Violence Against Women Is A Women’S Health Issue Stemming

Statistic’s have suggested violence is perpetrated against women in almost half of all marriages (Domestic Violence).Statistic’s gathered from 1994 indicate domestic violence causes almost 100,000 days of hospitalization, 30,000 emergency room visits, 40,000 trips to the doctor every year, and 50% of all homeless woman and their children are fleeing domestic violence( Domestic Violence).

Rather than approach domestic violence as a direct cause of homelessness, one might hope to understand how such violence could help create the circumstances that might make a woman more susceptible to homelessness. Domestic violence and poverty may intersect with other issues to produce the circumstances that often leave women no other choice but to seek temporary shelter

Majority of homeless individual are women. They are at a greater risk than men because they are most likely to bear child-rearing responsibilities and are vulnerable to become victims of violence.

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

The Homeless are a vulnerable population. Homelessness is a social issue that anyone can almost be subjected to despite his or her age, race, ethnicity or geographical background. Kornblum (2012) defined homelessness as… “as a social condition in which people do not have regular housing and are forced to sleep in public places, public shelters, or facilities designed for homeless individuals and families” (p.280). The homeless population faces several adversaries in their lifetime of being homeless. Their adversaries are a lack physical and emotional disabilities, and possibly drug abuse. Grant some are homeless by choice, whereas most are homeless by mishaps, but nevertheless, they are humans deserving to be treated with fairness, dignity,

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.

Women seems to be at a greater risk for sexual assaults in comparison to men. Kushel, Evans, Perry, Robertson & Moss (2003) research is prevalent to my capstone project mainly due to its support of the safety concerns that the homeless population reports due to their homelessness. These injuries (sexual and physical) increase the utilization of emergency rooms for their injuries due to victimization, poorer health, homicides and death. The Kushel et al., (2003) study supports that housing plays an important role in decreasing sexual assaults on women and physical assaults on men, women and transgendered

Homelessness is an enormous social issue in the United States. Unfortunately, the rate of homelessness in the United States is high, with roughly 549,928 people sleeping on the streets every night. Although the causes of homelessness are widely varied, experiencing episodes of homelessness is an extremely stressful situation which can have physical, psychological, mental, and emotional tolls on an individual. Defining homelessness as individuals not living in traditional housing, such as living in tents or sleeping on the street, homelessness is very dangerous, and the homeless population is the most vulnerable demographic in the country. The situation for women and girls experiencing homelessness, however, is even worse. Homeless women are highly susceptible to violence from sexual predators because of their high level of vulnerability, and their social status in society, combined with the high stress of homelessness places them at an alarmingly high rate of sexual victimization. A study sampling 974 homeless women in Los Angeles found that thirteen percent of the women interviewed reported being raped once in the past year, and half of them reported being raped twice in the past year. In order to reduce the occurrence of sexual and physical violence towards women experiencing homelessness, cities should implement strategies specifically targeting homeless women, helping them temporarily get off the street, and eliminating barriers to homeless women reporting their

Homelessness affects men, women, families, children, youth, and veterans. While structural factors, like the unequal distribution of income and lack of affordable housing, cause homelessness, certain vulnerabilities may determine who is at higher risk for homelessness. These include addictions, mental illness, domestic violence, medical conditions, and lack of education or job skills. This research paper will shed some light on the issue of homelessness and how we can prevents it with some suggested solutions.

Situations of sexual encounters take place with pimps, other homeless people, strangers, sex traffickers, and partners or sometimes in exchange for a good. Studies show that rates of victimization towards female sexual violence has decreased; the rate of sexual violence within the homeless has remained the same. The consequences that the females who endured these situations face trauma, emotional and physical depression. Woman who have been victimized reported mental health problems like suicide, depression, alcohol and drug abuse and post-traumatic stress disorderm(Browne & Bassuk, 1997; see also Bassuk, Buckner, Weinreb, Browne, Bassuk, Dawson, & Perloff, 1997) They may suffer with these challenges for quite some time because of lack of help, and mental support. (No Safe Place: Sexual Assault in the Lives of Homeless Women. (2014.). Children out on the streets experience more sexual violence than ones who are sheltered (Rice, E. , Barman-Adhikari, A. , Rhoades, H. , Winetrobe, H. , Fulginiti, A. , et al. (2013). New laws have come out to help prevent sexual abuse “Yes means yes and no means no” but we are never taught how to protect ourselves from sexual violence if it

Ponce, Lawless, & Rowe (2014) explore the phenomenon of homeless women, with specific attention paid to the occurrences of mental health disorders and intimate partner violence. The authors also provide a framework for gender-specific responses toward homelessness. Since homelessness is not a gender specific issue, it is important to look at intervention and data about each subset of the homeless population. As it relates to the Orlando area, ANCHOR provides services to both men and women. The framework offered by Ponce, Lawless, & Rowe (2014) allows for a more tailored approach to gender specific issues surrounding homelessness and mental health issues.

In one study which consisted of a subgroup of 11 women, eight of the eleven women witnessed domestic violence as children, five of the eleven reported sexual abuse, and seven of those eleven women had reported that domestic violence and abuse within their lives continued into adulthood in their domestic relationships(Mayock, Sheridan, 2013). The pattern of abuse within this subgroup of women led to their homelessness. Some started a life of homelessness at a very young age, when they ran away from home in order to flee the abuse and violence they were subjected to in their home lives. Many of the same women left abusive relationships in adulthood with their only resort being to live on the streets.

The Problems and causes of homelessness are closely intertwined, with many of the problems of homelessness also sharing common source with the causes of homelessness. Narrative comments are included. There are three central themes that are highlighted in the cases. Mental health plays a large role in the cause and problem of homelessness as displayed by Stephanie’s experience as “her parents asked her to leave home. Stephanie had suffered from anxieties and bipolar”. Abusive relationships are also experienced frequently amongst the participants illustrated by Lauren and her children as it is noted “her husband was manipulative and abusive to her and the children”. Exposure to drugs is another theme of homelessness demonstrated by Elle’s

Understanding how both individual and structural factors contribute to and sustain homelessness is a critical factor in successfully addressing homelessness. All to often service providers blame homeless individuals for the circumstances they are in, making assumptions that substance abuse or other irresponsible behaviors have caused the problems leading to the individual to become homeless. Hoffman and Coffey (2008) suggest, “the perpetuation of homelessness is not internal to the homeless individual as many claim, but rather may be embedded in the service industry itself, which subjects both clients and providers to bureaucratic forms of authority and experiences of disrespect.” While not all homeless people suffer from mental illness or substance abuse, all of

Two contemporary social problems of interest are transitional housing needs for homeless mothers and domestic violence in the African American community. Fischer (2000) wrote homeless families face the economic and personal challenges of sparse employment opportunities, child care and nutrition needs, compounded by the loss of adequate housing. Those with the greatest risk of being unemployed and of becoming long term welfare dependent are teen mothers (Fischer, 2000). In addition, depression and the loss of self-confidence are direct results of being homeless. Homelessness destroys self-esteem and promotes hopelessness.