Abstract:  The two generations of abused women in discussion had different interpretations of domestic violence and adopted different strategies to seek help and get divorces. The older group of abused women, mostly born  in patriarchal families soon after the founding of New China, had a fatalistic interpretation of domestic violence and had stayed in abusive relationships for many years. They would often seek help from neighbors, original families, working units, and the Women's Federation. The younger generation group, born after China's reform and opening up policy, were bettereducated and had a rather strong sense of gender equality and human rights. With "zero tolerance" of domestic violence, the latter preferred to call police or to seek medical help and psychological counseling when encountering domestic violence, and were rather determined to leave abusive relationships. We examine how gender, age, generation difference, social stratum and level of education influence the two generations of abused women and offer suggestions for female survivors of domestic violence according to their different needs.
Key words：

Key words:  , women, domestic violence, coping strategies, generational difference, gender, equality ,