Introduction
Domestic violence is a devastating social predicament, and it affects every component of the population. The impact of domestic violence on children refers to the effects that the spousal abuse has on their offspring. In the recent times, most children are living in homes where domestic violence is a frequent occurrence. Research conducted on children who have witnessed their guardians become violent shows that it is almost impossible to state the exact number of such cases as it is difficult to count(’ (Fantuzzo et al 1997; p.121). Nevertheless, a number of studies show that 85-95% of the instances when a violent incidence occurs in a family situation, children were there and were maltreated at the time those occurrences takes place in around 50% of such cases (Queensland Domestic Taskforce, 1998; Cleaver et al, 1999,cited in Fleischer, 2000). Murray Straus (1979) was the first person to introduce conflict theory application to the study of domestic violence, and he stated that the conflict within any relationship is an essential condition to ensure it continues to function. Hotaling and Straus (1980) stated that efforts to suppress conflict might lead to the collapse of a family unit or any other social unit either as a result of its failure to adjust to changing conditions or because resentment accumulates and consequently erodes group solidarity. In addition, an avoidance of conflict ironically leads to increase hostility (Foss, 1980).
Assumption one: Domestic Violence has a negative effect on children in the family.
Life experiences are known to shape a person’s life. In an incident of domestic violence, the people involved are affected not only physically, but also emotionally. The memories linger in their minds often especially if the occurrence was very brutal.
In this light, it is the young children whose minds are still developing that will be significantly affected. The impacts of domestic violence have an adverse effect on babies even before their expectant mother gives birth. Statistics show that 42% of the pregnant women are exposed to violence and 20% of these females experience it for the very first time they are expecting a baby (Australian Women’s Safety Survey, quoted in Laing, 2000; p.9). When a pregnant mother is put under stress, the levels of the hormone cortisol and this in turns leads to poor fetal development and in particular the delaying of the growth of brain. Thus, stress puts the future of the unborn baby of an expectant mother at risk (Quinlivan, 2000; p.57)
Children that witness vicious acts are more likely to have antisocial and aggressive nature as compared to other children. Anxiety and depression are also exhibited in maltreated kids (Brown & Bzostek, 2003). Additionally, other research show that anger, low self-esteem, withdrawal, fear and other problems related to social relationships are experienced on higher levels in these kids than those who were not subjected to family violence. According to research conducted, it shows that children who frequently witness domestic violence show temperament problems, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and anger than any other children in a home where there is no domestic violence. The trauma the children experience is indicated by their behavior, emotional, physical and social conflicts that bring impact to their development and probably can continue even into their adulthood age.
Children who experienced domestic violence in their lives are more likely to have hard times in their school work. These kids are more likely to score lower grades on assessments and more so on verbal and cognitive skills. Another problem experienced maybe lack of problem-solving skills as well as limited conflict resolution skills (Brown & Bzostek, 2003; Edleson, 2006). Study on family violence indicates that men exposed to violence as children tend to engage in domestic violence when they become adults. Likewise, women are in most cases the victims (Brown & Bzostek, 2003). Noticeably, a male is likely to cause injury six times more as compared to women. Increased levels of dejection and trauma symptoms have been reported as well (Silvern et al., 1995). In extreme cases, violent childhood experiences have contributed to the loss of lives.
Naturally, when human beings are faced with challenges, more so when they are unable to solve them, they may reach a breakpoint and become so desperate that they see death as the answer. This is particularly the case for young adults in their teenage years that get feelings like they are not loved by their guardians and experience family violence. Also, some spouses might decide to take their lives if they partners are wicked. Cases of divorce are on the increase worldwide. Domestic violence has played a significant role in separation and breakups of marriages. Consequently, this has greatly affected the victims and especially the children who in most cases are not even given a chance to choose whom to live with between their two parents as they have to obey the court’s ruling. In other cases, a child is torn between whom to go with as he/she loved the parents equally. In the end, the child is greatly affected and at a risk of behavioral problems (Marshall & Watt, 1999).
Assumption 2: Domestic violence cases can be reduced if society would bring awareness to the amount of female abusers in the households
Research points out those women are largely represented as perpetrators in situations involving abusing children physically. Mostly, the work of bringing up children is left to the females. The interaction between the children with their fathers is limited especially at the early childhood. This means that most of the times, the young children are under the care of their mothers. An inhuman mother might mistreat the child without the knowledge of the father. Due to fear, a child who is even in a position to communicate properly cannot tell anyone of the things they are going through back at home. The situation worsens if, for instance, the female abuser is not the biological mother of the child. Babysitters may mistreat the child in case of an agreement between the parents and them, as a way of payback. Most of these babysitters are usually females. Unknowingly to the parents, the child put under care of a cruel person may extremely suffer, and it may affect the future of the child. In severe cases, there have been reported cases where the women who were supposed to take care of the children ends up killing them. The parents may even know what happens when they are not present, and they usually end up firing the caretakers of the children. However, more often than not, the wicked house helps are not reported to the authorities and even when they are employed elsewhere, they continue doing their immoral acts with young ones.
Furthermore, in lesbian relationships, the partners adopt children and sometimes, the kids are maltreated both physically and emotionally (Marie 1984). Even in a relationship between male and female, a case where the female is abused, the woman becomes moody and short tempered and might take it out on the innocent children who had nothing to do with the sorrow that their mother is experiencing. In such a situation, they do not know who to turn to as their father is evidently more brutal and fear suffering the same fate their mother is facing. Additionally, mothers who had unwanted pregnancies and kept the child may mistreat the baby because of bitterness. Notably, is the increase in situations where the boy child is abused sexually by older women, including their own mothers. In the past, people were more careful with the girl child as they were prone to higher risk of rape cases. Today, both genders are at an equal risk of being sexually abused. All in all, these children suffer in silence as majority of these incidences are not reported. Information indicates that only about 6% of the families affected by domestic violence are reported to the statutory agencies. The data shows that most of the cases are overlooked and unreported. In our society setting, the children agree with whatever the parents says and does not have a chance to air their opinions. As a result, children rights are abused, but there is no one to stand by them as it is the people they look up to who violate those rights.
Conclusion
In the modern society, human beings are faced with numerous challenges including incurable illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, unemployment and financial problems. The stressors make it unbearable to cope in a family, and the children suffer as a result of actions of their parents and guardians. Our society accepts violence as a rational response to frustration and stress (Farrington, 1986). The existence of influential social norms encourages the relationship between stress and violent behavior. Unknowingly, the modern society promotes fear in children who are exposed to violent people, to come out of their closets and make their grievances be heard. It is notably that the memories of child linger in their minds often especially if the occurrence of domestic violence was very brutal. It is crucial to consider the impacts a domestic violence will have on the lives of children who witnessed to acts.
It is contradicting to hear situations where women mistreat children. Women are an important pillar of our society. They bring life to the world by giving birth to young ones. One is left wondering where their compassion and motherly love is. Our society ought to change and make it the duty of each and every person to ensure that the rights of children, whether born or unborn are protected.
Work Cited
Brown, B. V., & Bzostek, S. (2003). Violence in the lives of children. CrossCurrents, 1, Child Trends DataBank. Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2007, December).
Fantuzzo, J. W., Boruch, R, Beriama, A, Atkins, M, and Marcus, S, (1997), Domestic violence and children: Prevalence and risk in five major US cities, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 1, 116-122.
Farrington, D. P., Ohlin, L. E., & Wilson, J. Q. (1986). Understanding and controlling crime: Toward a new research strategy. New York: Springer-Verlag.
Marshall, J and Watt, P, 1999, Child Behavior Problems: A Literature Review of the Size and Nature of the Problem and Prevention Interventions in Childhood, Perth, WA.
Straus, M. A,. & Hotaling G.T (1980) “Culture social organization and Irony in the study of Family Violence.” In M. A Straus & G.T Hotaling(eds.) The social causes of Husband-Wife violence, 3-22, Minneapolis :University of Minnesota Press.
