What’s in a name?

In this chapter, ¹ we argue that Scotland is unique, differing from the other countries in the UK in that feminists have been the driving force not simply in placing the issue of domestic abuse on the public and political agenda, but in successfully establishing the issue as a gender-based problem. The adoption of the term ‘domestic abuse’ in Scotland in 2000 was intended to better reflect the range of behaviours enacted by perpetrators to control their partners. It highlights that such abuse need not be physical and includes emotional, psychological and financial tactics, all of which are used to create compliance in a partner.