Domestic violence term paper examples

Introduction

Domestic violence has been a common practice since time immemorial mostly against women. Violence against women has been common in most societies and cultures and it has received immense attention from various perspectives. “ Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family or cohabiting” (Grovert, 2008, p. 23). The aim of this violence is for the abusive partner to dominate and have control over the other partner. Domestic violence could be physical, psychological, emotional, sexual, and/or economic abuse or actions that influence the other partner. Behaviors in couples involved in domestic violence aim at frightening, intimidating, hurting, humiliating, blaming, or injuring the other person. Domestic violence often develops in stages from threats to verbal abuse and eventually violence. Domestic violence can be categorized into two; common couple violence and patriarchal terrorism. This paper analyses these two types of violence to determine the one that is more prevalent. The paper also addresses the nature of problems in domestic violence and suggests solutions for domestic violence against women.

Common couple violence and patriarchal terrorism

Domestic violence has severe consequences to the couple involved and their children. Common couple violence (CCV) is a form of domestic violence discovered by Michael Johnson. Johnson differentiated common couple violence from patriarchal terrorism. “ Common couple violence is a relationship dynamic in which conflict occasionally gets out of hand leading to usually minor forms of violence, and rarely escalates into serious or life-threatening forms of violence” (Johnson, 2008, p. 294). This form of domestic violence does not involve control or dominance of one partner over the other. In this form of violence, either partner can start the violence both men and women.

Statistics indicate that about 50% of couples undergo common couple violence in their relationships (Grovert, 2008). The manner in which common couple violence occurs ranges from mild aggressive behavior to behaviors that are more aggressive. The mild aggressive behaviors could include throwing objects at each other, which eventually escalates to behaviors that are more aggressive such as hitting, pushing, slapping, or pulling the partner’s hair. This violence is rare and it often occurs occasionally during disagreements.

Common couple violence is less severe compared to patriarchal violence and it rarely develops extreme abuse. It does not include serious injuries that would cause a partner to be admitted to the hospital for treatment. The intention of this form of violence is often because of a partner’s anger or frustration and not because of an aim to have power and control over the other partner. Thus, the effects of this form of violence are not as severe compared to patriarchal violence. In common couple violence, even though either partner is involved in the violence, women are more likely to initiate this type of violence because it is portrayed in the family violence perspective. Additionally, women are also likely to reciprocate violence in CCV as often as the men are.

Men aiming to control and dominate their partners, on the other hand, use patriarchal terrorism commonly. Johnson (2008) asserts that this type of domestic violence is unilateral and it involves the male partner engaging in a chronic pattern of severe abuses to that aim at controlling the female partner. The woman in patriarchal violence does not reciprocate the violence with any physical aggression. Men systematically dominate patriarchal violence and it involves serious physical injuries.

Patriarchal terrorism is about the man not only wanting to control the relationship but also to display that he is in control. In this form of violence, the man continues with his acts of terrorism as a sign that he is in control. Women rarely initiate or reciprocate patriarchal violence and if they do, they often learn not to because the men involved could turn to homicide. The patriarchal violence is frequent when it begins because the man in control will often turn to violence on the most minor issues. Victims of this violence, who are majorly women, suffer serious physical injuries that see them hospitalized. Cases of patriarchal violence are common in hospitals and police stations because of their violent nature.

Behaviors involved in patriarchal violence involve the man using a weapon to threaten and/or hurt his partner. The abuse could also involve locking the woman in the house and denying her access to go out. The man also uses physical force to demand for sex in this kind of relationship. The abuse escalates from mild forms of abuse to severe behaviors that harm the other partner. Because of this type of aggression, women suffer not only physically but also emotionally, financially and psychologically (Grovert, 2008).

Common couple violence is more prevalent in most relationships because either party can initiate the violence. It is less aggressive and most couples experience this form of domestic violence in their daily lives. This violence is common because even women are able to initiate and reciprocate the violence unlike the patriarchal violence where the man dominates and takes control of the relationship.

Nature of problems in domestic violence

Domestic violence causes many problems not only to the couple involved but also to their children. Children exposed to domestic violence during their upbringing often suffer psychologically and in their developmental welfare. The violence influences how children develop behaviorally, cognitively, emotionally and socially. These children develop low self-esteem and withdrawal leading to depression. In some cases, especially in patriarchal terrorism, the man may harm the child in the process of physically abusing the wife.

Physical abuse is the most common problem in domestic violence. Physical abuse involves hitting, pushing, pulling hair or slapping. It could also involve denying the partner freedom to leave the house when sick or when one wants to. Sexual abuse where a partner is forced to engage in unsafe, unwanted or degrading sexual behavior is also physical abuse (Johnson, 2008). The result of such severe physical abuse leads to serious injuries and in extreme cases, it may cause death.

Emotional abuse is a worse problem in domestic violence than even physical abuse. It includes verbal abuse such as name calling, blaming, yelling and shaming the other partner. It leads to depression and drains an individual psychologically. In physical abuse, a person can heal after the scars, but emotional abuse causes deep hurt in the individual and it is not easy heal and this may affect a person socially.

Another problem of domestic violence is the effect on the financial stability of the couple. A partner may experience financial difficulties where the abusive partner controls the finances of the other. Some abusive partners go to the extent of withholding necessities such as food, medications and shelter (Grovert, 2008). Others sabotage their partner’s jobs by making them miss work.

Solutions for domestic violence against women

Domestic violence against women still holds as the most prevalent form of violence in relationships even today. Solutions that would assist in dealing with this form of violence may include:
Proper education for women and girls from their childhood stages to their adulthood. Education builds confidence in women and enables them to stand tall against any form of domestic violence.

Giving women employment opportunities will assist in mitigating violence against women because women will be more independent.

Providing legal support for women that have experienced domestic violence from their partners to ensure that other men do not batter their women The government and other women rights activists should be at the forefront in providing legal support to battered women.
Women should be given the right to inherit land and other property in order to stop domestic violence against them (Grovert, 2008). These rights will ensure that women also have value in the society and are not only objects for abuse.
Suitable assistance for women such as counseling, employment, financial support and relocation should be given to women that are victims of domestic violence to ensure that they recover.

Conclusion

Domestic violence can happen to anyone and in any form ranging physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Two common types of domestic violence include the common couple violence and patriarchal violence but the CCV is more prevalent because it does not involve serious aggression. Domestic violence causes problems that range from injuries leading to hospitalization or emotional damage. Domestic violence mostly affects women and thus solutions for this violence against women would include legal support, proper education, employment opportunities and right to inherit property.

References

Grovert, A. J. (2008). Domestic violence against women: A literature review. Oregon: Pacific

University.
Johnson, M. P. (2008). A typology of domestic violence. Lebanon, NH: Northeastern University
Press.