Argumentative Essay: Enforcing A Bill To Become The Law

For centuries domestic violence has been perceived as a private matter private of which the government has not been concerned about nor was it considered the government’s business to intervene on behalf of a battered spouse. The unlawful nature of this failure for state or federal government intervention against this crime contributed to the systematic abuse of women in the family. The traditions, customs, and common law found in both British and American societies continued right up until the last decade of the 20th century and left the battered wives and very frequently, her children, at the mercy of the husband. It wasn’t until the 1990’s when the government began to do something to protect mothers, wives, and lovers from intimate

In present time we have seen a greater acceptance towards the fight against domestic violence/ battering. In 1994 congress passed The Violence against Women Act (VAWA). The Act provided $1.6 billion toward investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women. The Department of Justice created the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) as a way to decrease the nation victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual

The Congress of the United States in 1994, as part of the Crime Bill, passed law allowing the federal government to take part in the battle against domestic violence. This new law, named the VAWA, acknowledged that "violence against women is a crime with far-reaching, harmful consequences for families, children and society" (Domestic and Sexual Violence Data Collection, A Report to Congress under the Violence Against Women Act, 1 [NIJ Research Report 1996]). To fight this violent crime problem, VAWA made federal domestic violence crimes to be act against by the Department of Justice. Reliable with this federal inventiveness, the Crime Bill also modified the Gun Control Act to embrace domestic violence-related crimes. Congress reiterated its commitment to fight domestic violence crimes by the performing in the fall of 1996 of extra federal domestic violence crimes in both VAWA and the Gun Control Act. The federal government has largely lacked authority over several domestic violence crimes. However domestic violence remains primarily a matter of state and local jurisdiction.

I provided detailed information about how domestic violence has existed for many centuries and domestic violence was not considered a crime. In addition, I presented vivid examples of women from different cultures that have experienced domestic violence. I even provided information about an interview I conducted with one of those women. Furthermore, I explained which groups are more vulnerable to experience domestic violence and the reasons why these women do not live their violent partners. In addition, I discussed information in regards the effects domestic violence cause to women. Also, I presented information about the resources that are available for women who experience domestic violence and also the reasons why many women do not seek those services. I believe our society needs to work harder to eliminate or reduce domestic violence against women. Domestic violence against women is an epidemic that can only be confronted by providing more resources and by putting more emphasis in the media that domestic violence is a real thing happening in the 21st century. I feel that there are no much resources available for women who experience domestic violence. It is necessary to bring more programs that focus on the topic of domestic violence to help women from low income and those from minority groups that lack information on how to protect themselves from domestic

Within society being in an abusive relationship has many different outcomes for many women. Some women fight for justice to protect themselves and their families and have to suffer consequences within the criminal justice system. This leads to a topic that is repeated through different generations. Domestic Violence is a reoccurring problem that happens in different generations amongst women. Women who kill their abusive husbands is less likely to walk away from the criminal justice system without being charged for some type of battered crime. Battered women syndrome is an issue that occurs frequently within most women but this issue is least discussed in the media. This paper will illustrate the history of battered women syndrome, different

Gender motivated crimes, towards women, were rising at epidemic rates in the few decades before the Violence Against Women Act was brought to the senate in 1990. The rape rate had risen four times faster than any other crime in the United States. While the rate for assault against women had risen over fifty percent, the crime rate for men had substantially declined. Millions of dollars were spent every year on

Violence against females is a worldwide yet still hidden problem. Freedom from the threat of harassment, battering, and sexual assault is a concept that most of us have a hard time

Violence against women, around the world or in the United States, was not uncommon until 1871 in which Alabama had removed the right the husband had to use physical punishment on his wife (Barner and Carney, 2011, p. 235). By the 1900 's, the majority of the states had laws in place to help prevent spousal abuse (p. 235). Many of these abuse laws were misdemeanor offenses until legislation and national attention of women discrimination had risen during the 1960 's (p. 235). As laws continued to change, the prosecution of the abuser changed from being prosecuted by the victim to being prosecuted by district attorneys (p.

Also, this article mentions that this law is a family issue and is seen to be necessary (Sebastian & Mortensen, 2017). In class, we learned that before the Violence Against Women Act in the United States domestic violence was also thought to be a private issue that was too small to be worth addressing in the criminal justice system (Pinchevsky, 2017). The supporters of this law seem to believe that same as earlier law makers in the United States, where they turn a blind eye to domestic violence. Domestic violence has many impacts on the victims like physical injury, health risks, and death which is supported by the article showing that minor fines are given to first time offenders and larger fines are given to assaulters that give more severe injuries like concussions, broken bones, or repeated offenses. This article and law only takes into consideration the physical abuse, but learning about the material in class showed that intimate partner abuse did not only count for physical violence. Many other forms of intimate partner abuse come from non-physical and non-showing abuse like verbal

The Battered Women's movement of the 1970's enlightened society about a much secreted, and what at the time, was considered a family matter, that of violence against women by their male intimate partners. Many lives have been saved as a direct result of society's public awareness of this much-hidden scourge on our families. Federal and state laws prohibiting Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) have been enacted, and funding has been put in place for battered women's shelter programs. These changes have made a significant difference in the lives of battered women and children over the last few decades. The feminist theoretical perspective of IPVIPV has been depicted throughout our

The purpose of this research paper is to prove that criminal law in America has failed to provide a defense that adequately protects women suffering from Battered Women's Syndrome. Battered Women's Syndrome, or BWS, is a very complex psychological problem facing criminal courts today and has caused great debate on whether or not it should even be allowed in the courtroom. Although the syndrome has been given more consideration as a warranted issue by society, those who create our laws and control our courtrooms, have not developed a defense that sufficiently protects these women. United States courtrooms, instead of protecting battered women, have put these women on trial and found them guilty of murder.

“Since Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994, rates of domestic violence in the United States have declined. However, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of domestic violence each year, and one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Many

Not only is it a crime but is also a violation of women’s human rights (Fried 2003, 96). For example, rape is a violation to a woman’s bodily integrity and her rights to dignity, security, and freedom from discrimination (Fried 2003, 96). Most violence directed against women takes place within families and the perpetrators are mostly men who have been in a close relationship or known to the women (Krantz 2002, 242). Violence against women affects all aspects of a woman’s life. It can result in long term mental, physical and sexual health problems (Craft 1997, 1155). Her autonomy, productivity, and capacity to care for herself and her children, and overall health and quality of life are also affected (Krantz 2002, 242). Women who have experienced violence or abuse are more likely to misuse drugs and alcohol and to attempt suicide (Krantz 2002, 242). Violence against women also has an impact on development (Krantz 2002, 242). “It perpetuates poverty by reducing women's capacity to work outside the home, their mobility, and children's school attendance” (Krantz 2002, 242). Throughout the years, women’s access to support services has significantly expanded to include legal-aid centers, shelters, therapy, and hotlines for victims of abuse (Fried 2003, 102). Activist organizations have also taken it upon themselves to provide services for women who are victims of

Soon after, in 1850, 19 of the 50 states had passed laws protecting women, saying that they are allowed to divorce abusive husbands. In 1882, Maryland was the first state to create a law against "wife-beating". Throughout the early 1900s more organizations and protests were held to stand against domestic violence. Eventually, in 1993, marital rape was outlawed in all 50 states. In 2005 the Violence Against Women Act was signed by President Bush putting it into action. Beginning with the colonial Americans, who believed that some "chastisement" was okay, and proceeding until today, when domestic violence has been outlawed, help for the abused and prevention of abuse has been a long struggle (Proquest Staff).

When one thinks about the population that domestic violence affects, often one thinks about women. It is also the case that men and children are affected as well. Although men are affected, it is more usual that women experience domestic violence. In a US research, it showed that 25% of women and 7.6% of men had been raped and/or physically assaulted by a partner at some time in their life (Howard, 2010). Clearly these statistics display that women are affected more.