Domestic Violence As A Personal Choice

“It is estimated that approximately 1.5 million women and 830,000 men experience physical or sexual assault annually in the United States by intimate partners” (De Jong, 2016, p. 201). “In the United States more than 15 million children live in families in which domestic violence occurs and almost half of these children witness severe violence in assaults of a parent” (De Jong, 2016, p. 201).

What is intimate partner violence? Intimate partner violence is when a partner is physical and sexually abused. Intimate violence can occur among heterosexual or same-sex couples. Twenty seven percent of women and nearly 12% of men in the United States have experienced contact sexual, violence, physical, or stalking by an intimate partner (Prevent Domestic Violence in Your Community, 2014). 85% of women are victims of domestic violence.1/3 of American women and ¼ of women worldwide will experience domestic/dating violence in their lifetime. (11 Facts About Domestic And Dating Violence, 2014)

Domestic violence affects a large amount of relationships in the United States each year. As the times have changed, abuse has become less accepted as a normal occurrence, and society has begun working together to provide awareness towards violence in intimate partner relationships. “Problems of family violence are potentially the most destructive in our society” (Kurland 23). Domestic violence is a problem that begins in the home, and spreads to affect the world around it. Violence is present in relationships of all demographics, be it race, sexual orientation, or social class. No one is entirely safe from experiencing abuse, but if society is taught to recognize the signs it can save a life or even prevent abuse from happening.

Domestic violence should have harsher punishments because domestic violence is a growing problem that is passed down from past generations to future generations. Victim boys who have witnessed domestic violence are more than likely to become abusers themselves, continuing the cycle of violence to the next generation. Without help, girls who witness domestic violence are more vulnerable to abuse as teens and adults. The age group of 18 to 34 years of age in women are at a higher risk of being abused. More than 4 million women experience physical assault and rape by their partners. Domestic violence also affects the family in the different ways that a family works together, such as the destruction of trust between the victor and the victim. If

Unprovoked battering. Over the years the term domestic violence has been given mass popularity in society. This is due to the many highly publicized events ranging from the Ray Rice’s abuse charges all the way to the murder trial of O.J. Simpson. The term domestic violence has emerged from a vow of silence in households to a prevalent discussion that has flourished throughout society. Or has it? Yes, domestic violence has been recognized as an issue in society. This has resulted in numerous campaigns to prevent and stop domestic violence from occurring around the world. Due to society’s perception and gender roles within, however, the defining principle of domestic violence has been altered from general violent or aggressive behavior committed against ones partner, to violence committed by males against females.

This paper is about Domestic Violence and how it affects the people that are victims of this abuse. You will read examples of domestic violence and see how the world has viewed this crime from the beginning of time to the present. Domestic violence doesn’t only affect women, there are also crimes of domestic violence reported of men being victims of this crime, but it is more prevalent in women being abused than any other gender. Children also suffer in families of domestic abuse; you will see examples in this paper on how children are affected. There are many forms of domestic abuse and this paper will point out the different tactics that

Domestic violence is considered a crime in the United States and in many other countries around the world. Every 15 seconds, there is a woman being beaten by her husband or intimate partner. When we think of domestic violence, our minds automatically create an image of a male physically abusing a female. Although in most cases the victim is usually a female, we must also be aware that in today’s society, men are also victims of domestic violence. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, about 3.2 million men are abused by their partners each year (Domestic). However, this is only an estimate based on reported incidents. It is also extremely important to understand that domestic violence, is not only

The phrase “domestic violence” typically refers to violence between adult partners. Sadly, it has been estimated that every year between 3.3 and ten million children are exposed to domestic violence in the confines of their own home (Moylan, Herrenkohl, Sousa et al. 2009). According to research conducted by John W. Fantuzzo and Wanda K. Mohr (1999): “Exposure to domestic violence can include watching or hearing the violent events, direct involvement (for example, trying to intervene or calling the police), or experiencing the aftermath (for example, seeing bruises or observing maternal depression)” (Fantuzzo & Mohr, 22). The effects of exposure can lead to behavioral and developmental issues at a young age or interpersonal relationships

The deepest problem with domestic violence is that some cultures do not believe there is such a thing. Domestic violence can be perpetrated in many ways such as sexual abuse, psychological abuse, social abuse, economic abuse and spiritual abuse. Abusers who commit domestic violence do so to control their victim, and maintain that control by threatening the victim’s safety and/or that of people they love. Punishment for cases of domestic violence should be taken into consideration. However, most governments do not consider the cultural background of couples when deciding whether to prosecute reported cases of domestic violence. Furthermore,

“There are more than three million children that are a witness to domestic violence in their own homes every year (Prinz 2003)”. When a child lives in a home when they are exposed to domestic violence they suffer also. They are at risk for abuse and neglect at thirty to sixty percent. “When children are exposed to domestic violence, they are more at risk for health problems, including becoming sick more often, having frequent headaches and stomachaches, and being more tired and lethargic than normal children (Prinz 2003)”. Children will try to intervene when they witness their parent being abused. This can put the child at great risk for injury and even cause death. In the United States there are between ten and twenty percent of children that are exposed to domestic violence.

there is not a single news broadcast aired on television or radio that does not have at least one account of violence perpetrated against an individual or group.” (Crosson-Tower p.81). Our youths encounter violence in almost every aspect of their daily life at home, at school, through the media, or on the streets of their neighborhoods. I feel that when children are exposed to violence, they suffer and it tends to negatively affect children’s normal development and their future wellbeing. For instance, children that are exposed to domestic violence are more likely than those whom are not exposed to this type of violence to exhibit so same traits and are more likely to later be in an abusive adult relationship, as either aggressor or victim.

Domestic violence has a face. However, the face of domestic violence has viscerally shifted; it is no longer the calm but resolute face I knew, but rather an unfamiliar one. While domestic violence is seen as something physical, it is also mental, verbal, and intimidation. Domestic violence is another example - threats, intimidation, and violence- of abuse of power and abuse of authority. Men are not the only ones who hold the reins of power in domestic situations. In fact, when they are at the receiving end of abuse, this particular social construct gets in the way of their reporting on their plights.

Among the ages of fifteen and forty-four, domestic violence is the dominant source of trauma in our country (Domestic Violence). In the United States, primarily women and children are the ones affected by the domestic abuse. They suffer mentally, physically, and emotionally for an extensive amount of time attempting to cope with the terror. It is hard to realize that this is not only a situation that is demonstrated in television shows or movies, but this could be happening to people you encounter with on a daily basis. Some victims of domestic violence are oblivious to the signs or causes that could be developing the results of abuse, but when they recognize the situation, they have the decision to receive guidance to the solution of the overall problems.

Dawn (1999) assures there is a “culture of violence against women.” His comment highlights the fact that violence is a learned behavior. World Health Organization (2015) states that a key fact about domestic violence is witnessing violence in the family. Although being exposed to domestic violence does not guarantee they will batter; that experience places them at a higher

Domestic Violence in American has had a rapid increase since 2009. In this video, we see the stories of brave women that have been abused. Abuse is led by a mixture of love, anger and jealousy, explained an officer. Statistics show a woman is a victim of abuse every 18 seconds meaning 1 out of every 4 women will face domestic violence. Many women are suffering domestic violence during their marriage. They were also being abused during their childhood and live in fear of not knowing what will happen next. The abuser in various cases has either been abused himself or was raised seeing that type of behavior. Many children fear and are too afraid to tell anyone so they express themselves threw pictures and drawings. When the abuser strikes he only