What is domestic violence? Domestic violence (DV) is violence against ones domestic spouse or partner. This is one of the contributing causes of homicides today. There are a lot of misconceptions as to the extensiveness of this crime. Why DV happens in the first place? Who are victims of DV? Who are affected by this crime? What are the motivating factors? The many resources that are put in place to help DV victims cope and deal with after effects of DV. These all are issues that need to be discussed to expand on ones perception of what DV is.
There are many statistics that illustrate how wide-spread this issue is. It not only affects the victim, but close people in their lives as well. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The National Institute of Justice, Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence, it is states that “one out of four women (25 %) has experienced domestic violence in their lifetime.” It is stated by the Allstate Foundation National Poll on Domestic Violence, 2006 “nearly three out of four (74%) of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence. 30% of Americans say they know a woman who has been physically abused by her husband or boyfriend in the past year. This statistic speaks volumes of the extensity of domestic violence. Although it is only recorded that 25% of women experienced domestic violence in their lifetime, no one know the percentage of those women who don’t report. “On average between 1993 and 2004, children under age 12 were residents of households experiencing intimate partner violence in 43% of incidents involving female victims and 25% of incidents involving male victims” which was quoted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Intimate Partner Violence in the U.S. 1993-2004, 2006. Many children are present when domestic violence is taking place. Watching their parent get abused can traumatize them as they get older.
These statistics show just a glimpse of the seriousness of domestic violence. As I discuss the different issues of domestic violence within my blog, I hope to leave you with a better understanding of the extensiveness of this crime.
I remember seeing this youtube clip in one of my sociology classes. Everytime I see this video it really bothers me because reality is that domestic abuse happens to women all the time. It is hurtful to see women suffer the way they do. There is a qoute that I read a while back and it says,"i do not wish women to have power over men, but over themselves." My hope is that women can find that power within themselves and walk away from the abusive relationship. For those who are interested, there is an event in Sacramento that has to do with domestic violance, all the information is pasted below.
ReplyDeleteWomen Take Back the Night rally set for Second Saturday
By Anita Creamer
acreamer@sacbee.com
The annual Women Take Back the Night rally and march, which highlights the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault, is scheduled for Oct. 8. The event, which has taken place locally since 1979, will include testimony of abuse survivors during the two-hour rally before the march.
Scheduled for Second Saturday, the event begins with a resource fair at 5:30 p.m. at the Sacramento Native American Health Center at 2020 J St., followed by the rally from 6 to 8 p.m. and the march after that.
Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/27/3941206/women-take-back-the-night-rally.html#ixzz1ZaEnqPsX
Genevieve, I think it's great that you are writing about this topic. I can really tell by reading your blog that you are genuinely interested in increasing awareness on domestic violence and advocating for victims. The criminal justice community is starting to learn more about domestic violence and its detrimental affect on victims. However, while some groups focus on the gender issues that cause individuals to abuse their partners and others focus on the victims of abuse, the children involved are often forgotten. You mentioned: "many children are present when domestic violence is taking place." I hope that if you have enough time and resources you can pursue an individual blog on the effect DV has on children.
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