Battered Women Syndrome

8383 Words17 Pages

Battered Women Syndrome

The Battered Women Syndrome is a series of characteristics in women who are physically and psychologically abused by an important dominant male in their lives. These women learn helplessness and dependency; sometimes these characteristics originate from childhood. According to Dr. Lenore E. Walker, a woman must experience two cycles, before she can be labeled a “battered woman”. The two cycles are called the “cycle of violence”. This cycle leads to the feeling that the abuse will never stop. It almost becomes natural. Sometimes the relationships will be calm, and the abuser will apologize for what happened. This part is called the “honeymoon cycle”, but at other points in the cycle the tension and arguments just soar all the time (divorcenet.12-3-00). After years, the cycle starts to go quicker. At this point, the woman starts to feel trapped, because she would go through these cycles more than once a day. At some, certain point, she will have to act out in what is legally considered “self-defense”.

Stereotypes of battered women will always be around. Many people wonder why don’t the wives or girlfriends just get help?, why don’t they tell someone?, or just get up and leave. People fail to realize that leaving an abusive relationship can make matters worst. Some can’t leave because she is financially dependent or they have children, and/or their mates threaten to kill her and her children or take her children away. A real mother would never leave her children, in any situation. The prosecutors usually always bring up these stereotypes of battered women. In some situations the woman will leave, but staying out is hard for her or he makes it hard for her. Once the woman leaves he w...

... middle of paper ...

...drome testimony is offered in a self-defense trial to shed light on the reasonableness of the defendant’s behavior (Gillespie 159).”

Bibliography:

Works Cited

Kandel, Minouche. Moving away from victim blaming: Challenging the notion of “Battered Women’s Syndrome.”, Lifeline; Support Network for Battered women’s Newsletter, 1997, http://www.snbw.org/articles/BWS.html

Family Law advisor Home page. Family Law advisor articles: What is battered woman’s syndrome?, LawTek media group, LLC, 1999, http://www.divorcenet.com/or/or-art02.html

Gillespie, Cynthia, K, Justifiable Homicide, Ohio State University Press Columbus, 1989.

Sloan, Irving, J, The law of Self-Defense: Legal and ethical principles, Oceana Publications Inc, London, Rome, New York, 1987.

Winters, Paul, A, America’s Victims: Opposing Viewpoints, San Diego, Greenhaven, 1996.

Open Document