Women's rights & safety
What to do about abuse, stalking, and sexual assault, your rights at work, and confidential help, with the data on where women stand.
Practical guides
In-depth articles: what to know, what to ask, and where to get help. Every fact is sourced. All articles
- Signs of an abusive relationshipAbuse is not always physical. Learn the types of partner abuse, common warning signs, why leaving is hard, and how to get or give support safely.
- What to do after a sexual assaultIf you were sexually assaulted, it is not your fault. Options for safety, medical care, the forensic exam, preventing pregnancy and HIV, reporting, and support.
- Stalking and technology-facilitated abuseStalking is common and often uses phones, apps, and trackers. Learn the signs, why removing spyware can alert an abuser, and how to document and get help.
- Your rights at work while pregnant or nursing (U.S.)Federal laws protect pregnant and nursing workers in the U.S. Learn about accommodations, pumping breaks, leave, and how to file a charge before deadlines pass.
Also useful
- Trauma and PTSD in women: after assault, abuse, and other traumaStrong reactions after trauma are common, and most people recover. What PTSD is, why women are more affected, how it's treated, and where to get help.Mental health
- Emergency contraception: options and timingAfter sex without birth control or a condom break: how emergency contraception pills and the copper IUD differ, how soon to use them, and what to expect after.Body & health
What you can do
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National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or chat at thehotline.org. Free and confidential.12
Call 1-800-799-7233National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN)
Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), text HOPE to 64673, or chat at hotline.rainn.org. Free and confidential. Connects you with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. Calls may show on your phone bill, and message and data rates may apply to texts.272,260,265
Call 1-800-656-4673love is respect
Call 1-866-331-9474, text LOVEIS to 22522, or chat at loveisrespect.org. Confidential support from trained advocates.32
Call 1-866-331-9474StrongHearts Native Helpline
Call 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483), text START to 1-844-762-8483, or chat at strongheartshelpline.org. Safe, confidential, and anonymous. Services are at no cost.33
Call 1-844-762-8483If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
What the research shows
The evidence behind this topic. Global figures unless labeled U.S. Superscripts link to the full source list. Use "Save image" to share a stat.
About 1 in 3 women (840 million) have been subjected to intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
of seats in national parliaments were held by women as of January 1, 2025.
Intimate partner violence rates are 2.5 times lower in countries with comprehensive measures on violence against women than in countries with weak protections.
U.S.About 1 in 5 women in the U.S. have been stalked at some point in their lives, compared with about 1 in 10 men.
women and girls were killed by an intimate partner or family member every day on average in 2024, about 50,000 in total.
U.S.of U.S. women did household activities on an average day in 2025, compared with 75% of men. On those days, women spent 2.8 hours on them and men 2.1 hours.
U.S.In 2024, women working full time earned a median 83% of what men working full time earned each week.
About 650 million women and girls alive today were married before age 18, about 1 in 5 girls worldwide.
More than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation, in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
U.S.sexual harassment charges were filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in fiscal year 2025.
Picture it
The same numbers, drawn to scale.
You're not imagining it
Common things women hear, and what the data says.
Myth
Violence against women is rare.
Fact
About 1 in 3 women (840 million) have been subjected to intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.3
Myth
Stalking is rare.
Fact
About 1 in 5 women in the U.S. have been stalked at some point in their lives, compared with about 1 in 10 men.22
Myth
The pay gap is a thing of the past.
Fact
U.S.In 2024, women working full time earned a median 83% of what men working full time earned each week.25
Myth
Women and men share housework equally now.
Fact
87% of U.S. women did household activities on an average day in 2025, compared with 75% of men. On those days, women spent 2.8 hours on them and men 2.1 hours.24