Domestic Violence

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Domestic Violence

By: Robina A. Mustafa

Domestic Violence Domestic Violence towards women is one of the problem in the United States that is usually over looked and almost always not noticed by today's society. Violence is defined by the Riverside Webster's Dictionary as: 1. Physical force employed so as to damage or injure. 2. As an instance of violent action. If this is the case than why is it that so many women are beaten by loved ones each year and little or nothing is done to correct this violent and hostile situation? In this paper I will attempt to answer this question along with how this big issue, domestic violence is neglected by our society. "The battered women is pictured by most people as a small, fragile, haggard person who might once have been pretty. She has several small children, no job skills, and is economically dependent on her husband. It is frequently assumed that she is poor and from a minority group. She is accustomed to living in violence, and her fearfulness and passivity are emphasized above all. Although some battered women do fit this description, research proves it to be false stereotype.''(Walker 18) In fact most battered women have highly lucrative jobs such as doctors or lawyers, Corporation executives and nurses. Most are heavy set women whose assets are controlled by their husbands and cannot defend them physically. Battered women are found in all racial, religious, and ethical backgrounds as well as age groups and educational levels. ''Who are battered women? If you are woman, there is a fifty- percent chances it could be you!''(Walker 19) Statistical data on battered women is difficult to find because most records are buried in medical records, domestic disturbance calls to the police or the records of social service agencies. During my research I found that characteristics in numerous categories for both the batterer and battered were the same. Here is a list of those categories that were the same or in a similar fashion the same for both individuals. Commonly shared characteristics between battered and batterer. 1. Has low self-esteem. 2. Believes all myths about battering relationships. 3. Is a traditionalist about the home, strongly believes in family unity and his or her roles in the family unit. As with the women all racial, religious, educational levels equally represent the men, cultures socioeconomic groups. "Batterers typically deny that they have a problem, although they are aware of it; and they become enraged if their women should reveal the true situation." (Walker 36) Researcher Eisenberg and Micklow found 90 percent of the batterers in their study had been in the military. Twenty five percent received dishonorable discharges. These are some alarming facts and characteristics about both the battered and the batterer. I was unable to collect any data on the cause for this percentage of violence by men of the military. Although, it being a school of violence might have some weight on the effects of this violence on women. Some of the reasoning behind these acts of physical and mental neglect may be societies acceptance of such violence. We as a society are always calling for more violence on television, in the theater, and on other individuals. We pay for these sorts of entertainment, ask the government to apply force on other nations and as the saying goes "sex and violence sell." It is glorified in all forms of the media. (Walker 37) Why do battered women stay with there significant others? The answer has many different angles; some stay for financial reasons others for the traditional reasons. The fact is that they stay, but when is enough? "After you live so many years, and you wake up one day, and your body has just about had it, you say, 'My God, I just can't take another punch.' That's what happened to me. I just reached a point where I said, 'No more. Nothing is worth it.' I decided I would rather struggle and see if I couldn't make it, so I just up and left, and that's been it." (Langley and Levy 111) This was the victim of spouse abuse for seventeen years. In another case a woman from Maryland described her experience. "Being beaten up is the most degrading, humiliating, crushing kind of thing that could happen to a person." (Langley and Levy 116) In most cases the women feel that they are the ones to blame for their battering and also apologize for being beaten. "A women's decision to stay or go to seek help or suffer in silence is often determined by the frequency of her beatings." (Langley and Levy 122) When women do come to the end of the line and have finally worked up enough courage to do it, to leave the one she loves so dear where does she go? Well I would like to tell you that she calls for help via the police or local authorities and receives the compassion and understanding that she ...

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Keywords: domestic violence in lithuania, domestic violence act, domestic violence definition, domestic violence hotline, domestic violence awareness month, domestic violence act 2005, domestic violence shelter, domestic violence statistics

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