Introduction
Every minute there are 24 people raped, physically abused, or being stalked by an intimate partner in the US. This 2011 statistics released by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention is a clear indication of how widespread and real domestic violence is. Also known as domestic abuse, intimate partner abuse, and intimate partner violence, this issue affects women, teenage boys, teenage girls, and even men (medicinenet.com). It takes place when one of the partners imposes one or various ways to control the other. The means of control can be physical, emotional, sexual, or economic. Domestic violence is as old as history itself. From ancient times with women regarded as properties of men, to the medieval period with laws issued allowing men to punish their wives who commit any offences, up to the 20th century with the practice of cultural traditions that disregard women’s rights. It is now the 21st century. National laws have been passed, international covenants signed, and local movements against violence launched. This essay provides evidence that despite all these instruments, domestic violence still perpetuates to the 21st century.
Historical Events
At least three historical events have contributed to bringing domestic violence into the public domain. First is the Feminist movement. Prior to the 1970s, the public-private divide on domestic violence has been very clear. In the state of Minnesota, the ruling of the courts in 1920 was for private affairs to remain in the home. The decision of the case of Drake v Drake, stated that the court cannot intervene in “trivial family disagreements” because it was essential for family matters to be “undisturbed by public exposure” (Kelly, 2003 as cited in Zozky 2010, p. 364). When the feminist movement intensified its campaigns, new policies were passed and domestic violence was recognized as a public issue. There was paradigm shift and according to Zosky (2010), even if domestic violence was “a personal crime, it was also a crime against the state and abusers should be held accountable” (p.364).
Another major event took place in 1994 with the passing of the legislation entitled Violence Against Women Act. This legislation allocated resources, in terms of billions in dollars, for the implementation of activities that address the issue of domestic violence. This policy was instrumental in enabling different government agencies and even non-profit organizations to together “work toward ending domestic violence” (Crowley, 2009,p.724).
Media has contributed a lot to the dissemination of information about domestic violence. The third event is the Assault Case on singer Rihanna by her boyfriend, Chris Brown in 2009. The boyfriend was not jailed but sentenced to community service for 180 days. When the assault incidence reached the media it was not only the celebrities that got press time. The issue on domestic violence gained a lot of media exposure. Among the talk shows was that by Oprah. Viewers, including teenagers, became interested about the issue and it was a very good opportunity to educate the people.. A very strong message about domestic violence was sent out by this assault case. This was the fact that domestic violence is an abusive practice that cuts across socio-economic boundaries. Rihanna was a celebrity and lived a luxurious life, and yet she was not spared from abuse by her intimate partner.
Social Psychology Concepts
Three social psychology concepts that are related to the issue are (a) self-esteem; (b) aggression; and (c) persuasion. In cases of domestic violence, the self-esteem of the victim is most affected. Since the abuse is a combination of physical, verbal, sexual attacks, the victim’s perception of his/her value as a person is reduced. This is further intensified by the realization that the person you trust and cared for is the same person who literally torments you. The victim can easily doubt her value as person with the existence of a violent relationship at home. He/he may even start to believe the abusive words of her intimate partner.
Aggression is the second concept that is very much related to the issue. According to Bandura, in his social learning theory, the third stage of learning is “acceptance of the modeled act as a guide for one’s own behavior” (Social learning, 2013). Aggression is not innate, it is a learned behavior. In the case of domestic violence, the aggression demonstrated by the perpetrator has long-term effects on its victims. Children who grew up witnessing violence in their homes tend to either become the aggressor in their own relationships, or allow oneself to be in an abusive relationship.
The third concept is persuasion. In the issue of domestic violence, the concept of persuasion is applied most often by the justice system. Social workers have to be able to convince the victims to have a change of mind, that it is not the victim’s fault that she was abused. Persuasion is used all throughout the court hearings. For example, prosecutors need to persuade the jury that a crime has been committed.
Challenges to individuals and law enforcers
There are three challenges that face individuals and law enforcers. First is the reluctance of victims to report domestic abuse. Victims are both scared and embarrass. For example, women with kids tend to stay in the relationship with the hope that their spouse would reforms. Second challenge is finding the best home for the children because being separated from parents or from siblings is a traumatic experience. Third challenge is preventing domestic abuse from taking place all over again.
Articles about Domestic Violence
Statements I agree with
Antle, Barbee, Yankeelov & Bledsoe, (2010) emphasized in their article that mandatory reporting of domestic abuse should be considered in future policies. I agree to this because sometimes, victims feel they need an outside support to report the incidence. I also see the benefits pointed out by Sang Bok (2003) about giving due consideration to the multicultural aspects in any case handled especially since the American society is very diverse.
Statements I do not agree with
The only statement I do not agree with is in the study of Crowley (2009) about the Fathers’ Rights Groups, saying that the women’s movement should just focus on increasing the penalties of known abusers. I believe that the issue should be expanded to include even those who have the propensity to commit abuses on their partners.
Recommendations
Recommendations for individuals
Each individual should strive to prevent the perpetuation of domestic violence. One way to do this is a consistent information campaign focusing on the rights of a person. The campaign must always indicate the quickest way to get help. The second recommendation is strengthening the relationships at home, especially between children and parents. The goal is to lessen domestic violence among future families. Children who grow up witnessing positive relationships in the home have more chances of engaging in positive, healthy, and non-abusive relationships of their own.
Recommendations to the System
Two recommendations for the implementers of the criminal system are (a) consider the cultural aspect; and (b) work on prevention with emphasis on promoting positive family values. The US society is highly diverse. Children of immigrants, though born in the US, are raised within the context of their parents traditions. Thus, it would be a great service if the cultural aspect is given due consideration especially during court trials, interviews, and examinations. Government need also to include programs that promote better relationships among families. Having quicker response teams and procedures would likewise address the issue in a more efficient way.
Conclusion
Domestic violence accompanies man in his historical journey. Through the centuries, modern man has been able to develop ways to control his environment and provide a better life for the next generations. However, the remnants of the ancient beliefs of man being superior and women are property are still felt in the 21st century. Domestic violence perpetuates in the present society and women experience physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse. Despite the numerous laws passed by society’s lawmakers, abusive practices continue to take place within the confines of homes. Perpetrators of such abuses are persons to whom the victims have given their trust and affection. Is the 21st century man really any better than his counterpart in Ancient times?
References
Antle, B., Barbee, A., Yankeelov, P., & Bledsoe, L. (2010). A Qualitative Evaluation of the Effect of Mandatory Reporting of Domestic Violence on Victims and their Children. Journal of Family Social Work, 13:56–73. doi: 10.1080/10522150903468065
Crowley, J. (2009). Fathers’ Rights Groups, Domestic Violence and a Political Countermobilization. Social Forces, 88 (2), 723-756.
Lowen, L.
Sang Bok, L. (2003). Working with Korean-American Families: Multicultural Hermeneutics in Understanding and Dealing with Marital Domestic Violence. American Journal of Family Theraphy, 31(3), 159-178. doi:10.1080/01926180390167133
Social Learning. (2013). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://school.ed.com/eb/article-9001490.
Zosky,D.L. (2010). Accountability in Teenage Dating Violence: A Comparative Examination of Adult Domestic Violence and Juvenile Justice Systems Policies: Social Work, 55(4), 359-368.
