Women who have witnessed domestic abuse may be too passive in their relationships with men, which can affect their mental state and affect other aspects of their lives such as career. If women had grown up where their mothers, or other female figures, suffered physical abuse, they may have perceived them as weak or fearful towards men. Women may grow to fit this persona as it was what they associated the women with in their lives. Women who have this mentality will allow men to do whatever they want to them. Whether these men decide to beat them, disrespect them, or degrade them in any other way, these women would allow it because that's what they're used to. As unfortunate as it may be, this can hurt oneself mentally (Edleson). When women accept abuse, be it physical, emotional or mental, it scars them for life. For example, if a woman were pushed to the ground every time she did something wrong, she would learn to be afraid of making mistakes. This can damage not only women's relationships, but also their friendships or careers. If women are unable to advocate for themselves, friends or employers may take advantage of them or disrespect them, making them unhappy in every aspect of their lives.