My mom was not treated that way. She was born blind and spent most of her early childhood at the blind school. At home, she was "poor little Nancy." The residence matron at school doted on her and spoiled her, apparently. The family all coddled her.

But, she would have heard the abuse of her father toward her three siblings. My Gran said "he was a rager." I suppose growing up around it, even if she wasn't on the receiving end, must have formed some part of her behavior.