Issues Concerning Domestic Violence Essay Example

Issues Concerning Domestic Violence Paper One of the most complicated issues facing most health care professionals and governmental agencies today is that of domestic violence. Domestic violence encompasses any violence that is inflicted upon one family member by another family member. Thus, domestic violence can be described as spouse abuse, child abuse, sibling abuse, or elder abuse. Most authorities suggest that domestic violence is typically expressed in violence against women and children. Such acts of violence can involve health care professionals in the treatment of physical injuries, the psychological impact upon the victim, or the aggressive behavior of the abuser. Often governmental agencies are called upon to investigate such matters to ensure the safety of the victims or to determine appropriate punishment for the offender. However, given the importance of the bonds and rights of the family that our culture maintains, it is difficult to determine when the situation at home â€Å"is no one’s business† and when it merits intervention from outside parties in order to protect the welfare of those involved. Despite these difficulties and complexities, domestic violence is considered to be a worldwide health problem necessitating urgent intervention. We will write a custom essay sample on Issues Concerning Domestic Violence specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Issues Concerning Domestic Violence specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Issues Concerning Domestic Violence specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Physical abuse takes many forms including hitting, punching, pulling hair, slapping, grabbing, biting, kicking, breaking bones, bruising, burning, twisting arms, throwing victims against walls and furniture, throwing objects and using weapons. It also includes damaging household goods, killing pets, and denial of human needs, like sleep and nutrition. Assault can be of a life-threatening nature resulting in broken bones, miscarriages and other serious injuries. A substantial proportion of victims are threatened or assaulted with weapons such as knives, firearms and axes. Physical violence can result in murder and often leads to serious physical injury. The injuries are not always obvious as abusers often make sure the signs of their attacks are hidden under clothing. For many women there is a real and constant threat of death because of the seriousness of the abuse. Sexual abuse in the home is domestic violence. Sexual intercourse without consent is sexual assault. Sexual assault may or may not involve physical force. Sexual abuse is unwanted sexual contact. Many men still believe that they have the right to unlimited sexual access to their wives. Verbal abuse consists of derogatory comments, insults and constant put-downs. Lack of physical attractiveness, inferiority, inability to cope and succeed on her own and being told that she is not a good mother/wife/housekeeper. Over time this constant humiliation will destroy a womens belief in herself and severely affect her self-esteem. She begins to take on the abusive descriptions as if they are real and therefore may start to believe that shes worthless, that the violence is her fault. It must be kept in mind that responsibility for the violence lies solely with the perpetrator, not the victim. Threats are very common form of verbal abuse, aimed at terrorizing the woman to such and extent that the abuser is in total control. Threats by a man to kill a woman if she leaves him are often reported by victims of domestic violence. Emotional abuse closely linked to verbal abuse, these behaviors are also aimed at terrorizing the victim and stripping her of her self-confidence. Behaviors include destroying household/personal property deliberately hurting/injuring/killing domestic pets, deprivation of essential personal needs such as food, sleep, sanitary items ect. The power which they give in order to manipulate and intimidate the other partner. A range of behavior is involved, including verbal abuse intended to destroy the other persons self-esteem. For example, a perpetrators behavior may lead to his partner to believe she is insane, stupid or useless. The effect is often cumulative, occurring over a long period of time with damaging consequences for the abused persons sense of self. Spiritual abuse describes the damage violence does to the spirit of those who have been abused. For some women this cannot be equated with psychological or emotional abuse. spiritual violence is deeper than an individuals experience of betrayal: it involves the shame experienced when everyone in the community is aware of the violence, and when they too are implicated as victims of the violence. Victimization may be based on race, color, or other forms of identification with that community , and it includes the abuse suffered from a history of genocide or persecution. Economic abuse this occurs where the man has total control over all financial resources. For example, he may forbid the woman to work or if she does he may insist that she hands over her pay check to him unopened. She may have to beg for money to buy necessities and when it is given it may often be insufficient. She is then criticized for being stupid or incompetent in failing to provide adequately with this sum. Social abuse includes delivering verbal abuse in front of other people, such as put-down, jokes, criticisms about the womans weight, appearance, sexuality, intelligence ect. Controlling behaviors such as following her to work, controlling access to friends, constant phone calls at work or accusations of imagined affairs ect. Isolating a woman by denigrating her friends and family, thus leading her to cut herself off because she fears enraging her husband, locking the women in or out of the house, cutting off the telephone, never letting her use the car ect. Social abuse is the constant monitoring and control of a womens activities, outings, and friendships. She may be forced to account herself for her every movement, and my be denied the right to leave the home and see her friends. The result for the abused woman can be public humiliation and isolation from friends and other members of her family. For centuries, the abuse of wives by their husbands has been tolerated by most societies. In some cultures, it was considered to be a part of married life, a method of acceptable control. Since men were paid through dowries to take care of wives, the notion was that wives were considered property in much the same way that children were viewed. Consequently, authorities often believe that it is inappropriate to interfere in the relationship between a man and his wife or children. â€Å"There seems to be an implicit, taken-for-granted cultural norm which makes it legitimate for family members to hit each other. In respect to husbands and wives, in effect, this means that the marriage license is also a hitting license†. Actually, there is no equality with regard to husbands and wives hitting one another. Additionally, Congress and state legislatures have passed laws that have aided in the protection of victims of domestic violence and the prosecution of offenders. For example,the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was passed by Congress in 1974 to help states and communities organize programs for parents who abuse their children. Also in 1974, the National Institute of Mental Health established a national center in Denver to study the problem more thoroughly and set up a national commission to resolve the complicated legal problems and recommend changes in federal and state laws involving child abuse. Grant programs have also been funded to identify the causes of child abuse and provide treatment through self-help programs and lay therapy. Increasingly, states are requiring social workers and psychologists to report all cases of known or suspected child abuse to child protection authorities in their communities. The Cycle of Domestic Violence shows how domestic violence often becomes a pattern comprised of three stages. The phases vary in time and in severity between couples, and even at different times within the same relationship. It is, then, difficult to predict how long a couple will remain in one phase or to determine the length of an individual couple’s cycle. Phase 1 is the Tension-Building Phase, which constitutes criticism, yelling, swearing, and using angry gestures, coercion, and/or threats. Phase 2 is the Violence Phase, which is characterized by physical and sexual attacks and threats. Phase 3 is the Seduction Phase that is portrayed with apologies, blaming, promises to change, and gifts. It also explains how three dynamics — (1) love, (2) hope, and (3) fear keep the cycle in motion and make it difficult to end a violent relationship. For the sake of illustration, (1) Love for one’s partner: ‘the relationship has it’s good points, it’s not all bad†. (2) Hope that it will change: ‘the relationship didn’t begin like this’. (3) Fear that the threats to kill you or your family will become a reality. The Cycle Of Violence PHASE 1: TENSION BUILDING Poor communication / series of minor incidents / decreased control Compliant / good behavior/ experiences/ increased tension/ minimizes problems/ increases threats/ denies anger/ takes more control/ withdraws/ controls more/ tension intolerable PHASE 2: ACUTE BATTERING Increased stress and injury/ loss of control Unpredictable, claims loss of control / is helpless, feels trapped / highly abusive/ traumatized PHASE 3: KINDNESS AND LOVING BEHAVIOR Tension drops / Renewed love / Increased Tension Often apologetic, attentive / mixed feelings / is manipulative / feels guilty and responsible / promises changes / considers reconciliation After the abuser has gone through all of the phases, it starts over again with phase one and continues until the victim either gets help or is killed. So, why, why would a person who is loved, want to abuse their spouse or girlfriend? One of the key responses . . . Jealousy. The husband may become very suspicious, afraid of losing his wife. The abuser sees his wife or girlfriend as a possession. The only way, they think, to relieve this built up anger is aggression. To improve their self-esteem, they abuse the victim physically, emotionally, and sometimes, sexually. Another key factor in wife abuse is alcohol. When the man is stressed, he turns to alcohol to relieve it. Little does he know, that the alcohol makes him more irritable. Research shows that men who abuse their wives, often saw their own mother abused. Do to witnessing this, the children of battered families usually grow up to have low self-esteem and believe that hitting is right. Women who are in abusive relationships find it very difficult to leave. Not only are they afraid for their own lives, but sometimes, if children are involved, the offender threatens the lives of the children. One woman told a psychologist, He promises anything you want to hear. He promises that he will do anything, lots of tears, and Oh, Im so sorry, and I love these children, I would never do it again. You want to believe that its just a mistake, but its not a mistake,. Many women are threatened by their husband or boyfriend that if they try to leave theyll be hurt worse than ever before or even killed. 68% fear that their lives will be taken by the abuser, 71% of abused women believe that they are still in love with their husband or boyfriend, and 66% believe that they need a man to have a successful and happy life. After repeated abuse many of the abusers try to convince the victims that theyll change and that it will never happen again. Researchers stress the point, Once an Abuser always an Abuser,. Statistics regarding spouse abuse in the United States frequently cited are estimates at best. Many wives are fearful of retaliation by their husbands and are, therefore, reluctant to report the abuse. Some fail to report it because they are ashamed or feel that it is no one’s business. Unfortunately, many times only when the abuse is so severe that the woman requires medical intervention are reports made to law enforcement agencies. In any case, the Justice Department estimates that more than two million women each year are abused by their husbands in domestic violence incidents. Almost four thousand women are brutally beaten to death by their husbands each year. One-fourth of all female suicides are committed by women who have a history of being beaten by significant men in their lives. Many women do not leave the homes in which they are being abused for an assortment of reasons. The homes involved in domestic violence are complicated, with dysfunctional relationships and unhealthy dynamics. The abusive partner tends to display more than physical violence. He also inflicts emotional abuse that often shatters the self-esteem and independent thinking of the victim In other words, there is â€Å"a complicated and cumulative cycle of tension, belittlement, violence, remorse, and reconciliation that can lead to a paralysis of will and extinction of self-respect†. Child Abuse So, if youre in an abusive relationship what is the best way to get out and stop the battering? After notorious acts of abuse, usually, the woman will finally realize that the situation will never get better. Basically there are three basic reasons why women leave a violent relationship: 1. Knowledge that help is available. 2. Impact on the children. Living in a violent home where the batterer abuses the children physically, mentally, or sexually may give the woman the courage to leave. 3. Reaching the limit of violence she will tolerate (Berger, 1990, pg. 48). First, Knowledge that help is available, there are many groups and organizations helping people deal with domestic violence and child abuse. For example, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, offers information on domestic violence. You can reach them at 1-800-537-2238. If your town or city doesnt have any organization for the victims of domestic violence, you should definitely look into starting some kind of way to help these people. The main thing is not to suffer in silenceto reach out for help. Domestic violence is a serious dilemma in today’s society. The only answer toward preventing domestic violence should start when we raise our children. Violence is a learned behavior. When children get hit, they learn something in that process. They ascertain that when frustrated or angry, it is OK to take out that frustration and anger on someone else. They learn that violence is OK. Violence then becomes a learned behavior. The only way to promote a non-violent society is to teach children non-violent habits. TEEN DATING VIOLENCE FACTS MYTHS Myth: It cant happen to me Fact: More than 1 in 10 teenagers experience physical violence in their relationships Myth: Jealousy and possessiveness are a sign of true love Fact: Jealousy and possessiveness are a sign that the person sees you as a possession. It is the most common early warning sign of abuse. Myth: Teen dating violence isnt really that serious. Fact: Thirty percent of all women who are murdered in this country are killed by their husband or boyfriend. According to a Massachusetts study, that same high percentage applied to teen woman, aged 15-19, as well. Also, 60% of all rapes reported to rape crisis centers are committed by acquaintances, and the majority of victims are aged 16-24. Myth: Men are battered by women just as often as women are battered by men. Fact: The U. S. Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that 95% of the reported incidents of assaults in relationships are committed by males. Myth: Alcohol causes a man to batter Fact: Many men who batter do not drink heavily , and many alcoholics do not beat their partners. Further, batterers who do drink dont necessarily give up battering when they give up drinking. While they are drunk, the alcohol acts as their excuse. Myth: Victims bring on the abuse themselves. They ask for it Fact: Perpetrators believe they have the right to use abuse to control their partner, and they see the victim as less than equal to themselves. The victim has no control over the abuser. Myth: If a person stays in an abusive relationship, it must not really be that bad. Fact: People stay in abusive relationships for a number of reasons: fear, economic dependence, confusion, loss of self-confidence, not recognizing that whats happening is abusive, belief that the abuser needs their help or will change. Myth: Most batterers are bums or crazy people. Fact: Batterers are found in all classes and types of people: rich, poor, professional, unemployed, black, white, urban, and rural. Bibliography : http://www. ncpc. org/3vio3dc. htm http://www. 911rape. org/facts/index. html