Needless to say, domestic violence is an unacceptable deviant behavior. It is an act that is in no form encouraged by society. It is a mechanism of control, that one individual uses to empower them self or bolster their minuscule ego. The abuse is not limited to the confines of marriage, monogamous relationships, heterosexual relationships, or relationships in general. Methods of domestic violence include but are not limited to: verbal abuse, isolation, physical harm in the form of battery, sexual assault, stalking, and intimidation. It can happen all the time or once in a while, but regardless, every human being has the right to peace and safety. I must admit that some of these oppressors have also been hurt by this world, but I do not believe that brokenness gives anyone the right to rob someone of their freedom. The detriments, psychologically, that victims of domestic violence are condemned to bear are unimaginable.
Many women like to believe that domestic violence is so extreme that the odds of it happening to them are slim. I happened to be one of these women, before I did the research. I use to watch documentaries on Ike and Tina, and scoff at the television. I walked around with the assumption that my family and I would never allow me to be brutalized for the sake of love and pride. Anyone walking around with this conviction is wrong and should be enlightened by the truth that lies in statistics. Let's look at the facts shall we. Any woman of any color, background, economic class, and education level can be victimized. More than 4.8 MILLION intimate-partner related physical assaults and rapes occur each year. One third of all women killed in the United States are murdered by their significant other. You must admit these are some startling statistics that contradict the misconception that domestic violence is a once-in-a-blue-moon occurance.
I set out to discover why these numbers are so high, and why this is issue isn't widely publicized, except for of course the occasional Lifetime and Oxygen movies. In my investigation, I discovered outstanding facts and statistics. I hate to make this into a research paper, but honestly there is no class that stops to discuss domestic violence. (Except AICE Sociology, taught by the GREAT MS. BASI ;) Domestic violence is present in every community and group. There is at least one person in every classroom that has witnessed or suffered from some form of abuse within their home. Although young women, minorities, and low-income women are vastly more likely to be targets of domestic violence, anyone can be a victim.
I was once told that it is not the responsibility of an outsider to get involved in another couple's disputes. My poor peer insinuated that some people deserve to be hit, depending on the situation. Want to know what I told him? I politely told him, like only I would, to kindly, "GET OUT OF HERE!" No one, and I do mean no one, deserves to be mistreated in anyway. The only person responsible for abuse is the abuser. I was even told once that women who stay in abusive relationships were stupid, downright dumb. Why? Well she believed that people who stay in relationships that become violent choose to be beaten and raped or whatever else. She got the same response as the idiot who spoke before her. According to the United States Department of Justice, the most dangerous period for a woman in a violent relationship occurs after escape attempts. Moreover, it is the tendency of most abusers to isolate the victim from their friends and family. We must also consider how many people say things like, "A woman getting hit deserves it for being a coward and not just leaving" or "We should just stay out of it, they know what they're doing." Ignorance is contagious. Some women have nowhere to go. Some women are so blinded by love or become complacent and stay for the familiarity of the situation. They once loved the person, right? Inferiority complexes are also the leading psychological issues in abused women. Now, I like to think that if faced with a violent relationship, I'd, like J. LO in Enough, fight back. I might even go the Madea route and play "Grit Ball" but I can say a lot of things, being as though I'm not being abused.
What about the kids? Well children who have witnessed domestic violence in the household are more likely to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, nightmares, and bed-wetting. They also have a hire chance of contracting the flu, developing certain allergies, and suffering from serious headaches. Girls in this situation have a higher chance of being victims, whereas boys have a higher chance of being oppressors. Think about the kids, our future. Nearly 50% of the men who abuse their wives also abuse their children.
I think the saddest thing I found, however, is the fact that domestic violence among same-sex couples are prevalent yet the research is not being funded on a national scale due in part to lack of awareness. In addition, these victims have less shelters and places of refuge. Once again our selfish society ostracizes the gays. Men are also disregarded.
Victims, understand that you do have options. Understand that it is not your fault. Remember, you can and you should leave, especially if there are kids involved. You can call the police, ask for help, get a personal protection order, or look to family and friends, if you have any. The key to a safe escape is strength, courage, and careful planning. Anyone who witnesses the abuse of another and does nothing about it is just as guilty, if not more guilty than the villainous offender. It is your moral obligation to help your fellow man.
Anyone who is suffering from abuse call : 1800-799-SAFE (7233) but be safe, try a pay phone.
As I read and I watched, I wondered what would Garfinkel do? Domestic violence does defy several social norms. I came to the conclusion that abuse is one breaching experiment he would not have approved of.
Many women like to believe that domestic violence is so extreme that the odds of it happening to them are slim. I happened to be one of these women, before I did the research. I use to watch documentaries on Ike and Tina, and scoff at the television. I walked around with the assumption that my family and I would never allow me to be brutalized for the sake of love and pride. Anyone walking around with this conviction is wrong and should be enlightened by the truth that lies in statistics. Let's look at the facts shall we. Any woman of any color, background, economic class, and education level can be victimized. More than 4.8 MILLION intimate-partner related physical assaults and rapes occur each year. One third of all women killed in the United States are murdered by their significant other. You must admit these are some startling statistics that contradict the misconception that domestic violence is a once-in-a-blue-moon occurance.
I set out to discover why these numbers are so high, and why this is issue isn't widely publicized, except for of course the occasional Lifetime and Oxygen movies. In my investigation, I discovered outstanding facts and statistics. I hate to make this into a research paper, but honestly there is no class that stops to discuss domestic violence. (Except AICE Sociology, taught by the GREAT MS. BASI ;) Domestic violence is present in every community and group. There is at least one person in every classroom that has witnessed or suffered from some form of abuse within their home. Although young women, minorities, and low-income women are vastly more likely to be targets of domestic violence, anyone can be a victim.
I was once told that it is not the responsibility of an outsider to get involved in another couple's disputes. My poor peer insinuated that some people deserve to be hit, depending on the situation. Want to know what I told him? I politely told him, like only I would, to kindly, "GET OUT OF HERE!" No one, and I do mean no one, deserves to be mistreated in anyway. The only person responsible for abuse is the abuser. I was even told once that women who stay in abusive relationships were stupid, downright dumb. Why? Well she believed that people who stay in relationships that become violent choose to be beaten and raped or whatever else. She got the same response as the idiot who spoke before her. According to the United States Department of Justice, the most dangerous period for a woman in a violent relationship occurs after escape attempts. Moreover, it is the tendency of most abusers to isolate the victim from their friends and family. We must also consider how many people say things like, "A woman getting hit deserves it for being a coward and not just leaving" or "We should just stay out of it, they know what they're doing." Ignorance is contagious. Some women have nowhere to go. Some women are so blinded by love or become complacent and stay for the familiarity of the situation. They once loved the person, right? Inferiority complexes are also the leading psychological issues in abused women. Now, I like to think that if faced with a violent relationship, I'd, like J. LO in Enough, fight back. I might even go the Madea route and play "Grit Ball" but I can say a lot of things, being as though I'm not being abused.
What about the kids? Well children who have witnessed domestic violence in the household are more likely to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, nightmares, and bed-wetting. They also have a hire chance of contracting the flu, developing certain allergies, and suffering from serious headaches. Girls in this situation have a higher chance of being victims, whereas boys have a higher chance of being oppressors. Think about the kids, our future. Nearly 50% of the men who abuse their wives also abuse their children.
I think the saddest thing I found, however, is the fact that domestic violence among same-sex couples are prevalent yet the research is not being funded on a national scale due in part to lack of awareness. In addition, these victims have less shelters and places of refuge. Once again our selfish society ostracizes the gays. Men are also disregarded.
Victims, understand that you do have options. Understand that it is not your fault. Remember, you can and you should leave, especially if there are kids involved. You can call the police, ask for help, get a personal protection order, or look to family and friends, if you have any. The key to a safe escape is strength, courage, and careful planning. Anyone who witnesses the abuse of another and does nothing about it is just as guilty, if not more guilty than the villainous offender. It is your moral obligation to help your fellow man.
Anyone who is suffering from abuse call : 1800-799-SAFE (7233) but be safe, try a pay phone.
As I read and I watched, I wondered what would Garfinkel do? Domestic violence does defy several social norms. I came to the conclusion that abuse is one breaching experiment he would not have approved of.
