Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): Social Policy Analysis

In certain respects, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is indeed workable and achieves some of its intended goals. VAWA was originally designed to make communities and homes safer for women, as well as to protect women’s civil rights. According to Modi, Palmer, and Armstrong (2014), since the implementation of VAWA in 1994, the rate of domestic violence directed towards women declined by 53% between 1993 and 2008. The overall estimated number of victims of intimate partner violence in the U.S dropped immensely, from 2.4 million in 1994 to 907,000 in 2010 (Modi, Palmer & Armstrong, 2014).

The report responding to section 40507 of the Violence Against Women Act from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services- National Institute of Mental Health determined that:

Domestic violence, alternatively referred to as Intimate Partner Violence, is defined by the Department of Justice 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.” While domestic violence is commonly thought of as only physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence can also be emotional, economic, or psychological. Domestic violence has remained constant in society throughout history, even though over time society’s response to the issue has changed. While domestic violence affects everyone regardless of race, gender, age, etc. it is estimated that approximately 90% of all victims are women. For the purpose of this paper, I will be focusing on

Throughout history, women have continuously found themselves as the subjects of oppression. Although the treatment of women has drastically changed over time, women are still exposed to much of the violence that exists today. Per the National Organization for Women, “young women, low-income women and some minorities are disproportionately victims of domestic violence and rape” (National Organization for Women, 2016). Women-centered violence is highly prevalent and reoccurring all over the world, even in our local communities. Individuals may be hesitant to consider just how much violence against women affects their communities.

The goals of the VAWA act of 1994 was to change attitudes toward domestic violence, foster awareness of domestic violence, improve services and provisions for victims, and revise the manner in which the criminal justice system responds to domestic violence and sex crimes. The VAWA is available to all regardless of income and assets. The policy is also aimed to meeting immediate and long-range goals. Focuses on punishment more than actual prevention and elimination of violence against women.

Because of this funding, more women are being recognized as victims and have equal access to help regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and immigration status. Hence, in addition to saving lives, VAWA 2013, saves money by reducing or even preventing future violence as well as related social costs.

This began to change in the 1980s, as women’s groups were organized locally and internationally to demand attention to the physical, psychological, and economic abuse of women (p.369-370). Domestic violence is a serious social issue that happens to many women in our world today. This type of abuse is not declining but continually rising on a daily basis. There have been issues in the past with the way these cases were being handled. Today, there has been some improvement concerning the laws that have been enforced in order to protect women from this type of abuse. There has been extensive research done on this issue in the past concerning domestic violence. Over the last ten years there have been a number of surveys on domestic violence that have been published from around the world.

N.p., 07 May 2015. Web. 07 May 2015.”. As there is an increase of abuse upon women, the amount of child marriages, domestic violence, and sexual exploitation increases. This feedback represents the gender-based violence which symbolizes women who are trying to survive but can’t due to the fact of women getting beaten. Hillary Clinton created the “Violence Against Women” office to reduce the amount of gender-based violence to provide a safer environment for

Domestic violence became a realization and a serious concern in the mid 1970’s for many Americans. “This realization is due to the women advocating on behalf of the battered women movement”

Since 1970, there has been an increasing and alarming rise 138 percent of violent crimes committed by women. Still, while the equivalent percentage compared to male violence is small 15 percent to 85 percent the fact that the numbers have elevated so drastically points to something changing in society.

The women’s movement of 1970 lead to the creation of the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA). During this time period women came together to fight against rape, battering and other forms of violence. They fought for the prosecution of men who raped and abused women. They also advocated for steps to prevent rape, and to open shelters to protect women. In 1990, the Violence Against Women’s Act was introduced to the court system. After four years of debate the Violence Against Women’s Act was signed protecting women and children. (Criminal Justice)

VAWA is a wide-ranging law which, among other things, mandated research into sexual and domestic violence, funded community efforts against sexual and domestic violence through grants, proposed changes in the evaluation and determination of evidence, affirmed victims' rights of

Domestic violence used to be considered a private family matter and was not considered a societal problem until feminists in the 70's started pushing the matter. Beginning in the 1970’s, social policy toward female victims of domestic assaults focused on improving legal response and

Hema Hargovan. (2005). Restorative Justice and Domestic Violence: Some Exploratory Thoughts. Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity, (66), 48–56. http://ezproxy.missouriwestern.edu:3452/10.2307/4066536

In 1994, Bill Clinton signed the Violence Against Women Act. The VAWA Act improves criminal justice and community based on responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in the United States (“Dating Violence”). This shows that we, as Americans, are moving in the right direction, but because women are not properly informed on the consequences and warnings of dating violence, it will remain