i know a woman in this situation
her partner would beat her so badly, she miscarried twice. this didn't stop them having 8 kids. he never worked, never contributed anything, but her reasoning was always "the kids need their dad".
after her put her in hospital for the fourth time, she actually married him. i stopped trying to give her advice.
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Thu 20 May 2010, 18:48, 1 reply)

sometimes..
You stay because you already think that the bad treatment is what you deserve.
Or because the kids are little so you are financially dependant on him because you can't work yet. Or because when they're not hitting you, they are reasonable(ish) people, or funny and sociable, or they pay when you go out, which means you can actually go out, as babysitters are expensive etc.. Or leaving means admitting failure to your family, because your Mum warned you about him..
(Beer Elf Thought this was like a campfire, anyhow, on, Thu 20 May 2010, 19:19, closed)

i don't really know what her reasons were
she said she didn't deserve to be treated like that, he was financially dependent on her, four of the kids weren't his, she worked from home, he was a cunt to everyone and talked to anyone he saw like shit and she hadn't spoken to her family since about 4 years before she met him. she must have had a reason, i just don't know what it was.
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Thu 20 May 2010, 19:28, closed)