Hard hitting geography

The dangers of family life for Canadian women vary depending on where you live.

There were 38,000 incidents of spousal abuse in Canada reported in 2007.

The victims of domestic violence in the prairies and Northern Canada were facing more incidents of major assault. Those living in Quebec were more likely to be stalked or threatened.

Stats Can released a study today that said four types of abuse between spouses or ex-spouses: Common assault which is slapping and punching but does not involve a weapon or serious injury. Major assault which involves a weapon or serious injury. Uttering threats or criminal harassment (stalking).

Nationally, 14 per cent of the reported offences were major assaults and 61 per cent were common assaults.

There were regional differences:

Major assault made up a significantly higher share of reported offences in Manitoba (22 per cent), the Yukon (21 per cent) and Saskatchewan (19 per cent).

Common assault was most prevalent in the Northwest Territories (83 per cent) and the Yukon (77 per cent).

The nationwide percentages for criminal harassment was eight per cent and uttering threats was 11 per cent, respectively. Quebec showed unusually high incidences of criminal harassment (12 per cent) and uttering threats (16 per cent).

Stats Can is offering no explanation of these differences, but it’s important to note that spousal abuse happens in all types of families, regardless of income or ethnicity.

Not surprisingly most victims of spousal abuse are women. In every province and territory, about eight out of 10 victims of spousal violence were women, according to the study.

However when men were assaulted it tended to be major assault. Major assaults accounted for 23 per cent of the incidents where men were victims, compared with 13 per cent for female victims. That could be because men are less likely to report common assault, but many vulnerable women are unlikely to report domestic abuse at all.

The vast majority of domestic assault victims are women.

One to two women are murdered by a current or former partner each week in Canada. From 2000 to 2006, 101 Canadian soldiers and police officers were killed. During that time, more than 500 women — nearly five times as many — met the same fate at the hands of the men in their life.   

The fact is the most dangerous places for many Canadian women to be - is at home with her loved ones.