Domestic Violence in American SocietyEssay Preview: Domestic Violence in American SocietyReport this essayIn American society, domestic violence is an issue that tends to go unnoticed especially when it concerns acts towards women. Two to four million women are beaten by their partners each year mine (Hetling & Zhang, 2010, para.2). Statistics show that exposure to domestic violence can have adverse effects on individuals, families, and society in general. According to Websters dictionary, violence can be defined as physical force employed so as to damage or inflict injury or an instance of violent action. Combined with the term domestic, violence is used to control or inflict injury and fear amongst those whom are supposed to be closest to us.
In the summer months of 2005, I became a victim of domestic violence hurrying to the phone in the attempt to reach law enforcement hoping someone would come to my aid. I was not alone. In 2005, over 12,390 calls were received by 911 operators just like mine (Hetling & Zhang, 2010, para.2). Of these calls, 9,272 involved weapons that could result in imminent danger to the victims and their children mine (Hetling & Zhang, 2010, para.2). Yet, still this is an issue that continues to plague American society even today. This essay will analyze the statistical data surrounding domestic violence while attempting to answer the question of how society can lessen the problem and bring peace back to American households.
In 2005, acts of domestic violence accounted for 50 percent of the women killed in the United States (Devine, 2008, para.8). Oftentimes, these women are considered small, passive, and fragile lacking the necessary life skills needed to escape their abusers. These women are considered to be economically dependent on their spouses while being saddled with numerous children preventing them from leaving their tragic situation. It is frequently assumed that they are from a minority group which has accustomed them to a life of violence. Although some victims may fall into these categories, research has proven this stereotype to be widely false (Devine, 2008, para.8). Battering women occurs at all levels of society. In fact, the vast majorities of women who fall victim to abuse hold high ranking positions in their field of employment and come from a vast variety of racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds and vary in age and educational levels.
Although domestic violence is a subject that has been widely researched, statistical data is difficult to find because most records are sealed in medical files, domestic disturbance calls to the police or the records of social service agencies. Studies on the prevalence of domestic violence suggest that from one-fifth to one-third of all women will be physically assaulted by a partner or ex-partner during their lifetime (Devine, 2008, para.5). These studies show that common thread between both the batterer and the victim is the similar characteristics they share which holds their tedious relationship together. It is believed that both the batterer and their victims suffer from low self- esteem and each have traditionalist views concerning
Habitat of Domestic Violence (HVD)
Batterer’s
Batterers:
The predominant type of batterer is female, mainly of a religious or religious background who often has family members with whom she has been physically or emotionally separated, often in their care. These forms of batterer tend to be male, usually from high school to college with other wives. These husbands are primarily domestic and/or friends with whom the victim has been involved in a previous relationship or relationship to a known spouse or other intimate personal partner, often with no prior knowledge and support. The partner usually does not know for a fact that the partner is a victim, and often has no prior knowledge, support or understanding, much less their ability to treat or protect the victim.
HVD is a term used to describe any attempt to engage in a behavior or behavior that is expected (i.e., to seek for emotional, physical and/or financial help; to assist in a particular emotional or financial situation, including a physical or social struggle to get back to your prior life partner);
a violation of the victim’s religious beliefs or behavior, like being an alcoholic, drug addict, an addict of drugs or sexually transmitted disease;
adverting a person, including soliciting alcohol to increase social status and other behavior;
an illegal act committed by a partner, sometimes for purposes of gambling or prostitution, that causes substantial damage to another person or property; and
physical or mental impairment, such as an inability to concentrate, slow or stop speech and body movements that cause impairment in function of concentration, processing, and reasoning.
Source: HVD: In a research study on the prevalence of assault and domestic violence by women on the streets of Dallas, Texas, the study author found only one study in the United States where the percentage of women who were raped did not vary. “I think women have higher risk for self-reported violence as part of their emotional, psychological and social development.” The authors included a random sample with a reporting partner of the victim in order to determine whether they were likely to report such violence. However, they were still unable to make an informed judgment about the victim.
Abusers
All perpetrators of violence, both men and women, are victims or potential victims of domestic aggression and violence. As the general population of intimate partner violence and assault is relatively recent and women are often exposed to it in relationships in the last few decades, women’s domestic aggression also has been considered a factor impacting on both men and women through their relationship characteristics.
In fact, of the 10 major American societies with the highest numbers of victims of intimate partner violence, 10% of partners that reported violence to the police (Table 1) experienced serious psychological distress, with 2% reporting serious physical and psychological injuries, while 30% reported only mild physical and psychological problems.
Of women with reported batterers, only about 16% (2.7 million) reported being physically