"[...] the killing of females by male partners with whom they have, had had, or want to have, a sexual and/or emotional relationship."

(Ellis & DeKeseredy, 1997, pg. 592)

"[...] a process in which one or both partners become alienated from each other. Separation (emotional/affective and physical) is usually associated with estrangement and is often an indicator of it."

(Ellis & DeKeseredy, 1997, pg.592)

"Following Wilson and Daly (1992b), male proprietariness is defined as "the tendency [of men] to think of women as sexual and reproductive 'property' they can own and exchange" (p.85). More generally, proprietariness refers to "not just the emotional force of [the male's] own feelings of entitlement but to a more pervasive attitude [of ownership and control] toward social relationships [with intimate female partners]" (p. 85)."

(Ellis & Dekeseredy, 1997, pg. 592)

"Hirschman (1970) defines voice as "an expression of protest or dissatisfaction," exit as "leaving or buying a competitor's products or services," and loyalty as "attachment or relatively inelastic demand for services/products" (p. 2). In applying the mechanisms of exit, voice, and loyalty to intimate relationships, three modifications are necessary. First, Hirschman applies these mechanisms to "the concept of a random and more or less easily repairable lapse." In this article, they are applied to systematic recurring harms inflicted by males on their intimate female partners. Second, Hirschman conceives of exit, voice, and loyalty as "recuperative mechanisms." However, we view them as mechanisms for disintegrating or severing as well as reintegrating intimate relationships. Third, for Hirschman, voice ends with exit (1970, p. 43). In the application of these mechanisms to intimate relationships, however, escalated violence following exit is frequently encountered.

(Ellis & DeKeseredy, 1997, pg. 593)