Imagine you are having a conversation with a friend who makes one of two comments: "I just don't understand why women stay in an abusive relationship" OR "I don't understand why someone would not report being sexually assaulted/raped." Select one scenario and discuss how you would explain the victim/survivor experience to help your friend better understand. This may include a discussion of the symptoms of trauma, the criminal justice system, child welfare involvement, lack of social support, beliefs/stereotypes, etc.

The issues involved in domestic abuse encompasses many different situations and includes physical, psychological, social, and financial aspects. Further, the decision to stay in a situation of abuse may include factors such as co-residence or emotional connections, often through a child. The absence or weakness of a support network may contribute to the person’s inability to find a viable alternative.
Identifying abuse can be challenging, especially if physical violence is not involved. One partner’s extreme control over the other is a form of abuse. This can include such things as demanding an account of the partner’s time or restricting friendships and associations. Threats of violence, especially if repeated, can be as emotionally damaging as physical violence and often prevent or delay a partner’s leaving.
An abuser may irregularly exhibit the signs of abuse, often with long intervals between the most extreme behaviors. The externalization of blame is a common feature, so that the abused person is encouraged to accept responsibility for the abuser’s behavior. Passive behavior that does not incite abuse is often encouraged or demanded.
Control of the couple’s finances, including restricting the partner’s access to financial support, is one common characteristic. Closely related are attitudes about work, such as conservative beliefs about women holding jobs, that also limit the abused partner’s ability to support themselves and/or their children. Financial considerations constitute a powerful obstacle to leaving a relationship.
An abuser’s efforts to control their partner’s behavior frequently includes isolating them from friends and family. If the abused person has few or no close personal ties, they often feel that they have nowhere else to go. Similarly, the abused partner is often unaware of how to contact appropriate resources, including shelters and safe houses for temporary accommodations. This may lead to resignation or hopelessness that discourages them from leaving.
Among the resources available are those prepared by the Office of Women’s Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and numerous nonprofit organizations. For example, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence runs the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
https://womenscommunity.org/understanding-abuse/why-dont-i-leave/

https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/domestic-violence/signs-domestic-violence