According to Alanna Vaglonos, (“30 Shocking Domestic Violence Statistics That Remind Us it’s an Epidemic”), “Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families”. This statistic demonstrates that staying in an abusive relationship may be a person’s only option due to economic dependency. A victim may be afraid to leave if they have no other place to go and their only way to avoid homelessness is to stay with their abuser. Each abusive relationship is different and the factors causing the person to stay is different for each
This is because the bodies tasked with creating awareness will adequately inform the victims, perpetrators, as well as the general public on the identification and effects of domestic violence, and the prevention strategies of domestic violence between intimate partners. At the same time, it will be instrumental in pooling together affirmative actions that are necessary in reducing any further occurrences of domestic violence between intimate partners. Domestic Violence especially between intimate partners is linked to a multitude of negative social and health outcomes. When it comes to this type of domestic violence, women are more affected than men. As such, it is women that report more severe injuries as a result of the violence they face. The cycle of domestic violence between intimate partners describes a pattern of recurring violence, as well as the tendency for violence to keep escalating over time. Therefore, one of the most unwanted effects of domestic violence is homicide. Women are more likely to seek support whenever they experience violence. However, this is not always possible because such women are faced with various barriers when accessing services, which ultimately affect their decisions to remain or leave an abusive relationship. Such barriers include stigma, racism, as well as gender discrimination that further limit their access to numerous services and compromise their health and
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 article constructs domestic violence as an issue of gender, race and socioeconomic status. Women are identified as the “majority” of victims (Taylor 2014). Consequently, the article conceptually represents domestic violence as events of intimate terrorism where one partner violently terrorizes the other partner to gain complete control over the relationship, which is entirely perpetrated by men (Johnson 2012). With that said, Johnson (2012) points out that majority of domestic violence is situational couple violence, where both the man and the
Many women and men seek intimate relationships in order to fill their emotional needs of security, safety and love. Their journey starts off with their loved ones spoiling them with flattering gifts and emotional words. The love they feel is so wonderful and deep that they believe that nothing can come between them. They are so happy and convinced that they will live happily ever after with the one they love. Unfortunately, the fairytale they have dreamt about was only temporary and soon comes to an end. The love story they have ones longed for turns into a horrible nightmare. The emotional words they were once spoiled with turn into howling screams and name-calling. The flattering gifts turn into physical abuse. This relationship is referred to as domestic violence or intimate partner violence. This happens when a partner or significant other declares power, authority and control over the other partner. To maintain this authority and control, the abusive partner uses emotional, physical or sexual abuse over his victim (Alters 27). Victims will desperately look for an exit out of this relationship, but only to be blocked by numerous walls of the despair, fear and misery. Many people are convinced that victims have the option of leaving, but they are too weak and they choose not to. What many people don 't know is, victims of domestic violence have many reasons preventing them from leaving their abusers. In most cases the outcomes of leaving are
Domestic violence is an ongoing epidemic affecting people around the world. Over the years, the problem of domestic violence has raised an abundance of questions: how serious is the issue, and what actions could be implemented to prevent it? In the article “Domestic Violence Has Been a Problem Throughout U.S. History”, it explains how the issue of domestic violence has been going on for decades; however, did not get address until recent years. The author, Cathy Young, points out there has been programs and shelters implemented, but the issue of domestic violence still remains a serious problem today. “Prevalence of Domestic Violence in the United States”, provides a
Researchers Smith, Homish, Leonard, and Cornelius admit that it is well known that a risk factor for intimate partner violence is substance use. (2012) However, we have a very limited understanding of the association between specific substance use and intimate partner violence. These researchers set out to bring about a deeper understanding of this. For the purpose of this study, researchers examined intimate partner violence in the presence of alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and opioid use, as well as poly-substance use of alcohol and cocaine and alcohol and marijuana. (Smith, et al., 2012) Further, this study looked at substance use and intimate partner violence and differentiated between perpetration and victimization. Alcohol and cocaine use disorders were highly associated with intimate partner perpetration whereas cannabis and opioid use disorders were more highly associated with intimate partner victimization. (Smith, et al., 2012) Individuals diagnosed with both an alcohol use disorder and a cannabis use disorder were reported to have a lower likelihood of intimate partner perpetration compared to having the diagnosis of any one substance use disorder. Having a poly-substance use disorder with the combination of alcohol and cocaine increased the likelihood of an individual to perpetrate intimate partner violence. However, if you remove the diagnosis of alcohol use disorder and only have a cocaine use disorder, the
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.
These include federal domestic violence laws and law enforcement measures. Common intervention strategies include batterer intervention programs, arrest, protection order, court intervention, and prosecution. Even though, increased warrantless arrests, firearm confiscation, prosecution, and financial aids to families with dependent children were associated with a decreased rate of domestic violence, research shows that some chronically aggressive intimate partners continue to abuse their partner regardless of the interventions. Furthermore, understanding demographic differences among victims and abusers including race and education level, can help to predict which intervention will work best for specific groups (National Institute of Justice, 2007). According to Bradford and el‘s opinion regarding the Criminal Justice System’s response to domestic violence, there is a need for service provider and policy makers to provide preventive interventions. The policies should provide crucial skills, attitudes, and knowledge that give partners a better chance of developing and sustaining a healthy mutual satisfying couple relationship” (Bradford & el, 2015). According to research documentation (women's health magazine, 2013), despite the above measures by the state government, the prevalence of the abuse persists. Furthermore, measures against physiological/ verbal
According to Renzetti (2009), women who are financially secure and have resources such as a place to stay other than their home, and there are some women who have a low income or do not work at all and live in poverty. There is a strong relationship between financial status and a woman’s risk for being a victim of intimate partner violence. Research shows that women from higher class do face IPV; studies indicate that as the financial status of a family increases, the likelihood of IPV decreases. According to a National Survey of Households and Families, which used data from the 1900 U.S. census, they found that when the ratio of household income to need goes up the likelihood of IPV goes down. There is a strong relationship between a family’s socioeconomic status and the chances of a woman being a victim of IPV (Renzetti,
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”
Sullivan and Bybee (1999) stated that one way that the abuser can control the victim is through social isolation, cutting off any social ties to family and friends to prevent the person from turning to someone for help. Having such ties has been helpful in the past when victimized women have left their assailants with the help of friends and family members. Aside from social support, another important support is community resources to respond to domestic violence, which is very helpful to decrease risk of abuse by their perpetrators. One of the main reasons that abused women return to their abusive partners is that they are unemployed and have no way to financially support themselves. Other resources important in reducing the risk of domestic violence are: “medical attention, child care, affordable housing and safe housing, and help from social service agencies” (p. 44).
Domestic abuse is a startling issue in today’s society, and there are many different forms of it. Domestic abuse is defined as “the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another” [1]. There are numerous forms of domestic abuse, including both physical and emotional violence. Many people who are trapped in these toxic relationships often feel helpless and worthless, and may think they have no way to escape their situation. However, with the right guidance and support, they can free themselves and emerge as a stronger person.
Every year in the United States, One in four women are victims of the domestic violence; however, this is only based on what has been reported to the department of justice (Stahly 2008). While men are also victims of domestic violence, women are more often the victims. Moreover, 90% of domestic violence is male initiated. In severe cases domestic violence ends with victims being murdered. More specifically, domestic violence resulted in 2,340 deaths in the United States in 2007, and 70% of those killed were females (CDC 2012). Many people think that victims have the option of leaving and many people blame victims for putting up with the abuse; what many people don 't know is, victims of domestic violence have many reasons preventing them from leaving their abusers, these reasons include, isolation, having children bounding them with the abuser and lack of financial support. "It 's never pretty when you leave an abusive and controlling relationship. The warden always protests when a prison gets shut down," says Dr. Steve Maraboli (qtd from web). Whether a victim stays or leaves their abuser, the outcomes of both situations are not always as easy as many people predict. In some situations, the outcomes of leaving may be very dangerous for both the victim and her children.
Domestic violence refers to abusive behavior in any relationship that is inflicted on a partner to gain or maintain power and control over another partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological. Domestic violence includes behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone. Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of their race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender; and it also occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships; domestic violence also affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels (Justice, The United States Department of, 2017). This topic has attracted a lot of discussion and research because of its dominance and complexity. This essay, therefore seeks to look at the causes and effects of domestic violence.