whip or raffan no wider than his thumb."