Because its hard to identify yourself as a victim of domestic violence. Hes not always bad etc etc Then theres the financial gloom of being a single parent ( if you are one) and thats even harder than you though.
Television plays these stories all the time, if it happens exactly like its shown then maybe something will click.
Then there is the fear. I had 18 months of hell after I booted him out, suicide threats, kidnap threats, waiting on my doorstep for me to come in the middle of the night, breaking into my house and taking things, now hes gone for good finally, Ive been left holding both the kids (who he never touched btw), a string of debt, he took anything of any value because I still let him bully me and walls and doors with holes in where I ducked which need repairing but the debts I have left make it a very slow process! If I had known how difficult it was going to be, at the time, I'm not sure I could have faced it. I had all these fears at the time and they were well justified, however, I wasnt expecting him to steal all my shoes, underwear and any clothing that he considered remotely sexy because he was going to make sure no one ever touched me ever again.