Violence Against Women, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Domestic violence is an issue that involves the ethical responsibility that we, as a society, have towards those who are being abused.  This responsibility is essentially based on the moral or ethical framework that is involved in determining the solutions to these problems.  In this way, the issue revolves around the will to understand the underlying factors involved in the issue.  These factors are the basic framework for attempting to resolve the issue at hand.  Through understanding these essential points, it becomes possible to affectively address the issue at hand in a way that benefits society as a whole.

There are various ways that the issue of domestic violence can be addressed. Gillum, Sullivan, & Bybee, add:

“An effective response to violence must be multi-sectoral; addressing the immediate practical needs of women experiencing abuse; providing long-term follow up and assistance; and focusing on changing those cultural norms, attitudes and legal provisions that promote the acceptance of and even encourage violence against women, and undermine women’s enjoyment of their full human rights and freedoms” (2006).

Through the resolution and prevention of domestic issues, these methods will effectively determine a better solution.  First of all, domestic issues should be resolved through counseling sessions that focus on the underlying issues involved in the domestic problem. Also, the issues can be prevented through the careful observation and monitoring of individuals who are prone to domestic violence issues.  Finally, issues in domestic violence can be prevented through the adaption of emotional therapies addressed at better channeling the rage of these individuals inflicting abuse, while re-educating and supporting those who have been victims.

Role of Counseling

Through the application of basic relationship counseling, the underlying issues involved in domestic relationships can not only be pointed out, but hashed out in an attempt to resolve them.  These sessions could essentially focus on the necessary application of basic prevention methods.  In order to achieve this, both parties would have to be actively involved in positively affecting their relationships.  This active participation would essentially contribute to the ability of these individuals to settle their disputes without the need for violence. These disputes are, in this way, considered to be the underlying cause of the issues. Nevertheless, studies support the fact that couples experiencing domestic violence should not be counseled together. In most cases, when a woman is being abused, she is afraid of the abuser. As a result, it is very unlikely that she will express her feelings out of fear of retaliation at a later time. In one study, it was found that only about 17 percent of abused women in counseling honestly admitted and described the extent of their abuse to their counselors (Briere & Jordan, 2004).

Monitoring

Through monitoring of those involved in domestic abuse cases, the issue can be further prevented.  This involves the legal justification for detaining and prosecuting those who commit these types of acts.  In this way, the justice system can actively take part in helping to prevent these domestic cases. One study found that women were more likely to report abuse when they felt the abuser would face stricter consequences. In many cases when a woman reports a domestic situation, the abuser is only given a “slap on the hand” by the judicial system. More than 62 percent of women who participated in the study conveyed that they would cooperate with the courts if they enacted stricter punishments. One participant stated that she never reported her abuse because she know it would only make her husband more violent and angry when he was approached by law enforcement( Bevan & Higgins, 2002  )  In this way, those who are not necessary actively attempting to prevent themselves from taking part in these actions can be taken into account.  This involves the careful application of judicial or criminal proceedings.  These proceedings are underscored by the importance of adapting the legal system to preventing these types of actions from taking place within the domestic environment.

Therapies

Finally, through the adaption of specific emotional conditioning therapies, such as anger management, these issues can be prevented from happening. However, this type of therapy is used to help the abusers cope with their anger issue.  Prevention by this method involves directing attention to those who are committing the abuse, and directly confronting the issues that are involved with their anger.  In this way, the basic underlying emotional tendencies involved in these domestic issues can be understood.  This method is based on the notion that these occurrences are essentially the result of emotional instability on the part of one or more individuals in the domestic world. Sadly, only about 32 percent of those abusers who attend therapy are able to re-route their anger into manageable outlets (Dienemann, Glass, Hanson, & Lunsford, 2007).

The basic premises behind these methods in approaching the problem are based on the discrimination between one or both partners in the relationship.  While counseling for couples can essentially be put on both within the relationship, often either judicial or emotional approaches focus on a single individual.  By attempting to discriminate between the most important factors underlying these issues, a more accurate approach to resolving the issue can be gained.

Culture & Domestic Violence

One’s culture plays a dominant role in his/her perception of domestic violence. Consequently, there are both men and women who feel that domestic violence is both necessary and normal. Often the culture that one grows up in will continue to be perpetuated and manifested in his/her adult lives. Those traditions, beliefs, and learned behaviors guide daily decisions. Consequently, domestic violence is an aspect of society that is directly linked to culture. There are many cultural considerations to take in account when responding and understanding domestic violence. Many actions of domestic violence are marginalized due to cultural influences. As far back as the 1800s, laws in the United States gave men the legal rights to chastise  their wives using whatever means necessary(Farnsworth, 2005).  Nearly 100 years later in 1895, women were finally given the right to divorce their husbands on the grounds of domestic abuse.

Cultural Teachings

Women in some cultures develop a higher tolerance level for abuse because of social norms. These norms provide a blueprint for acceptable behaviors. In many cases women often justify the abuse they are receiving. For example, within the Latin culture, various cultural aspects discuss and outline gender roles. Familismo conveys the behaviors and roles of the family structure. Within the Latin culture, the family unit is greatly emphasized. This emphasis places great strain on families to remain intact due to a deep sense of loyalty. The sense of loyalty is what confines abused women to remain in difficult situations. Latino women are taught to be “submissive, docile, self-sacrificing, and stoic” (Agoff, & Castro, 2007). Yet, men are taught to they are superior to women and must have the role of power and authority of their female partners. According to Agoff & Castro, “A child should always be to his/her parents, virginity is of great value to the single woman, life is meant to be harder for a woman than for a man, a good wife must always be faithful to her husband, a good wife maintains the traditional structure of dynamics within the family, it is more important to obey and respect your husband than it is to love him, and a woman who dishonors her family should be severely punished”(2007  ). These teaching produce an environment that will continue to perpetuate domestic violence because women are taught and believe that they are inferior to men-who are taught that it is a part of their duty as a man.

Redefining the Female’s Role

In Latino culture, the success of a relationship is the burden of the woman. So, if a relationship fails, the woman naturally blames herself. Even in events of domestic violence, the woman feels the need to endure the relationship so others won’t view her as a failure. Anderson adds:

“Domestic violence against women is an age old phenomenon. Women were always considered weak, vulnerable and in a position to be exploited. Violence has long been accepted as something that happens to women. Cultural mores, religious practices, economic and political conditions may set the precedence for initiating and perpetuating domestic violence, but ultimately committing an act of violence is a choice that the individual makes out of a range of options. Although one cannot underestimate the importance of macro system-level forces (such as cultural and social norms) in the etiology of gender-based violence within any country” (2008).

In order to break the cycle of abuse and domestic violence, cultural norms and stereotypes must be broken. Breaking these norms can only be done through education and support for those who have been indoctrinated with false teachings.

Conclusion

Domestic violence can take many forms including, intimidation, battery, sexual assault, or any other systematic actions that are intended to maintain power and control over another person. Nevertheless, the severity and frequency of the violence varies drastically. The one thing that is universal about domestic violence is the fact that one partner is seeking to maintain control over the other.  The epidemic of domestic violence affects all races, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, and economic statuses. In order to eradicate this issue, a systematic approach must be adopted. Persons seeking help to escape domestic violence need support and protection from their abusers.

References

Agoff, C., Herrera, C., & Castro, R. (2007). The weakness of family ties and their perpetuating effect on gender violence: A qualitative study in Mexico. Violence against women, 13(11), 1206-1220.

Anderson, K. L. (2008). Gender, status, and domestic violence: An integration of feminist and family violence approaches. Journal of marriage and family, 59(3), 655-669.

Bevan, E., & Higgins, D. J. (2002). Is domestic violence learned? The contribution of five forms of child maltreatment to men’s violence and adjustment. Journal of family violence, 17(3), 223-245.

Briere, J. & Jordan, C. E. (2004). Violence against women: Outcome complexity and implications for assessment and treatment. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19, 1252-1276.

Dienemann, J., Glass, N., Hanson, G., & Lunsford, K. (2007). The domestic violence survivor assessment (DVSA): A tool for individual counseling with women experiencing intimate partner violence. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 28, 913- 925.

Farnsworth, I. S. (2005). Battered women’s process of leaving: Implications for career counseling. Journal of career assessment, 13(4), 452-475.

Gillum, T. L., Sullivan, C. M., & Bybee, D. I. (2006). The importance of spirituality in the lives of domestic violence survivors. Violence against women, 12(3), 240-250.