Persuasive Essay On Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is an epidemic and the number one health concern in our country. There are more abusers and their victims compared to past years. As a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship, domestic violence is used by one person to gain or maintain power and control over another one. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse and not look the same in every relationship because every relationship is different. This kind of abuse affects people of all ages and sexes, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, education and employment levels. Abuse towards children and the elderly can be violent or aggressive behavior. Thus, there are many types of abuse that one can suffer; awareness of the signs of domestic violence is especially important before getting into any kind of intimate relationship.

Today, at this very moment, we are living in a world plagued with domestic violence. We are living in a world in which people are scared of being physically, sexually or emotionally abused by someone they love; their partner, their parent or any other member of their family. This is one of the most aggressive, personal forms of violence and sadly, it's also one of the most common. Australians are more likely to be abused or even killed by someone known to them, than anyone else. We are most likely to be hurt by those we love. We are more likely to be abused in our own homes, the place that should act as a haven, the one place we should feel safe and loved, than anywhere else. This war happening within our homes, is a war that is being fought silently. We, as Australians, have so much further to go on the epidemic of domestic violence, and we have so much more to do if we ever dream of eliminating it.

Victims or survivors of domestic violence end up enduring so much mental, physical, and emotional abuse that they do not realize there is a problem. WomensLaw.org defines the following behaviors as abuse: psychological abuse, such as intimidating someone, threatening physical harm to someone else, and destruction of pets and property; physical abuse, which is described as grabbing, pinching, shoving, slapping, and punching; emotional abuse, which includes constantly putting someone down, making someone feel unimportant, using abusive language, such as calling them ugly or worthless and tearing down another’s relationship with their children. A combination of these actions can come together and damage someone. The Joyful Heart Foundation emphasizes that the long term effects of domestic violence can have a major impact on someone’s

Domestic violence (DV) has and continues to affect millions of, women, men, children and the elderly every day. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, defines Domestic violence as, “hurtful, repeated and intentional behavior that one person uses to maintain power and control over another in an intimate relationship.” (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, n.d.) Abuse impacts many individuals from various backgrounds. Abuse comes in many forms, verbal, emotional, physical, sexual and, covers a wide range of tactics to establish and maintain power and control. A predominant form of DV is Intimate Partner Violence is also known as (IPV,) which affects millions of people every year, primarily women

Domestic violence is an act of assault that happens every day, fixing an issue like domestic violence is hard but not impossible. By speaking out and helping those who have been abused is the hardest but most effective way of limiting domestic violence. Lots of people blame domestic violence related issues on substance abuse or a controlling man. Those statements may be true but it’s an over exaggeration. Abuse causes severe physiological effects as well as emotional. Domestic violence can be almost anything and can happen to anyone at any time.

According to John Thawley, “domestic violence, or domestic abuse, is a systematic pattern of intentional intimidation that is reinforced by violence or the threat of violence, for the purpose of gaining or maintaining power and control over one’s partner.” Many people feel the need to act in a way that will intimidate their partner for numerous reasons. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica state, the abuser might feel stressed or might have a lot on their plate and not know how to cope with it. Another reason, according to Encyclopedia.com, could be, as a child the abuser witnessed their parents go through domestic violence and it stuck with them as something that is normal or justifiable. Although, there is no justification for violence within a household. Many victims of domestic violence in the Hispanic community do not seek help because they do not understand the law and are afraid to call the police. Victims need to understand that, in the city of Houston, there are laws set in place to help them; regardless of what their cultural upbringing was, it should not justify their partner abusing them; and if their partner went through a challenging time as a child, they need to get help.

Despite the fact the physical effects of domestic violence could be the similar as for other forms of violent crime, the emotional effects can be much worse. Domestic violence happens when a crime is committed against a victim by someone with whom the victim is or has previously found, in a close relationship or somebody living in the same household as the victim. Domestic violence regulations differ from state to state. These variances range from conceptualization to the requirements under required reporting laws. Because of all these differences, the entire process of avoidance a domestic violence situation rest on each state. The Violence

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior or coercive control in any relationship that is used by one person to gain or maintain power and control over another. (Violence). Most of society’s think domestic violence is when one of the spouses is abusing the other spouse. Domestic violence can occur between anyone who has lived together at one point of time; couples who have never lived together, but have a child together and family member who has live together in the same household. Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of their class, religion, ethnic background, education, age, gender, disability status, sexual orientation, gender presentation, or immigration status. The domestic violence can place in different categories, such as; emotional abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse and financial abuse. Researcher had discovered tactics that the abusers use to control their victims such as; dominance, humiliation, isolation, threats, intimidation, denial and shifting blame. (Helpguide.org).

For children living in violent and unsafe homes, they are learning that hitting and verbally abusing someone is the proper way of communicating love. According to Holt, Buckley & Whelan (2008), “as they learn a generational cycle begins in which children grow up to be victims and abusers as adults.” The effects that domestic violence has on children are heartbreaking. Some of the major effects are; increased risk of poor health, poor education, isolation, learned helplessness and decreased satisfaction in such family environment.

Domestic violence is an epidemic in our society with dramatic, negative effects on individuals, families and communities. Domestic violence is a crime that knows no economic, racial, ethnic, religious, age or gender limits. Women who are victims of domestic violence most likely are also victims of sexual assault and, stalking. A domestic violence victim may experience systematic rape in addition to physical and psychological abuse. According to Backman, (p.54) nearly one in every four women are beaten or raped by a partner during adulthood. Three women are killed by a current or former intimate partner each day in America, on average women are at an increased risk of harm shortly after separation from an abusive partner.

Abuse can come in many forms, including those that we cannot physically see. Intimate partner violence can occur physically, sexually, and psychologically and emotionally. Physical violence includes the use of physical force, such as slapping, hitting, kicking, grabbing, throwing, use of a weapon, and the like, with the intention to cause harm, injure, or kill (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Sexual violence describes violence that uses force to compel a person to engage in sexual activity against their will or ability to decline. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). And lastly, psychological and emotional violence involves harming the victim through the use of threats or coercive tactics such as, but not limited to, humiliating, controlling, isolating, or stalking (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Similarly, there are two major forms of intimate partner abuse: intimate terrorism and situational couple violence (Leone, Lape, and Xu). Intimate terrorism describes a pattern of abuse in which one partner exercises a cycle of continuous power and control over their significant other by means of physical or coercive actions that trap their victim in the relationship while, in contrast, situational couple violence refers to violence that it provoked by a specific conflict (Leone, Lape, and Xu). Overall, it is clear that intimate partner abuse occurs in a variety of ways and to varying degrees of

“Domestic violence is a type of abuse by one or both partners in marriage, friends, family, dating or cohabitation” (Aziz & Mahmoud, 2010). There are many forms of abuse from verbal and emotional to physical that often escalates over time in intensity for the victim. Data from the criminal justice system, hospital patient medical records and mental health records, police reports, surveys and social services reports of thousands of women revealed that many are injured and killed as a result of violence from someone close to them. “The US Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) defines domestic violence as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender” (Robertson & Murachver, 2009). Researchers and the criminal justice system have not been able to agree on a clear definition to domestic violence which can range from physical injury, stalking, verbal abuse and humiliation, denial of shelter and access to money, and intimidation through aggressive behaviors. The definition of domestic violence may vary but the results from physical injury, mental and emotional trauma, and sometimes even death can last a life time.

According to statistics found by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Every nine seconds a woman is abused by her husband or intimate partner. At least 1 in every 4 women and 1 in every 9 men have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in their lifetime. Most often the abuser is one of their own family. Domestic violence is a problem that somehow affects every one of us in this room at some time and is actually the leading cause of injury to women -- more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.

There are many topics that people do not like to talk about, topics that cause discomfort or are seen as taboo. However, as much as people wish to not talk about it, it doesn't mean the topic doesn't exist. Domestic violence is one of the worst things committed on a daily basis, yet is only seen behind closed doors. In the public service announcement against domestic violence, “It Rarely Stops” presented by the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the organization’s use of pathos is more clearly established than ethos or logos. The ad is much less than informative than others, but it sends a clear message and provides a solution to the problem that is abusive relationships.

“Every year in the United States there are over 3 million incidents of domestic violence. That means that every nine seconds a women is beaten by her domestic partner” (Findeley). There are many women that stay silent when being abuse by their partners. The consequences of staying quiet when obtaining abuse can be dangerous and can also lead to death. Many women do not recognize the importance of the fact that there is in speaking out if they are being abuse by their partner. No woman should take domestic abuse by their partners. Every woman deserves a healthy relationship; A healthy relationship involves trust, respect, and consideration for the other person. Domestic abuse has gotten worse during the past years and is still rising up. One can see that domestic abuse can occur everywhere. Domestic abuse is considered a crime and woman should not keep silent when being abuse.