Domestic Violence Essay Research Paper Domestic ViolenceDomestic

Domestic Violence Essay, Research Paper

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence towards women is a problem in the United States

that is usually over looked and almost always not noticed by Society

today. Violence is defined by the Riverside Webster’s Dictionary (p.755)

as: 1. Physical force employed so as to damage or injure. 2. As an

instance of violent action. If this is the case than why is it that so

many women are beaten by loved ones each year and little or nothing is

done to correct this violent and hostile situation. In this paper I will

attempt to answer this question along will a slue of others which pl aque

women in these war zones each day.

“The battered women is pictured by most people as a small, fragile,

haggard person who might once have been pretty. She has several small

children, no job skills, and is economically dependent on her husband. It

is frequently assumed that she is poor and

from a minority group. She is accustomed to living in violence, and her

fearfulness and passivity are emphasized above all. Although some battered

women do fit this description, research proves it to be false

stereotype.”(Walker p.18) In fact most batte red women have highly

lucrative jobs such as doctors or lawyers, Corporation executives and

nurses. Most are heavy set women whose assets are controlled by there

husbands and cannot defend themselves physically. Battered women are found

in all racial, rel igious and ethical backgrounds as well as age groups

and educational levels. ”Who are battered women. If you are a women,

there is a 50 percent chance it could be you!”(Walker p.19)

Statistical data on battered women is difficult to find because

most records are buried in medical records, domestic disturbance calls to

the police or the records of social service agencies. During my research

I found that characteristics in numerous c ategories for both the batterer

and battered were the same. Here is a list of those categories that were

the same or in a similar fashion the same for both individuals. Commonly

shared characteristics between Battered and Batterer. 1. Has low

self-esteem. 2. Believes all myths about battering relationships. 3. Is a

traditionalist about the home, strongly believes in family unity and his

or her roles in the family unit. As with the women all racial, religious,

educational levels equally represent the men, cultures socioeconomic

groups. “Batterers typically deny that they have a problem, although they

are aware of it; and they become enraged if their women should reveal t he

true situation.” (Walker p.36)

“Researchers Eisenberg and Micklow found 90 percent of the

batterers in their study had been in the military. Twenty five percent

received dishonorable discharges.” (Walker p.37) These are some alarming

facts and characteristics about both the battered a nd the batterer. I was

unable to collect any data on the cause for this percentage of violence by

men of the military. Although it being a school of violence might have

some weight on the effects of this violence on women. Some of the

reasoning behind the se acts of physical and mental neglect may be

societies acceptance of such violence. We as a society are always calling

for more violence on television in the theater and on other individuals.

We pay for these sorts of entertainment, ask the government to

apply force on other nations and as the saying goes “sex and violence

sell.” It is glorified in all forms of the media.

Why do battered women stay with there significant others. The

answer has many different angles; some stay for financial reasons others

for the traditional reasons. The fact is that they stay, but when is

enough. “After you live so many years, and you wak e up one day, and your

body has just about had it, you say, ‘My God, I just can’t take another

punch.’ That’s what happened to me. I just reached a point where I said,

‘No more. Nothing is worth it.’ I decided I would rather struggle and see

if I couldn’t

make it, so I just up and left, and that’s been it.” (Langley and Levy

p.111) This was the victim of spouse abuse for seventeen years. In another

case a women from Maryland described her experience. “Being beaten up is

the most degrading, humiliating, cr ushing kind of thing that could happen

to a person.” (Langley and Levy p.116) in most cases the women feel that

they are the ones to blame for there battering and also apologize for

being beaten. “A women’s decision to stay or go to seek help or suffer in

silence is often determined by the frequency of her beatings.” (Langley

and Levy p.122)

When women do come to the end of the line and have finally worked

up enough courage to do it, to leave the one she loves so dear where does

she go. Well I would like to tell you that she calls for help via the