Domestic Violence, or spousal abuse, is one of the most appalling crimes in the criminal justice system. Domestic violence involves the abuse of an intimate partner through means of physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual aggression. When most people think of domestic violence, the most frequent thought is the husband, or boyfriend, battering their defenseless female partner. What people fail to realize is that domestic violence does not happen strictly between heterosexual couples, same sex couples can become victims of battering as well. They can suffer much more than heterosexual victims.
Domestic Violence is not random but follows particular social patterns and these patterns have social causes. For example, the most striking pattern was found by Coleman et al (2007), who said that Domestic Violence mainly occurs through men being violent to women, she found that women were more likely than men to have experienced ‘intimate Violence’ across all four types of abuse, - partner abuse, family abuse, sexual assault and stalking. Statistics by Mirrlees – Black show that 99% of Domestic Violence cases against women were committed by men. She also found out that 1 in 4 women have been assaulted by a partner at some time in her life, and 1 in 8 women, repeatedly so. This is also
The same study found that women who have experienced intimate partner violence were almost twice as likely to experience depression and problem drinking. The rate was even higher for women who had experienced non partner sexual violence. Health effects can also include headaches, back pain, abdominal pain, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorders, limited mobility and poor overall
There are several differences in the amount of crime that men and women do. Men are 15 times more likely to commit homicide than women are. By the age of 40, 9% of females had a criminal conviction as opposed to 32% of males. These statistics show that there is a definite distinction in the amount of crime that is committed by the genders. Women have always been thought of as the weaker sex and Sociologists such as Heidensohn argue that men see the need to protect women.
According to Jennifer Warner (2006), “Men may experience more traumatic events than women, but a new study shows women are more likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).” In laymen’s terms, men encounter stressful situations more often than women while females are highly probable to be diagnosed with PTSD. The WebMD (2006) website, “Researchers say men and women respond to trauma and stress differently, and the criteria used to diagnose PTSD may help explain the higher rates of the disorder among women.” These two statements support my prediction that women are more probable to suffer from posttraumatic stress
There are many risk factors for oppositional defiant disorder. One risk factor is the sex of the child. Studies have found that boys are twice as likely to be diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder as are girls when the child is under twelve years old. When the child is an adolescent, girls were more likely to be diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder (Rey, 1993, 1773). This data might be inconsistent because “girls tend to exhibit aggression more covertly.
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 Act makes it a responsibility for on duty police officers to investigate suspected cases of abuse and to immediately take action upon it. The new Act has also increased the protection for victims by increasing the consequences for acts of abuse by continuous breach offenders. The new Act will see to breachers facing an increased jail time and also for the amount of penalty units applied. The minimum penalty for breaching a domestic violence order is 2 years imprisonment or 60 penalty units (that’s $6000).
Próspero brings up previous theories that suggest masculinity could be learned by other genders, including women and even LGBT populations, especially if these traits were valued in that society (such as excessive aggressiveness)(2008, 640-641). In his study, he found the gender of the perpetrator had effects on the type of intimate partner violence (644). Erbaugh makes another crucial observation when she remarks, “Isolation is a central tactic of abuse.” (453). The abusers take away the victim’s support network, encouraging co-dependence and leaving them nowhere to turn, socially, physically, economically. Not only is this abuser their familiarity, but they will be forced to give that up frequently for nothing familiar.
-According to the US Department of Justice, 2001, intimate partner violence (IPV) does not stop as couples grow older. Women between the ages of 45 and 49 are more likely to be murdered by their partners, more so, are any other age groups. Middle-aged and older women that have been victim to domestic violence are at a higher overall mortality than those who have not (Baker, LaCroix, Wu, Cochrane, Wallace, & Woods, 2009). The wife is the client family member who is experiencing the lifecycle stage. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a term that usually encompasses violence perpetrated by any relationship partner, not just a spouse (Campbell, 2004).
Domestic Violence is happening all over the world. It is known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse, or intimate partner violence. It can be broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, friends, or cohabitation. Domestic violence has many form including physical aggression (hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, throwing objects), or threats thereof sexual abuse, emotional abuse, controlling or domineering, intimidation, stalking, passive/covert abuse (neglect), and economic deprivation. Domestic violence may or may not constitute a crime depending on local statues, severity, and duration of specific acts, and other variables.