If violence is defined to include slapping and pushing, etc., research on heterosexual couples finds that women commit more acts of violence against men than men commit against women.

Several studies have found that when violence is defined broadly to include things like slapping and pushing, women are just as likely, if not more likely, to engage in this type of violence in heterosexual relationships. However, when the definition of violence is limited to more severe acts like punching, choking, or using a weapon, men are more likely to be the perpetrators.