Battered Women's SyndromeBattered Women's Syndrome is a set of characteristics of women who suffer physical and psychological abuse from a significant dominant male in their life. These women learn helplessness and dependence; sometimes these characteristics originate from childhood. According to Dr. Lenore E. Walker, a woman must experience two cycles before she can be labeled a “battered woman.” The two cycles are called the “cycle of violence”. This cycle leads to the feeling that the abuse will never end. It becomes almost natural. Sometimes relationships will be calm and the abuser will apologize for what happened. This part is called the “honeymoon cycle,” but at other points in the cycle the tension and arguments continually increase (divorcenet.12-3-00). After years, the cycle begins to accelerate. At this point, the woman begins to feel trapped, because she goes through these cycles more than once a day. At some point, he will have to act in what is legally considered “self-defense.” Stereotypes of battered women will always be around. Many people wonder why their wives or girlfriends don't get help?, why don't they tell someone?, or they just don't get up and leave. People fail to realize that leaving an abusive relationship can make things worse. Some cannot leave because they are financially dependent or have children, and/or their partners threaten to kill her and her children or take their children away. A real mother would never leave her children, in any situation. Prosecutors usually always bring up these stereotypes about battered women. In some situations the woman leaves, but staying out is difficult for her or he makes things difficult for her. Once the woman leaves, he… in the middle of a sheet of paper… is offered testimony in a self-defense trial to shed light on the reasonableness of the defendant's behavior (Gillespie 159).” Bibliography : Works Cited Kandel, Minouche. Moving away from victim blaming: challenging the concept of “battered women syndrome”, Lifeline; Battered Women's Support Network Newsletter, 1997, http://www.snbw.org/articles/BWS.html Family Law Counsel Home Page. Articles by Family Law Consultants: What is Battered Woman Syndrome?, LawTek media group, LLC, 1999, http://www.divorcenet.com/or/or-art02.html Gillespie, Cynthia, K, Justowned Homicide , Ohio State University Press Columbus , 1989.Sloan, Irving, J, The Law of Self-Defense: Legal and Ethical Principles, Oceana Publications Inc, London, Rome, New York, 1987.Winters, Paul, A, America's Victims: Opposed Viewpoints , San Diego, Greenhaven, 1996.