Yes I think some people forget that it wasn't that long ago that women were chattels and not long ago at all that women didn't have any control over money and in many cases didn't even have a right to inherit money or property (or vote!).
It may SEEM like a long time but it is not that many generations away and these types of roles are passed down through generations. It certainly wasn't that long ago that abuse, mental or physical was just not talked about at all and as we know that's still widespread.
It's time to talk about it, get it out in the open, the shame should not ever be held by the person being abused.