Men's violence against women and intimate partner violence (IPV) exists all over the World. This occurs regardless of culture, ethnicity, sexuality, age, religion and social affiliation. The aim of the study was to analyse and review, what influences women's decision to stay or to leave a violent intimate relationship, based on current research on men's violence against women in heterosexual relationships. This qualitative study was conducted through a method called systematic literature review. Data was collected through two databases: PsycInfo and Social Services Abstracts. The study result identified factors such as: poor self-esteem, stigma, guilt, shame, children, economy, social status, social norm, men’s power and control, together with women’s dependence completely on the partner. These factors play a key role in a woman’s decision to stay or to leave a violent intimate partner relationship. Gender and masculinity theories used to analys these factors. Furthermore, the study revealed that usually men and women have different status in most developing societies. Men have a superior and women have an inferior status. The results of the studies also showed that usually men exercise violence against women in order to maintain their superior status and women bear this because of their subordination.