Domestic Violence is defined by the Home Office as, ‘any violence
between current and former partners in an intimate relationship,
wherever and whenever the violence occurs. The violence may include
physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse’ (Home Office 2003, p.
6). The Safety and Justice consultation paper also highlights that,
‘domestic violence occurs across society, regardless of age, gender,
race, sexuality, wealth and geography. However, it is predominantly
women who suffer as a result of it’ (Home Office 2003, p. 6). Dallos
(1993, p. 11) also points out that what constitutes as violence to one
person is not to another. For example in the use of, ‘threats,
damaging property, energetic sexual behaviour or play fighting’, it is
often down to the couple to agree on what level of behaviour is
acceptable (Dallos and Foreman 1993, p. 11). The solutions and
policies on Domestic Violence stem from what is determined as the
‘cause’ or definition of the violence and this is investigated through
a variety of discourses often delivering a different explanation
(Radford 2001, pp. 70, 71). This Essay will investigate some of the
major policies undertaken by the government in addressing Domestic
Violence. It will also look into the discourses in which they were
derived. Firstly we will consider how Domestic Violence is a problem,
how it is seen as a problem and whom it is a problem for.
Domestic violence is a relatively recent term but the act itself it
has been argued has always occurred (Muncie and McLaughlin 2001,p.
204). The husband had almost total rights over his family and used
forms of ‘domestic chastisement’ agains...
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Site of Crime, in The Problem of Crime 2nd Ed., Open University,
London, pp.191-238
Radford, L (2001) Domestic Violence, in May, M et al. (2001)
Understanding Social Problems, Blackwell, Oxford, pp 70 –84.
BBC (2003) Hitting Home, found at
URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/hh/
URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/hh/campaign.shtml
Date viewed 27/04/04
Crime Reduction (2003) Legislation, found at URL:http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/legislation37.htm
Date viewed 27/04/04
Home Office (2003) Safety and Justice: The Government’s Proposals on
Domestic Violence found at.
URL: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs2/domesticviolence.pdf
Date viewed 27/04/04
Women’s Aid (2002) Domestic Violence Statistics Fact sheet 2002 found
at
URL: http://www.womensaid.org.uk/dv/generaldvfactshindex.htm
Stark (2006) would suggest that thirty years of research has failed to produce a consensus as to what constitutes a case of domestic violence considering that 90% of women who report the abuse have no physical injuries. Methods of coercive control do not meet the criminological viewpoint rather, control extends to financial, emotional, and psychological aspects of subjugating the partner thus no physical violence occurs. If only violent means are reported, then the reported number of victims would perhaps change thus creating a more gender symmetrical pattern. Until operational definitions are defined throughout the disciplines with consistency then there will continue to be discrepancies and opposing views. However, integrative theories of feminist views are being explored which investigate the intersection of not only male dominance as a form of oppression but the use of race, class, national origin, age, sexual orientation, and disability and their impact on intimate partner violence as stated by McPhail and colleagues
"Around the world at least one woman in every three has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Most often the abuser is a member of her own family." (C,J Newton, 2011)
Domestic violence is well-known to be a serious problem in Canada. Domestic violence includes physical assault or aggressive actions against family members, spouse, intimate partner, boyfriend or girlfriend. It can have many negative results and even result in death. Statistics Canada (2013) mentions stress, chronical diseases and addictions as common results of domestic violence. In most cases, the victims are women. According to Statistics Canada (2013), among all the cases of domestic in 2013, 80% of victims were women. Statistics Canada (2013) states that intimate partner violence is higher when female victims are between 25 and 34 year old. Alcohol also can increase risk of domestic violence. Another factor is that life in certain poor neighborhoods has a lot of instances of street violence. If not effectively stopped, domestic violence can result in murder. Many intimate partner homicides result from escalation of
(Now, in 2011, those attitudes and beliefs have become imbedded into law and practice, particularly since the O.J. Simpson trial, and it is even more difficult to attempt a discussion on these issues. In an increasing number of occasions, the laws passed to control domestic violence have become a form of violence in themselves. However, the idea that at least occasionally these laws, and their enforcement, may be a source of social problems, rather than the solution, is ignored or shouted down.
Life is filled with many difficulties which affect us all in one way or another. However, we do not all face the same difficulties. If we are to survive we need to first understand what these difficulties or problems are, in order to learn how to deal with them. One such problem is, is domestic violence. It is necessary to determine whether the problem is personal one or due to society (social problems), so that the individuals involved can learn how to deal with their situation.
Most people in society are one sided when it comes to domestic violence. Most people automatically think domestic violence as men abusing women. Most people believe domestic violence is associated with gender. For instance, some people associate men with violent, destructive, and belligerent behavior. While women are often seen as innocent, fragile, and vulnerable. For many years men were the ones showing violent behavior, so most people believe men are usually the aggressor. Many people believe men should never abuse a woman, and if he does he will charged and most likely serve jail time. Although, women are not viewed the same way. Over the years women have become just as aggressive and violent as men have been portrayed. Many women who are violent are given a pass if they abuse a man. More simply, their behavior is overlooked, because they are not seen as a threat to society, so they will most likely not be jailed or punished for their behavior. In addition, there are many resources to help women get out of domestic violence situations. For instance, there are hotlines they can call, shelters they can visit, and support
However, domestic violence is not a new issue within our society. For centuries, women have been regarded as the property of men, offering them leeway in the enforcement of domestic abuse laws. Public opinion held that as heads of households, they had the right to discipline their wife and children as they saw fit. Eventually, women came to view this prevailing belief as truth. An inevitable outcome was their denial as victims at all. They simply saw it as the way it was and accepted it as such. Non-intervention has typically been the preferred method in regard to family matters. The long standing belief held that ‘what happened behind closed doors was no one’s business other than that family’s’ ruled the attitudes of society, the lega...
Violence is common around the world. We see it everyday, but what happens when violence enters the home of a married couple or a simple relationship. What was once a happy couple in love suddenly takes a sudden turn into violent and aggressive behavior. A behavior which is addressed as Domestic Violence. There is much more to the matter, such as causes, preventing the violence, treatments and who it affects. All which play a very important role in the world of domestic violence.
BIBLIOGRAPHY Barron et. al. 1992 WAFE Evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee Enquiry into Domestic Violence Bristol: WAFE Woman’s Aid Federation (England) Report 1992 Hague & Malos 1995 Against Domestic Violence: Inter Agency Initiatives Bristol SAUS Punching Judy BBC Television Programme 1989 Domestic Violence – Report of an Inter Agency Working Party 1992 Mooney J 1994 The Hidden Figures: Domestic Violence in North London London Islington Police & Crime Unit Inter-Agency Circular; Inter Agency Co-Ordination to Tackle Domestic Violence Home Office, 1995 Grace S 1995 Policing Domestic Violence in the 1990’s Home Office Research Study British Crime Survey 1996 The Home Office Dobash/Dobash/Cavanagh/Lewis 1996 Research Evaluation of Programmes for violent Men Scottish Office Central Research Unit Dobash/Dobash/Cavangh/Lewis 1996 Re-Education Programmes for Violent men – an Evaluation Home Office Research Findings No 46 Domestic Violence & Repeat Victimisation Home Office Police Research Briefing Note No 1/98 The Family Law Act Part IV 1996
The biggest victims of domestic violence are the littlest. The home is supposed to be a safe and secure environment for children with loving parents and free from violence. Children need a secure environment where they can come home to when the outside world is unsafe. However, every year there are millions of children whose homes are not a safe haven. Millions of children are exposed to a parent being violently assaulted. Domestic violence is a prevalent social issue in America today. First, who is affected by domestic violence is addressed. Second, the impact of domestic violence on children is established. Third, the social harm of domestic violence is depicted. This paper argues that domestic violence has tremendous affects on children.
No matter what the situation or the circumstance between two people, domestic violence will always be illegal. The definition for domestic violence could be ‘Domestic and family violence occurs when someone tries to control their partner or other family members in ways that intimidate or oppress them. Controlling behaviours can include threats, humiliation (‘put downs’), emotional abuse, physical assault, sexual abuse, financial exploitation and social isolations, such as not allowing contact with family or friends’ ("Definition of family violence | ALRC", 2016). Forms of physical assault would be pushing, grabbing, slapping and kicking. Sexual abuse would include sexual assault and sexual acts carried out against a person’s will. Different types of psychological abuse would include
Domestic violence is not just fighting, hitting or an occasional argument. It’s a chronic abuse of power. The abuser of domestic violence, controls and tortures the victim of threats, intimidation, and physical violence. Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of violence in America. The abusers are not only men, women can be abusers as well. Women make up the vast majority of domestic violence. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), 90-95% of domestic violence victims are females and 70% of intimidating homicides are females. Domestic violence is a serious crime and everyone needs to be aware of its effects. This essay presents and explains the evidence supporting the major risk factors for intimate partner homicides.
As professional athletes remind us on a weekly basis, domestic violence is a social problem which continues to plague the nation. Through stricter law enforcement, improved hospital reporting techniques, and nationwide education and counseling, this problem can be reduced. Domestic violence has many different names such as, family violence, battering, wife beating, and domestic abuse. All these terms refer to the same thing, abuse by marital, common law, or a dating partner in an intimate relationship. Domestic violence is not limited to physical beating. It is any behavior that is intended to overpower and control another human being through the use of humiliation, fear, and physical or verbal assault. Domestic violence is a very important issue in today’s society because it has such a profound negative affect on the abused, mentally and physically. Verbal abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse. Verbal abuse is words that attack or injure an individual’s self-image, which eventually shatters one’s self-esteem. In this paper, I will discuss the many kinds of abuses against women, the reasons why women stay in these relationships, and possible solutions to diminish or reduce the problems of domestic violence.
“Domestic violence is a violent confrontation between family or household members involving physical harm, sexual assault, or fear of physical harm” (Stewart & Croudep, 1998-2012). In most places domestic violence is looked on as one of the higher priorities when trying to stop crime. Domestic Violence cases are thought to be influenced by the use of alcohol, drugs, stress or anger but in reality, they are just learned behaviors by the batterer. These habits can be stopped as long as one seeks help (Stewart & Croudep, 1998-2012). For instance, a child is brought up in a household that is constantly involved in criminal acts. As this child grows up, the criminal lifestyle will be synonymous with his/her behavior. With that being said, it is also a given fact that if a household and its members are surrounded with violence, the relationships between one another will be strained. Eventually this will end up in a divorce or even worse, death, depending on how far the violence goes. If there is violence in a family, then the ones who are affected by it may feel like they deserve it because of what the batterer is accusing them of doing. Battering occurs among people of all races, ages, socio-economic classes, religious affiliations, occupations, and educational backgrounds (Stewart & Croudep, 1998-2012). Domestic violence can affect families in more aspects than one; the husband-wife relationship, the children, and also the financial stability.
Domestic violence is a serious issue that negatively impacts women in our society. “Domestic abuse is a violent confrontation between family or household members involving physical harm, sexual assault, or fear of physical harm” (Domestic Violence). Although domestic violence can impact men as well, this type of abuse seems to be more prevalent among women. This abuse destroys families and can even lead to death in some cases. Even though there has been improvement in spreading awareness about this social injustice, much more work must be done to put an end to domestic violence to protect families around the world.