Yes, Women Can Be Charged With Domestic Violence Too

One of the most persistent, and harmful, myths about domestic violence in the United States is that only men can be charged with and/or are capable of commiting domestic violence. To be clear, there is no gender requirement for domestic violence. While men do account for the majority of convicted domestic violence offenders, many women are also charged with, and convicted of, domestic violence each year.
 

California Domestic Violence Laws

In California, domestic violence legally occurs when there is abuse or threats of abuse against people who are:

• Married or registered domestic partners
• Divorced or separated
• Dating or used to date
• Living together or used to live together (but more than just roommates)
• Closely related (parent, child, brother, sister, grandmother, etc)

Again, there is nothing gender-specific in the law that precludes women from being charged with domestic violence. And because threats of abuse are considered domestic violence in California, that means both men and women who verbally abuse their partners can be charged with a crime.

Domestic Violence In Same-Sex Couples

Another issue that has only recently begun to be more openly discussed is domestic violence in same-sex relationships.

Domestic violence in lesbian partnerships is a real and rising concern but it’s seldom talked about even in lesbian communities. Research has shown that 17% to 45% of lesbians have been violently abused at least once by their female partner, and that some acts of violence even include sexual assault.
 

Don’t Dismiss Allegations Out Of Hand

If you are a woman who has been accused of domestic violence, you should not dismiss the allegations out of hand.Instead, you should find an experienced domestic violence defense attorney right away. Your attorney will evaluate your case and help you understand what options are available to you.

Before meeting with your attorney, be prepared with as much information and evidence as you can gather to help prove your innocence in the case. Be open and honest with your lawyer, and make sure they have all the information (both good and bad) in order to provide the strongest defense possible.