Jealousy is a sign of true love.

Jealousy is a type of control indicating that a partner sees you as a possession. It is an early warning sign of partner abuse.

My kids never see him hit me. They don't know what's going on.

Studies show that most children who live in violent households know their mothers are being abused, and that men who abuse their partners are also likely to abuse the children. Kids who grow up with abuse learn that violence is acceptable - and may grow up to be victims or batterers themselves.

Only working-class men beat up their wives or girlfriends.

Abusive partners come from all groups. Race, income level, religion or gender do not make people abusive.

If I love him enough he will stop abusing me.

It is true that the abuser needs love. But without outside help, he will not change, even with your love. Violence is the abuser's pattern of behavior, not something you can control.

If he stops drinking or is less stressed out he'll stop hitting me.

The alcohol or stress is not what makes him abusive. He's learned to use violence to control people. Even if he stops drinking or gets his job back, the violence can continue.

Being pregnant protects a woman from battering.

Battering often begins or gets worse during pregnancy. An abuser who already has low self-esteem may resent the extra attention his pregnant wife or girlfriend receives, or the changes in her body that cause her to pay less attention to him.