My Sisters Shadow: Joan Connor
My Sisters Shadow follows the lives of Joan and Laurie Connor. Since childhood, Joan had always felt inferior to her sister. Joan sensed her sister Laurie was their father’s favorite daughter, and this was affirmed the night he committed suicide. One of Joan’s strongest childhood memories was the day their father asked her to get Laurie for him. Seeing how he was clearly distressed, Joan still came back to lie and state, Laurie was busy with their mother and could not come to him. As Joan walked outside, a gunshot stopped her in her tracks; her father had taken his life. This scene plays over and over in her mind throughout the movie.
Joan and Laurie have grown; Joan is a florist and Laurie moves in with
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“Fear and anxiety may persist for years after the original abuse…. a decrease in self-esteem may be associated with the experience of oneself as helpless or vulnerable” (Module 2:Components of the Domestic and Family Systems Model n.d). Joan had low self-esteem and showed many emotional responses such as guilt, anger, and shame. Joan’s psychological responses from her father's abuse weigh heavily on her mind as we see this from the flashbacks of her childhood, which would coincide with her cognitive response pattern. Interpersonal response pattern may explain why she slept with Michael because she may have had difficulty in interpersonal …show more content…
We can see from the film how their father’s death affected their daily life and how they viewed relationships with others. Throughout history, it has been noted how violence against children has been overlooked. Therefore, after the public interest in children had weaned in the 1950’s it seems as though it had been revived in 1974 with the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (Module 4: Domestic Violence Toward Women n.d). Laurie and Joan would have benefitted from receiving remediation and treatment in their younger years to try and cope with the after effects. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study demonstrated a link between childhood abuse, and exposure to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and the risky behaviors and health problems later on in adult life (Middlebrooks JS, Audage NC. n.d). The ACE Study found witnessing IPV as a child was “two to six times more likely to experience another ACE” (Middlebrooks JS, Audage NC. n.d). There are many resources the family could use if there was an intervention for the family when the girls were children. At an individual level, parent education programs, which include training on learning new skills in a safe environment (Middlebrooks JS, Audage NC. n.d). Many schools across the United States provide programs with teaching instructions for children to learn how to avoid or report domestic abuse. A relationship level
Like child abuse, it affects every American by impacting those we love the most. Awareness for domestic violence victims has evolved since the beginning of our country. In earlier times, it was a private matter, and took place “behind closed doors”. They helped them past their sufferings and place them back into mainstream culture. (Karmen, 2015) Claims one movement that assisted with the process is the Feminist Movement. This widespread movement took place during the 1970’s, and represented the “beaten women”. It helped them stand up for themselves during their distraught times. Domestic tranquility ensures women their safety at home under their husbands’ protection. The Feminist’s Movement questioned domestic tranquility and urged women to stand up for themselves (Karmen, 2015). They discovered the “silent crisis” that lived inside so many women at the time. The crisis was that the men they married gave into the times of “behind closed doors” and “look the other way”. Those times would stand no more, due to the feminist’s movement and widespread awareness. Laws and legislation have changed since the rediscovery of the victims of domestic violence. One example is restraining orders. Restraining orders set up a level of protection for the women from the male offenders. Another example of legislation is The Violence Against Women Act. Promulgated in 1994 the act mandates that all states enforce protective orders issued in a
“Numerous studies have demonstrated that experiencing child abuse can lead to a range of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems” (Moylan, 2010). Precious’s internalization of depression and emotional numbing are all factors that contribute to her self-concept. Study shows that “childhood sexual abuse has been correlated with higher levels of depression, guilt, shame, self-blame, eating disorders, somatic concerns, anxiety, dissociative patterns, repression, denial, sexual problems, and relationship problems” (Hall, 2011). The implications of sexual abuse are often detrimental to the mental state of an adolescent. Psychiatric evaluations show that Precious suffers from symptoms of PTSD and Major Depression
Obviously, working with survivors of child sexual abuse, neglect, and trauma: The approach taken by the social worker in the Brandon’s case shall begin with “assessment and beginning treatment of the family because child abuse is one of a wide range practice situation in which systems concepts can be applied to help to understand the dynamics involved” in the road for healing and recovery from the physical and psychological effect of the trauma by providing adequate resources available for counseling and therapy due to the devastating impacts of child sexual abuse can be heartbreaking for the victim and the family. However, social worker approach to understanding and responds efficiently by being empathetic to the complex situation as a result; the perpetrator is the father such as in the case of Brandon (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014).
In conclusion, the invisibility of domestic violence has caused numerous negative effects on women, children and the overall structure of modern day society. Women have been affected psychologically as well as socially. Children have been disadvantaged by the effects of domestic abuse within the school environment and in the latter parts of their lives. (worldly statement).
There have been a large number of studies that compared adults that had been sexually abused as well as adults that had not and what their differences were. What about the effects that child abuse has on Adults? This study purpose is to try and pinpoint the effects that psychosexual functioning in adults has on sexually abused children. During this study it got a closer look at how events of childhood sexual abuse effected psychosexual functioning, emotional, behavioral and evaluative after childhood. This article looks at the effect that childhood sexual abuse can have on an adult. It compares the different effects if the child tells someone when the attack happens or if they don’t what the long term effects could be. The questionnaire was given to find out which effect child abuse had on 165 different adults: fear of sex and guilt during sex, issues with physical touch, sexual arousal, and sexual satisfaction. First the characteristics of the adults have to be determined. They were looking and determine characteristics like age...
I will need to continually respond to her feelings, so she no longer will have to be alone with shame, anxiety, anger, guilt, or other form of distress and will gain the ability to connect meaningfully with another person and develop relationships characterized by trust. The study has also shown that “childhood sexual abuse was related to interpersonal conflicts indirectly through the emotion of shame” (Kim, Talbot, & Cicchetti, 2009, p. 362). Shame was described as “a highly aversive, debilitating affective experience associated with a profound negative evaluation of the self” (Kim, Talbot, & Cicchetti, 2009, p.
The phrase “domestic violence” typically refers to violence between adult intimate partners. It has been estimated that every year there are about 3.3 to 10 million children exposed to domestic violence in the confines of their own home (Moylan, Herrenkohl, Sousa et al. 2009). According to research conducted by John W. Fantuzzo and Wanda K. Mohr(1999): “[e]xposure to domestic violence can include watching or hearing the violent events, direct involvement (for example, trying to intervene or calling the police), or experiencing the aftermath (for example, seeing bruises or observing maternal depression)” (Fantuzzo & Mohr, 22). The effects of exposure can vary from direct effects such as behavioral and developmental issues to interpersonal relationships, all of which lead to detrimental prospects on the child’s development. This paper will explore those effects and how it affects children.
In Among the Hidden, there is a shadow child named Luke, and Jen shadow children are illegal. Luke one day is just looking out of this little spot through his air conditioner, and he thinks he seen another face at his neighbor's house. Therefore when everybody at Luke’s house has vanished, he goes to his neighbor’s house. He breaks in her house and the alarm goes off. He then gets tackled by a girl named Jen, and they start to get to know one another in order to gain each other’s trust. Jen reveals her secret of being a shadow child just like Luke.
According to research, 275 million children are annually exposed to domestic violence around the world (Miller et al., 2012). Ghasemi (2009), Martinez et al. (2009), and Owen et al. (2009) suggested that children exposed to domestic violence could experience a variety of internalizing and externalizing problems that can lead to negative outcomes. Internalizing problems such as anxiety and depression are commonly observed in children who are living with domestic violence (Moylan et al., 2009; Owen et al. (2009). Further, cognitive development can be affected by children’s exposure to domestic violence (Thornton, 2014; Graham-Bermann et al., 2010). Trauma symptoms can be developed early in life when children are exposed to violence at home (Martinez-Torteya et al., 2009). Moreover, children feel that the violent incidents are their fault and they blame themselves (Ghasemi, 2009; Owen et al., 2009). For instance, children tend to forget the domestic violence occurrence or express emotions though play to deal with the domestic violence events (Georgsson et al., 2011). Research illustrated that children are likely to develop physical problems such as bedwetting and sleep problems when exposed to violent acts (Thornton, 2014; Ghasemi, 2009). Likewise, physical development can be delayed and impacted because of domestic violence (Thornton, 2014; Ghasemi, 2009). Researchers found that children’s externalizing issues such as aggression, substance abuse, and inappropriate behavior at school are commonly observed in children that are impact with domestic violence (Ghasemi, 2009; Moylan et al., 2009; Owen et al., 2009). Additionally, children will display poor academic performance because of the reoccurring exposure to viol...
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is historically referred to as domestic violence. It describes a pattern of coercive and assaultive behavior that may include psychological abuse, progressive isolation, sexual assault, physical injury, stalking, intimidation, deprivation, and reproductive coercion among partners (The Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF), 1999). IPV leads to lifelong consequences such as lasting physical impairment, emotional trauma, chronic health problems, and even death. It is an issue effecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, nationality or educational background. Eighty-five percent of domestic violence victims are women (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2003). More than one in three women in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2012). Thirty to sixty percent of perpetrators tend to also abuse children in the household (Edelson, 1999). Witnessing violence between parents or caretakers is considered the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next (Break the Cycle, 2006).
In society, both past and present, there has been a history of domestic violence within marriages or relationships. Nowadays, in most cases if someone is abused by either a spouse or a partner, there are people that you would be able to reach out to for help, such as: family, law enforcement, and even support groups. Just imagine how it was for someone being physically, mentally, or even verbally abused back in the late 1800s or early 1900s and being totally defenseless; not having anyone to turn to in your time of need. In those days, it was rare for a woman to seek out for help or even leave her spouse after several occasions of being abused. Most people did not intervene in a family's personal life or some people just did not care. Young girls would be married off once they hit a certain age and sometimes never returned to their families. Celie is abused numerous of times and the only people who come to her
How does domestic violence between parents and parental figures affect the children who witness it? This is a question often asked by Sociologists and Psychologists alike. There have been studies that prove that children who witness domestic inter-parental violence experience mental health problems, issues with gender roles, substance abuse, the committing of crimes and suicide/suicide attempts later in their lives. This paper will explore all five of these 'effects' of domestic violence on children and show that there is evidence of a clear relationship in which increasing parental violence is associated with increasing outcome risks (Fergusson & Horwood, 1998, p.8).
...standing, adult women who display violence over their children are in the position to abuse their power of parenting over their children, so they have responsibilities for using violence over children (Damant et al., 2011). The fact that they are victimized themselves does not approve their actions against their children. As psychologically developed and responsible beings, both parents take responsibility for interactions within the family. Understanding the complexity of family structure and dynamic interpersonal relationships is the key to proposing and conducting simultaneous interventions from several dimensions for preventing child abuse, but isolation of single factors is not possible. Without a broad understanding of how all factors interact and contribute to an abusive environment, narrow focus will only solve an insignificant amount of the entire problem.
‘The Sisters’ is about a young boy who has an experience in death of a
Lemmey, D., McFarlane, J., Willson, P., Malecha, A. (2001). Intimate partner violence: mother’s perspectives of effects on their children. The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, 26(2), 98-103.