Family violence also identified as domestic violence has been around since the beginning of time in the western culture. Family violence involves the infliction of pain either physical, psychological or emotional on a spouse, partner of children. It is mostly seen in homes where men inflict pain on their wives. In the past women and children were seen as being the property of the man who was free to do as they wish (Gracia, 2006). The men used violence as a method of controlling their behavior. Violence was both a punishment but also as a way of conditioning desired behavior. Ancients’ codes approved that the man could inflict pain as a way of punishment because they assumed that the women were subservient. Canon law, Roman code, the Hammurabi code, Renaissance France laws and the English common rules all approved of husbands chastising their wives using whips or any other form of punishment that they deemed necessary (Mitra, 2013).
In the United States, the courts supported the right of the man to punish his wife and disproved of the wife committing any assault on their husbands up until the twentieth century. During this century, the law became more lenient. However, they only allowed the women to sue men for an assault on battery. However, they required to prove that the injuries were more severe than those of an ordinary assault case. Today such proof is not certain women only have to prove assault, and they are allowed to pursue legal recourse. The courts even hear instances of psychological torture.
Family violence may manifest in subtle ways that may go unnoticed to the victim and other people outside the family, or it may be pronounced to the extent of attracting the attention of authorities and neighbors. There are various types of domestic violence. The most prevalent is physical abuse where one member of the family usually a parent or a spouse physically abuses their partners or their children. In such a case the parent will hit with their hands or other household items to inflict pain. It may be arm twisting, kicking, punching or pinching. There are also other forms of indirect physical violence like when someone withholds essentials such as food and medication (Gracia, 2006). People who are predisposed to committing violence acts take a step further to deprive their victims of sleep and hygiene. Sexual abuse is also considered as a form of family violence. Due to its sensitive nature, many are not aware of the extent and the measures they should take if it occurs to them (Osofsky, 2016).
Globally, people consider rape as the only form of sexual abuse, but there are other forms, including the use of derogatory sexual language, forced prostitution where a member of the family will force a young girl into prostitution for money. Such cases are usually quite common where the children are orphaned, and the existing relative decides to take advantage of the situation. In marriage, sexual abuse can make subtle ways, such as criticizing one’s sexual performance, accusations of infidelity or withholding sex (Mitra, 2013).
Psychological torture is also another form of family violence where a family member instills or attempts to instill fear in his or her victims through intimidation, threats of self-harm or harm to the victim. In families where they have children, a spouse may threaten to harm the children or take them if they do not have things their way. Name calling and manipulation of feelings as well as the induction of guilt to force a spouse or a child to go against their will also counts as part of family violence. In today’s world, the definition of violence has evolved to include the case of psychological and emotional torture that were not previously recognized. Family neglect such as withholding funding for school fees and other household essentials. Forbidding a spouse to seek employment or forcing them to quit their jobs to make them economically dependent is another form of economic violence.
Neglect of family responsibilities can lead to serious repercussions for both the victims and the perpetrator. For the perpetrator, they risk annihilating the members of his or her family. The victims become isolated from society because they lack the confidence to deal with their lives (Mitra, 2013). They also suffer health issues because they lack the funding to cater for their medical bills. Neglect also leads to legal repercussions where the families are separated, and the children put under the care of foster and group homes.
Psychological abuse leads to long-term psychiatric problems where the victims may for multiple personalities in a bid to protect themselves. Such cases turn out fatal for the victim’s mental health and their families because they may end up harming others while trying to protect themselves (Osofsky, 2016). In less extreme cases the victims become introverted, withdrawn and without any social skills. The scars of the abuse are long lasting, and they are unable to relate or trust other people even long after they have been removed from the abusive environment. Depression is also another effect of continuing psychological violence or abuse. In an extreme case, it may lead to suicide. Victims of violence often turn to self-termination as an escape from their miserable lives (Mitra, 2013).
Family violence is a menace that plagues every society on the globe equally. Today there are many forums and activist groups that are desiccated to ensuring the elimination of family violence in the world. Their primary aim is to alleviate deaths, injuries and long lasting psychological effects of violence. Scholars have made an effort to study, predict the possibilities of occurrence and their impact on victims.
References
Gracia, E. (2006). Acceptability of domestic violence against women in the European Union: a multilevel analysis. Journal Of Epidemiology & Community Health, 60(2), 123-129. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2005.036533
Mitra, N. (2013). Intimate Violence, Family, and Femininity: Women's Narratives on Their Construction of Violence and Self. Violence Against Women, 19(10), 1282-1301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1077801213506287
Osofsky, J. (2016). the impact of violence on children. Retrieved 17 March 2016, from http://futureofchildren.org/futureofchildren/publications/docs/09_03_2.pdf
