Domestic violence refers to a pattern of violent and coercive behavior exercised by one adult over another in an intimate relationship. It may consist of repeated, severe beatings or more subtle forms of abuse, including threats and control. (Unknown, 2005). According to C.J. Newton’s article “Domestic Violence: An Overview: The rates of domestic violence vary along several lines, including race, gender, economic and educational status and geographical location.
A particular artist by the name of Ludacris decided that enough was enough and determined that he would take a stand against abuse in his song, “Runaway Love.” This song, performed by Ludacris and featuring Mary J. Blige, voices their concern about the issues of rape, physical violence, gun violence, and unwanted pregnancy. They do this by unveiling three different stories of girls whose home life is less then glamorous. In “Runaway Love,” the song tells of three little girls that deal with different types of abuse. Ludacris says, “Yeah, I can only imagine what you goin' through, ladies/Sometimes I feel like runnin' away myself.” He feels this way because he understands the horrors of what they are going through. He grew up around people that struggled with physical and emotional abuse day in and day out.
A very large number of crimes, especially domestic violence against women make it very important nowadays to know how to defend themselves, and people around them physically. In the past decades, the issue of domestic violence against women, which is physical, psychological, and sexual violence in an intimate partnership has not yet significantly decreased all over the world. All over the globe, campaigns have started to solve this very affecting issue, and studies to explore the reasons for this kind of behavior towards women have been issued. In 1994, the American group “Violence Against Women Act”, shortly called the VAWA, was founded for the purpose of improving social service for victims of domestic violence, and improving criminal justice enforcement and intervention. The VAWA created several guidelines to avoid domestic violence, and protect women.
Domestic abuse is more than just a good pilot on Lifetime television. It is prevelant in society and the homes of millions around the world. “Domestic violence causes far more pain than the visible marks of bruises and scars. It is devastating to be abused by someone that you love and think loves you in return. It is estimated that approximately 3 million incidents of domestic violence are reported each year in the United States.” In the story of Woman Hollering Creek, written by Sandra Cisneros, themes of domestic abuse underlie the story of a woman, Cleofilas, falls in love and marries a man, Juan Pedro, who is physically and emotionally abusive to her during the course of their marriage.
This represents around 473,000 adults being victims of sexual offences (around 404,000 females and 72,000 males) on average per year. These experiences span the full spectrum of sexual offences, ranging from the most serious offences of rape and sexual assault to other sexual offences like indecent exposure and unwanted touching. "(Crime Survey for England and Wales, 2009/2010/2011/2012) Sexual assault is a personal and destructive crime. The effects on individual can be psychological, emotional, or physical. They can be brief in duration or last a long time.
Examine the patterns of, & reasons for, domestic violence in the society. (24marks) Domestic violence could be defined as, Physical, psychological, sexual or financial violence that takes place within an intimate or family type relationship and forms a pattern coercive and controlling behavior. It may involve partners, ex partners, household members or relatives. Domestic violence has many forms including, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, economic deprivation. Awareness, perception and documentation of domestic violence differs from country to country and from era to era.
As many offenders continue to breach their orders. It’s estimated that family violence order breaches, in Victoria, have risen from a 1 in 4 to a 1 in 3 last year, over 15000 cases of breaches were reported in Victoria alone. The rises in these incidents poses as a challenge for law enforcement individuals and also highlight the problems that are still experienced by the victims. The law needs break the undeterred cycle of domestic violence. Under the old Act, victims of domestic violence were able to choose whether or not their abusive partner would have charges pressed upon them – the 2012 Act, gives greater power to law enforcement.
The results of a longitudinal study tracked 700 male and female youths over a fifteen-year period. They found that those who as children were exposed to violent television shows were much more likely to later be convicted of crime. All other possible contributing environmental elements such as poverty, living in a violent neighborhood and neglect they were factored out of this study. Researchers also said that media violence can affect any child from any family
Common Reasons for the Rising Divorce Rate Although every marriage is different, similar circumstances can be the cause of divorce. The essay written by Anne Roiphe, “Why Marriages Fail”, explores a multitude of common reasons for the rising divorce rate. External factors such as job loss, illness, or financial peril, as well as internal factors that come from the psychological disharmony of an individual, are all common reasons for ending a marriage. Roiphe explains that, as humans, we have innate instinct to choose a mate who has qualities similar to that of one’s mother or father. Marital therapist, Dr. Carl A. Whitaker concurs that “From early childhood on, each of us carried models for marriage, femininity, masculinity, motherhood, fatherhood, and all the other family roles.” We unconsciously and consciously bring memories of our parents’ relationship into our own marriages.
Therefore, culture and socialization can be major influences when it comes to domestic violence. The advancement in cultural abuse is growing larger in numbers and happening right in our community. While estimates are that approximately one and a half million American women experience a serious assault by their partner in a twelve month period, domestic violence among immigrant refugee women are more prevalent. (Yale Law Journal,102(6) 1401-1430) It is easy to understand the battered immigrant refugee women may encounter communication, cultural, legal, social and economic barriers. Cultural acceptance of abusive behavior, lack of usual familial, community support and social isolation may lead to tolerance of acceptance that battering is the norm.