domestic violence
Today in American society we have many social ills. Perhaps one of the most upsetting, at least to me personally, is domestic violence. Domestic violence can come in many shapes and forms and affects many different people. Reasons vary for spousal/child abuse, but none are justified. Police/community programs have recently had a more pro-active role in domestic violence, but that is not a solution to our problem at large. On the micro level, the ultimate responsibility of elimination of violence rests on the victim. On the macro level, we must look at our society critically and analyze why we have such an immense problem and how we can help correct it. In the following sections I will discuss domestic violence issues and attempt to offer some solutions. I will frequently use anecdotal evidence, as well as statistical figures. I assign genders to the abuser and victim using he and she or husband and wife frequently-this is for simplification. Although most victimization is male against female, I am generalizing for simplicity. Domestic violence is a prevalent issue in the United States. There is much controversy as too how much violence actually exists in
Even if children are not directly abused, many witness their parents abuse each other. As a child I witnessed domestic violence (fortunately mostly verbal) nightly when I was young. I didn't understand why they fought so much and so often. I couldn't imagine the way I would have felt had my parents truly injured each other. Most of the time they broke stuff and yelled and screamed. I remember the only way I could interpret the situation (like many other kids) was to blame myself. The emotional stress violence places on kids (even if not directed at them) is a very serious issue. Surprisingly, most people elect to stay with their spouse after being abused (even if it is regular). Some, often like children, blame themselves. One woman states, "I blamed me, and I still feel sometimes like it was my fault. . ." (Battered Women: Strategies for Survival, p. 245). Others find that they have no choice but to stay with their spouse. A traditional one-income family leaves a woman homemaker (or unskilled woman laborer) little option to leave financially. Others stay because they think it is best for the kids to maintain the marriage. Still others, no matter how severe the violence is, think that it will go away. Most of the time, the violence never goes away completely in a repeatedly abusive family. Traditionally in American society, we have had a patriarchal system. This social construction is a major underlying mechanism in provoking domestic violence. The patriarchal system relies on the presumption that the male is the head of the household; assertive and always right, unconditionally. The woman is the second-in-command; to take the place of the husband while he is away-but only when he is away. The woman is expected to fulfill the mans needs and to support him in whatever he believes and does, unconditionally. Children are also to be submissive and obey elders without question-especially their father (I always remember my mother saying, "Don't you make me get your father!." To see the manifestation of this early 20th century phenomena, we need look no farther than our grandparents. My grandmother (on either side of the family) never questions my grandfather. She supports him in every way; seeing to his every need without question or hesitation (I might add that my grandfather on my mothers side is college educated and my grandmother is not even high school educated-epitomizing the clash of expectations for women/men in that era. Today in modern America, however, we can see this system changing. Women's rights are increasing constantly. Slowly America is becoming egalit
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Approximate Word count = 1762
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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