More of your rights, provided by WADV.ORG
Commonly Forgotten by Victims of Domestic Violence
You have the right
to joy
to a life without any abuse
to make your own decisions about your future
to be human and to make mistakes
to change your mind, plans, and goals
to laugh
to sleep the whole night through
to eat what you want when you want
to visit with family and friends
to privacy
to be treated with respect
to not hide the actions of another (the guilt doesn't belong to you)
to go where you need and want to go
to love
to do what you want (and accept responsibility for that)
to be healthy
to feel hurt and to cry
to be angry and to say so
to say "no" without feeling selfish or guilty
to not need another's permission to do things
to share your thoughts and emotions
to a life without shame
to be complimented without sarcasm
to live without the fear of abuse
to assistance from the police
to financial independence
to work in your choice of jobs
to not be patronized or put–down
to develop your own identity and talents
to be safe
to be loved
to be with a partner that you love and like
to ask questions
to change yourself in the ways you want to
to control your own appearance
to not be humiliated
to not be threatened or intimidated
to protect yourself and your children
to your personal beliefs
to the truth
to help yourself
to succeed
to choose your own friends
to be at least as angry at or fearful of a lover as you would at a stranger who did the same things to you
to share plans and decisions that affect you both
to not be interrupted
to have your thoughts and opinions listened to and seriously considered
to feel how you feel — not necessarily how you've been told to feel
to be right without being made to feel guilty
to be comforted by your partner
to your sexual interests, desires, and fulfillment being as important as your partner's
to not be harassed by a partner "checking on you"
to come and go without having to "report in" with details about where you went or what you did or who you saw
to have friends of both sexes without accusations of unfaithfulness
to fulfilled promises
to survive
and to live!
DON'T GIVE UP YOUR RIGHTS!!!