Hi! My mom's Aunt Jean was a battered wife.

It all started back in the 1930's when she was raped by some guy in her neighborhood. She became pregnant from the rape. Her brother's knew who raped her and chased him down, threatening to kill him if he didnt marry her- to take the shame off of her for being an 'unwed mother".

Well, married her because these brother's meant business- and she became a battered wife for years afterwards-- constantly being raped and raped again and again within the marriage, as well as being bet up to a pulp many a time.

Mercifully, he died of cancer only a few years after they got "married" and the daughter of the original rape never really got to know her father. She grew up to become a president of one of our local banks and did very well for herself. She has recently died of kidney failure- and my Mom's aunt died of cancer before that.