My mother was very physically abusive. Once she started beating me, which was often, it seemed she couldn't stop. She continued to beat me because I was crying and she would not stop until I stopped crying.
She did not beat my brother who was 2 yrs younger. Nor did she beat my 3 younger sisters (10, 13 & 18 yrs younger than me).
I was talking about this with my pioneer SIL. She was not a born in and did not believe me that the WTS encouraged this behavior. She did research it and later told me she saw how someone could interpret what the literature says as encouraging the 'discipline'. I told her I held my father responsible to some degree because he didn't protect me. SIL told me she talked to him about it and he told her he did try once and mom wouldn't speak to him or have anything to do with him until he gave in and let her have her way.
I believe she resented the fact that I ruined all her plans for her life. They were both pioneering when they got married and I came along 9 1/2 mos later. She had wanted to continue pioneering and be a missionary. I put a stop to all of that.
If I ever asked to go somewhere with the other kids in the congregation her answer was an automatic "NO". She did give in later and let me go but I always had to hear NO first thing.