Domestic Violence Against Women

Domestic Violence Against Women

Domestic violence against women directed by their close associates (Former or current boyfriends/spouses) is a global epidemic in which its existence has a profound emotional, financial, physical and social effects on children, women, the family and the society at large. Recognition of domestic violence against women has been factored on the critical need to combat domestic violence as it is a violation of women’s human rights (Harne et al, 2008). Some people perceive domestic violence as a form of torture, as the effects of it are devastating both physical and psychological. It is important for the whole world to indulge in advocacy programs, reforms that are legal, comprehensive strategy and education to help in fighting such a global epidemic. Domestic violence is a threatening and abusive behavior that is characterized by patters of emotional, physical, sexual and economic violence (Rasmussen, 2015). Coercion, isolation and intimidation are part of the characteristic aspects that go in line with domestic violence. Domestic violence against women is portrayed through social demographic, educational psychologist, role of men on faith and storytelling (Green, 2015). Nevertheless, women suffer more all over the word due to social demographic factors that are unequally dominated by the masculine gender.
Social demographic
Domestic violence against women as noted earlier is a worldwide epidemic. It is a serious and heinous human right abuse that extends to be a public health problem.

Statistically, 40-60% of female murder is perpetrated by own intimate partners (Klugman et al, 2014). Unequal power in most relationships is usually the cause of domestic violence of which women suffer more as they form the higher percentage in most domestic violence cases. Various factors lead and greatly undermine domestic violence, more so against women. The mere failure to perform responsibilities and duties is the greatest cause. Illiteracy, age, lower income, poverty, no of living children, women unemployment, social status and gender relations are some of the factors that go hand in hand as the cause of domestic violence against women (Eide et al 2001). In the United States of America alone, more than three women murder per day but their husbands. That sums up to ninety per month and one thousand and eighty per annum. These demographic statistical data and figures are just in the U.S alone. According to studies, about 3 million women experience scars and injuries inflicted to them by their spouses as a result of domestic violence every year (Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, 2005). Needless to say, research findings also indicate that in every seven countries 33.37 percent of women are abused. These forms of abuses focused on women are major as a result of male dominance over a culture that entrenches men with more power over their female counterparts. Domestic violence against women is witnessed in many types of foam. However domestic violence against women is not only a factor to married women but also to those who are not married. There are three distinct foams of domestic violence that women face:
Sexual Violence
Emotional/Psychological abuse
Physical violence.
Other foams of violence are uniquely noted based on the offense that is orchestrated. These other foams include stalking, marital rape and dating violence (Fontes, 2015). Social demographic factors associated with domestic violence against women are as noted earlier brought about by cultural dominance of men over women. On an average estimate 25% of women who have been in relationships had at one time experienced and gone through sexual or physical abuse by their partners (Handbook of Rural Health, 2001)
Educational Psychologist
Women being on the higher risk of experiencing domestic violence are faced by many challenges. Some of these challenges are the sole reason as to why violence against women exists and it being a global problem. Women who are illiterate and unemployed are at a higher and in a more risky situation to experience domestic violence. To counter this, advocacy programs through community education and leadership are two major ways to prevent domestic violence against women and create awareness altogether. An educational psychologist will tend to intervene in the sense that, the first people to be aware of any domestic wrangle faced by women are friends, neighbors and family. Psychological aid comes where psychological trauma is concerned. Women who undergo domestic violence from spouses who stalk either physically or from the social media norm require psychological assistance. This sort of help can be found from counselors, professional guidance and counseling practitioners.
Men and Faith
Society and the community at large have a mindset that makes men have more power over women (Carson et al, 1962). This mere societal mentality paves way for women to be vulnerable to domestic abuse. It is a scenario experienced by both married and unmarried women. It is worthy to note that, domestic abuse and violence against women is more likely to be reported by women victims who are in a relationship with partners who are in a conservative religion. This means that men who are perpetrators of domestic violence tend to be in a religion that is less conservative from that of the woman (Dowd, 2000). This is heedlessness of the fact that, regular attendance of services, religious services is somewhat associated with reduction in intimate partner abuse. Nevertheless domestic violence against women can be attributed to childhood moments (Snyder& Stobbe, 2011). Such case scenarios appear emanate from incidences where a male child who see their parents fight at a tender age and thus carry the same mentally when in a relationship.
Storytelling
Story telling is one strategy that can profoundly aid in curbing domestic violence. Programs have been introduced in colleges and universities to create awareness on the detrimental negative effects that domestic violence in general has. Story telling is carried on in the community and the society to enlighten others as domestic violence against women is a menace to the greater good of the whole population globally. Green, D. (2008).
To conclude, women who have experienced domestic violence tend to have low self-esteem, bruises, black eye and at times practice truancy at their respective work places Cleaver, (Unell ,Aldgate, & Great Britain,2011).Victims of such will engage in passive-aggressive behavior and isolate themselves from others. As much as domestic violence is a menace globally, it is violation of the human rights. This act should be stopped under all means and more advocacy programs to be put in place to curb it. Physical and emotional abuses are the two most rampant foams of domestic violence. According to the demographical data given earlier, elements of domestic violence against women are humiliation and intimidation based on physical injuries. The most important thing would be to enhance more programs on community empowerment against domestic violence focused on women as the core victims of the act.

References
Harne, L., & Radford, J. (2008). Tackling domestic violence: Theories, policies and practice. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press.
Rasmussen,S. Balboa Press, 10 Feb 2015 Ready, Set, Go!: Addiction Management for People in Recovery
Green, D. (2008). From poverty to power: How active citizens and effective states can change the world. Oxford: Oxfam International.
Klugman, J., Hanmer, L., Twigg, S., Hasan, T., McCleary-Sills, J., & Santamaria, J. (2014). Voice and agency: Empowering women and girls for shared prosperity. Washington: World Bank Publications.
Eide, A., Krause, C., & Rosas, A. (2001). Economic, social and cultural rights: A textbook. Dordrecht [u.a.: Nijhoff.
Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces. (2005). Women in an insecure world: Violence against women : facts, figures and analysis. Executive summary. Geneva, Switzerland: Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF.
Fontes, L. A. (2015). Invisible chains: Overcoming coercive control in your intimate relationship
Handbook of Rural Health. (2001). Boston, MA: Springer US.
Eide, A., Krause, C., & Rosas, A. (2001). Economic, social and cultural rights: A textbook. Dordrecht [u.a.: Nijhoff.
Carson, R., Darling, L., & Darling, L. (1962). Silent spring. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Snyder, A. C., & Stobbe, S. P. (2011). Critical aspects of gender in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and social movements. Bingley, UK: Emerald.
Dowd, N. E. (2000). Redefining fatherhood. New York [u.a.: New York Univ. Press.
Green, D. (2008). From poverty to power: How active citizens and effective states can change the world. Oxford: Oxfam International.
Cleaver, H., Unell, I., Aldgate, J., & Great Britain. (2011). Children’s needs, parenting capacity: Child abuse : parental mental illness, learning disability, substance misuse, and domestic violence.