Mark, based upon my study of the opposite sex, as an undergrad, I have observed certain females who are very needy, who simply need a boyfriend. The idea of walking away from 200 lbs (or whatever) of personal affirmation is very difficult for certain girls, unless they know for certain that they can fill that void with another male.

If the woman in question was the truly needy to the point of staying in a semi-hostile relationship type, there's no way she'd ask for help. She wouldn't be able to risk losing the affirmation of her boyfriend without someone in the magazine ready to chamber. She'd just sit there and take it.

Maybe she doesn't fit this demographic. Maybe women change after undergrad. But as a 20 year old male, that's one possible explanation for the duress.

markm, victims in abusive relationships often don't leave, and feel they can't, for a variety of reasons (they think they have nowhere to go, they don't have any way to support themselves economically without the batterer, they're worried that the batterer will hunt them down and kill or severely injure them or their kids - sometimes batterers threaten to do exactly that, after all - etc.). it may not be rational, but its reality, and it doesnt excuse this kind of blaming the victim. how do you even know the men would help her, or even believe her?