Is Domestic Violence Really A Problem? Today, the world is plagued with heinous crimes. People hurt children, terrorists murder innocent people, and those closest to a person can even betray his/her trust. Such harsh doings usually seem to occur far from the safety of home, when in reality, it seems that the world could be overlooking the most personal crimes that occur inside the home. The topic of domestic violence is one that has been discussed and even debated for decades. Is it a real problem, or is it exaggerated? With a deeper look into the matter, one can see that not only is domestic violence a problem, but it is a problem that affects unexpected victims, and even people that are not direct victims. Domestic violence can come in …show more content…
The book titled Domestic Violence, published by the Opposing Viewpoints website, shows a number of articles where people discuss viewpoints. Some of these range from the belief that domestic violence is a serious to the belief that domestic violence is not a problem at all, and should not be treated as such (Haugen). This could be due to a number of factors, such as personal experience or biased opinion. Some people believe that domestic violence against women is bound to happen or cannot be avoided due to the belief that all women are naturally passive and all men are naturally aggressive. Others believe that women that are victims of domestic violence “have it coming” if they nag or provoke their partners. People even believe that domestic violence is rare and does not require any outside interference (Berry). Charles E. Corry believes that domestic violence has been played up to be worse than it is, and he believes that feminists are to blame (Corry). While there are extremists that manipulate information relating to domestic violence, it is not a lie that it affects millions of people every …show more content…
He stated that, “Yet, when it comes to the three to four million women who are victimized by violence each year, the alarms ring softly” (Berry). Not only is domestic violence a serious problem, but it is a problem that affects more than just women. Domestic violence against men is also a serious problem. Many people seem to believe that men are the only people that commit violent acts. However, the difference in female victim reports and male victim reports could be because men would likely be more hesitant to report abuse due to social implications that a man being abused by a woman signifies cowardice or weakness (Rempel). Not everyone believes this implication, though. There are some that even believe that women are more responsible for domestic violence than men. Carey Roberts believes that, “There is an epidemic of women who pummel their husbands and boyfriends.” He mentions Amy Winehouse admitting that she beats her husband when she gets drunk. There is even a website where women sign up and brag about beating up men and enjoying it (Roberts). There are a number of authors that believe that women beating men is a more serious problem than men beating women. Society has the view that if a woman beats a man, the man must have done something to provoke her. However, if a
“Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, is defined as a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors, including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks as well as economic coercion that adults or adolescents use against their intimate partners” (Peeks-Asa). When it comes to domestic violence many people don’t want to get involved, but if just one person took a stand maybe others would follow and potentially save a life, like the neighbors did in The Day It Happened by Rosario Morales. Domestic violence can happen to anyone at any time, there is no typical victim or perpetrator. The fact that there is no one specific group that domestic violence occurs in more than another, only makes it more difficult to get an accurate representation of just who is being affected by this crime. “Domestic violence and abuse does not discriminate” (Smith and Segal). Domestic violence can have specific victims such as a spouse or domestic partner, a child, or an elder. Domestic violence can affect men as well as women. Some types of domestic violence are physical, verbal or nonverbal, sexual, stalking or cyberstalking, economic or financial, and spiritual.
In the study involving 2,143 married couples living together completed in 1975 and the study involving 6,002 couples completed in 1985 these studies showed that females had a slightly higher rate of assaulting their spouse than men did (Straus & Gelles, 1986, 1990). The overall rates in the 1985 National Family Violence Survey was 124 per 1,000 women assaulted their male partners compared to 122 per 1000 men who assaulted their female partners (Dutton, 1988; Stets & Straus, 1990). These studies show that women have the same if not hig...
Domestic violence happens all around the media, not just in the home of the victim but also in public places such as schools, parks, workplaces, etc., Domestic violence also happens in relationships and families. Domestic violence is very wrong and needs to be stopped because 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lives. Domestic violence doesn’t just happen with women, men can also be a victim of domestic violence.
Domestic abuse is a significant and threatening issue in the United States. Sadly, the rates of this shameful violence are increasing. This violence is not limited to the privacy of relationships and homes, it occurs everywhere and in all relationships. Football player, Ray Rice portrayed an act of domestic violence when he punched his wife and knocked her unconscious on February 15 of 2014. Women are heavily affected by this abuse and it’s the leading cause of injuries on women. According to crime reports (qtd. in “Domestic Violence”), one woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States. Also, according to a report (qtd. in “Domestic Violence”), domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States, more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. Domestic abuse is not simple, it has a historical context to it, it creates abusive cycles in relationships, and it links to economic statuses.
"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)
However, it is too often overlook that domestic violence may not only occur in terms of a man meting out violence against a woman but could also render a man as the victim too. Many times people turn their backs on male victims of domestic violence (Murray, S. & Powell, A. (2007). Due to the focus on violence against women, men lack a proper or even popular framework to fight domestic violence when it occurs that they are victims (Cruz, 1996). There is also a stereotype that only women can be victims of domestic violence. This makes it hard for men to open up and report when they experience violence from a partner (Cruz, 1996).
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.
In today’s society, I believe that domestic violence is either ignored or taken as a grain of salt. It is teaching the generations to come that it is acceptable to put your hands negatively on your spouse. In my point of view it is not okay no matter what the situation may be. I chose the subject of intimate partner violence because of hearing about specific cases such as Ray Rice’s a few years back really touched me in a negative way. This one in particular makes me cringe knowing that even professional athletes who are supposed to be role models to people all around the world are putting this kind of negative image out there for everyone to see. Domestic violence has many different viewpoints and branches that influence the violence itself
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
One of Americas’ most common global issues is domestic violence, a crime that is considered physical or aggressive behavior at home and typically through a spouse. According to HelpGuide.org ‘’Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, yet the problem is overlooked, excused, or denied (paragraph 1). Which I agree a hundred percent , due to I have witnessed it happening within my family, and majority of the time the victim is usually in denial that they are being physically and emotionally abused. Domestic violence should be justified the same no matter how big or small the issue is, because most of the time the problem is only going to get bigger. Domestic violence should have zero tolerance, no one should express their “love” through
Historically, domestic violence was viewed as only involving physical abuse. However, the more contemporary view of domestic violence has come to include not only physical types of abuse; but as well as emotional, sexual, physiological, and economic violence that may be committed
But we don 't really know why men choose to be violent towards women. A study of the mothers of child abuse victims shows that battering is the most common context for child abuse, that the battering male is the typical child abuser. Feminist theory in domestic violence emphasizes gender and power inequality in opposite-sex relationships. Feminist theory also has to do with gender equalities and how men still believe that they are the superior sex.
Just under half a million Australian women reported that they had experienced physical or sexual violence or sexual assault. Women that are personally victimized by domestic violence become emotionally unstable and they are unable to cope with certain situations. Many think that it is their fault because they think they’ve done something wrong to cause their spouse attack them. However, women aren’t the only victims when it comes to domestic violence; men are victims too. The majority of violence against men is committed by other men. Of men who reported that they had experienced physical violence, 73.7% said that the perpetrator was a male, but that doesn’t mean women don’t abuse males just as much. Women are much more sympathised than men when it comes to domestic violence. People just assume that if a male is getting physically or emotionally abused, they’re a wimp and can’t fight for themselves. Whereas if a women was the victim, people automatically blame the abuser. At least one in three victims of some type of domestic violence is
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.
“One woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States” (Stewart & Croudep, 1998-2012). Domestic violence can interfere with the husband-wife relationship because one spouse is always in constant fear of the other. This violence could vary from physical abuse to ps...