...Abstract This paper addresses females as perpetrators and instigators of domestic violence. As early as 1974, Richard Gelles was cautioning social workers, police, and women’s groups that they needed to consider the possibility that women are indeed perpetrators of domestic violence and that they may actually deliberately instigate many cases of domestic violence. Unfortunately, the same women’s groups who rallied unceasingly to protect women and children who suffer the effects of the violence have failed to recognize that women do, indeed, hold some responsibility in the perpetration. There is a difference between blaming the victim, and empowering the victim. By accepting responsibility for actions that contribute to the perpetration of violence, we can cease to be victims and begin to be equal partners. 1 The Social Environment Surrounding Domestic Abuse The woman’s movement has been slow to embrace the concept that women can be abusers. For many years, the women’s movement in general – and specifically women’s community groups that support shelters – have taught women that they have a right to live life free of abuse by their male domestic partners. Unfortunately, we as a nation have failed to communicate the other half of this etiology: men have a right to live life free of abuse by their female domestic partners. For various reasons that will be discussed in this paper, treatment providers and law enforcement agencies have been slow to recognize the extent of the level...
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...history of being abused, history of witnessing abuse, and religious preference/devoutness” (p. 35). Two age-matched, equal N-samples of batterer groups compared themselves to the nonviolent control (NVC) group. One was comprised of batterers with no alcohol problems (nonalcoholic batterers, NAB) and the other consisted of batterers with known alcohol problems (alcohol batterers, AB). In Table 1, demographic comparisons showed NAB and AB versus NVC subjects. These groups did not differ in age nor in religious preference that this table shows the comparison of NVC group (35) to NAB group (35) and AB group (29). “There are differences between the groups when employment was considered: both batterers groups established a 14 to 20% that were unemployed. The nonviolent group were significantly better educated, with approximately half having college degrees, whereas 20 to 35% of the batterer sample had not completed high school. Only 6 to 7% of the NVC subjects were single and not married while the batterer samples showed 34 – 48% rates of separation and 14% rates of divorce” (p.36). These differences are highly significant. Findings regarding histories of witnessing and experiencing abuse as children differed as a function of...
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...Reflection Paper ( Domestic Violence ) Julius Rosario When it comes to the questions: Can batterers change? If so, describe how? What does it take to effectuate that type of change? I believe that they can change if they’re able to pinpoint the right sources and help for guidance on how to be able to find a solution to dealing with their aggression toward their loved ones instead of ending up in an altercation ending with battering. Domestic violence usually occurs due to the men’s domination over women. Batterers usually can’t sustain attachment which results them in being flooded with guilt, shame, and abandonment in which they regulate those feelings with aggression. All it should take for them to be able to change their aggressive behavior is just a healing process. Teaching a batterer that blame is powerless and that compassion is true power can have a great effect on him. Therapeutic sessions which shows them that they should never feel unimportant, disregarded, rejected, powerless, unlovable, etc because those are the usual core factors that motivate abusive behavior. A woman calling the man an offensive name in the event of an argument will remind the man that he is unlovable and therefore will want to punish her, but if he is able to go to the right source and be able to find ways to channel his anger instead of using aggression , he will always be able to think first before acting. All he needs to do is be reminded that no matter what situations they’re in...
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...abuse. Most domestic violence victims are women by men, but that doesn’t suggest that others cannot be battered or are perpetrators of abuse -- such as women on men, or same sex abuse. Battering or domestic violence, is now mutual and it is not a ‘couple’s quarrel’. Disagreements arise occasionally in all relationships, but battering involves every aspect of a relationship. While physical violence is the “enforcer” or the criminal act, other behaviors erode the partner or victim’s sense of self, self-determination, and free will; this is ultimately lethal for many women. Often batterers possess a low self-esteem and gain a sense of power by means of humiliating and controlling their partner. Control techniques can include verbal insults intended to bring down the partner’s self-esteem, threats meant to scare the partner into obedience, or mind games aimed at making the victim feel unsure and weak. Batterers who use physical abuse push, slap, pinch, grab, or use other demonstrations of physical strength to show that they have power in the relationship and to keep the partner from exercising control over their own life. Abusers often show extreme...
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...against an intimate partner is not an isolated incident that only happens sporadically in a relationship. Domestic violence is about gaining and maintaining power and control over another person, not about losing their own self-control. It is a continuous pattern of behavior designed to keep the victim under their control. They maintain this control by using a variety of abuse techniques to manipulate and bring their partner under subjugation. These types of abuse include psychological, physical, and sexual abuse. Psychological abuse is predominantly used by batterers and may be considered the most harmful of them all and this often leads to physical abuse (Johnson, 2009 (PG 276). This is because with psychological abuse, the perpetrator can convince the victim that the abuse is their fault and there is no way out of the situation. When others try to help the victim out, they sometimes refuse because of fear that the batterer will retaliate. Even if the victim is able to get away from the abuser, because of the psychological hold that he has on her, the victim will return to the abuser. This is one of the many reasons why it is so important that the criminal justice system take domestic abuse seriously. What is it about letting a man who abuses his own family, get off with a lighter sentence than a man who abuses a stranger? How is a husband beating his wife less serious of a crime than a man who beats up a stranger? In their article “Similar Punishment? Comparing Sentencing...
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...The victim of this crime was killed by a repeat offender in California and caused a public outcry for a change. 8. We discussed research on police intervention in situations of intimate partner violence. a) Prior to police interventions such as batterer arrest, what were 2 previous interventions used to combat the problem of intimate partner violence (IPV)? In order to combat intimate partner violence prior to police interventions, domestic violence shelters were used by victims of domestic violence. These shelters provided victims with temporary refuge, childcare, and legal advice. Also, victims could ask the court for a protective order to prevent batterers from getting close to them and causing them more harm. b) Prior to the batterer arrest interventions, what was one potential cause of police not being effective in incidents involving IPV? Prior to the batterer arrest interventions, police took “a do-nothing approach” because the issue of intimate partner violence was often viewed by the public and the police as a family issue and should be resolved by the...
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...Laws and Policies that Address Children’s Exposure to Domestic Violence Laws and Policies that address children’s exposure to domestic violence Despite the high rates of violence against women and the recent attention to the physical and emotional consequences of this abuse, until recently relatively little attention had been given to the unseen victims—the children. More than half the female victims of domestic violence live in a household with children under the age of 12.Greenfield (1998). Research suggests that between 3.3 million and 10 million children in the United States are exposed to domestic violence each year and more than a decade of empirical studies indicates that exposure to domestic violence can have serious negative effects on children. These effects may include behavioral problems such as aggression, phobias, insomnia, low self-esteem, and depression. Children exposed to domestic violence may demonstrate poor academic performance and problem-solving skills, and low levels of empathy. Exposure to chronic or extreme domestic violence may result in symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder, such as emotional numbing, increased arousal, avoidance of any reminders of the violent event, or obsessive and repeated focus on the event. Retrospective studies indicate that there may also be negative effects in adulthood, including depression, low self-esteem, violent practices in the home, and criminal behavior. Carlson (1992). Families affected...
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...that foster a climate that is inclusive to women. The women’s resource center is very committed to decreasing incidents of interpersonal violence and promoting a campus environment in which all people can feel safe. Dating and domestic violence is any act, attempt, or threat of force by an intimate partner or family member. The Women’s resource center presented a very informative presentation last week. Dating and domestic violence was the main topic of discussion. Dating and domestic violence occurs in all socio-economic, educational, racial, and age groups. The issues of power and control are at the heart of family violence. The batterer uses acts of violence and a series of behaviors to gain power and control. Signs such as intimidation, threats, isolation, and emotional abuse should really be taken into account if noticed. If the batterer often smashes things, abuses and/or destroys the victim’s property or even displays a weapons, proper actions should be taken immediately. Threats are never a good sign. If a person feels threated then that person should go to the police department and file a police report. Victims in a domestic violence relationship tend to blame themselves for the domestic abuse. It’s never the victim’s fault in any case regarding domestic violence. Someone involved in an abusive relationship might display certain behavioral signs including: Inconsistent explanations, Alcohol abuse, and other stages of healing. Word count:...
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...effects on the people involved. It touches all levels of society. It is a widespread and very complicated issue that not only has an effect on our justice system, but also our workplaces and our communities. (“The effects of domestic violence on society,” 1998). According to Styles M.D. (2002) website, domestic violence is an experience that is ongoing, and is a physical, psychological, and/or sexual occurrence that usually occurs in homes and is used to establish power and control over another individual. The effects of domestic violence can be astronomical. It affects many genders and ages. The physical and psychological effects are destructive and damaging not only for the battered individual but also the batterer. As hard as the battered individual (also the batterer) might try, the behavior has a tendency to be passed down through the upcoming generations because of “learned behavior.” (Dealing with domestic violence, 1991-2013). Domestic violence can lead to serious injury of an individual, hospitalization, and even death. It robs an individual of the right to take control over his or her own life. They live in fear and are isolated in the one place that they should be free of fear- home. It is a constant struggle to keep themselves and their children safe. (“Understanding the Effects of Domestic Violence”, 1995-2013). Domestic abuse often leads to child abuse and usually occurs in the same household where partner abuse occurs. It can result in physical injury, neglect...
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...key aspects of insecure attachment as it relates to domestic abuse are separation anxiety, trust (distrust), and the desire for control. These three aspects are related to avoidant attachment’s high anxiety over abandonment. The researchers used a subject group of 72 men in voluntary and court-mandated group treatment for battering and 62 non-batterers recruited via fliers as a control group for a total of 132 participants. Participants were first given the Relationship Questionnaire to assess their attachment style then they were given measures to determine a variety of possible variables including separation anxiety, dependency, distrust, and, of course, partner abuse. The researchers found that the relationship between insecure attachment and domestic abuse was best explained by separation anxiety and distrust of partners with distrust being the most the strongest indicator. These individuals lack trust in relationships and their fear of abandonment causes separation anxiety with their partners. In fact, the researchers found that those with insecure attachment trusted their partners less than securely attached batterers and non-batterers and that insecurely attached batters in general trusted people less (Buck et al, 2012). Insecure Attachment and Commitment Thankfully not all relationships that involve an insecurely attached person leads to infidelity and spousal abuse. Other effects are more muted but, nevertheless, important. A common theme in the research in this literature...
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...stuy 1. Statistically, how many women experience domestic violence in their lifetime? * One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime 2. Be prepared to identify common myths about family violence (see chap. 1 in the text) Family violence is uncommon - Many statistics on family violence are underestimates less reported than other violence WHY? Some victims may not perceive it as abuse Much media reporting on family violence is on sensational cases Studies have shown that lower-class families experience more violence HOWEVER: Poor people may be more likely than those who are better off to turn to police or social service agencies WHY? How might these impact estimates of FV by social class? It does not mean that ONLY poor families are violent or that ALL/MOST poor families are Are Abused children usually abusive as adults? * No * On average, abused children are more likely to be abusers as adults * But majority of abused children DO NOT grow up to be abusive adults * Childhood history is neither a necessary nor sufficient cause of family violence Alcohol is involved in 1 in 4 cases of wife beating * Binge drinkers three times more likely to hit wives * HOWEVER: * Majority of men who drink do not hit their wives * As many numbers of men who are sober abuse wives as those who drink/use drugs Some women “ask for it This is a form of ‘VICTIM BLAMING’ * ‘If she didn’t like...
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...determining best practices. An intervention should be “just right” for each specific child and reduce any further trauma. Additionally, the intervention should allow the child to have a better understanding of domestic violence, provide more safety, encourage resiliency, and strengthen the bond with the non-offending parent, who is a victim as well. By interviewing adults who were exposed to a batterer’s violence as a child, but later decided to enter the child welfare profession, this research study will provide informative detail about interventions that are both helpful and available in our community today. Literature Review Prevalence of a child’s exposure to domestic violence Children who are living with the violence of a batterer are often called silent victims. Edleson et al (2006) tell us that none of the existing measures of children’s...
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...Restorative Justice has the twin goals of restoring to the victim what has been lost….e.g. dignity or control, and b) achieving a resolution between both parties in conflict (ifemenist.com). When it comes to domestic violence there are few various approaches used to restoring justice to the victim. Techniques such as therapy, negotiation and community involvement is use to end the violence. As for ending domestic violence Restorative Justice is the collective name giving for these approaches. We all know that Restorative Justice will not work for everyone, and it will definitely not work in situations where the abuser has no remorse. Therefore I want to explore the positive and negatives of trying to restore justice to domestic violence by way of Personal Protection Orders (PPO’s). Personal Protection and Restraining Orders Personal protection orders (PPO) is an order signed by a Circuit Court Judge that forbids or restricts a person from doing something. When use for domestic violence it forbids an abuser from neither harming someone nor committing further abuse on a victim. Though restraining orders have been found to be less effective then orders of protection, many victims consider them helpful when documenting that the abuse occurred (Violent Relationships, p.105). These orders usually prohibit communication, contact, harassment and physical nearness (Ingham.org). This paper will explore various downfalls of Personal protection...
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...The Sustainability of BWS under Philippine Laws (A Position Paper) The case of People v. Genosa in 2004 was a landmark case that allowed for the Philippine laws to recognize a kind of self-defense that is exclusively for women. The recognition of Battered Women Syndrome (BWS) was not only considered a triumph for Women and Children’s Rights advocates but it was also an implied recognition of the insufficiency of laws protecting the rights of women and children in the country by the highest court of the land. Thus, three months after the promulgation of the People v. Genosa Decision, Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act (AVAWC) was enacted. I. The Status of Women Experiencing Violence in the Philippines Abuse of women in the Philippines is not a new issue. Reports of violence against women have consistently been present in data gathered by concerned agencies and advocate groups. In 2008, the Philippine National Police reported 6, 905 and in 2009, a total of 9, 485 cases of violence against women respectively. Table 1. Cases of Violence Against Women Reported to the Police, 2008-2009 |Classification of Offenses |2008 |2009 |08-09 Inc/Dec | | |Number |Percent |Number |Percent |Number |Percent | |Rape |811 |11...
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...‘compassionate homicide’ vs. ‘cold-blooded murder’ proceeded. After that idea, Latimer was later given a constitutional exception in 2008 due the case being labeled as ‘compassionate homicide’ and the fact that the accused poses no threat in society. Plus, Latimer had killed his daughter for altruistic reasons. Before Latimer’s constitutional exception, it was taken in consideration that Tracy was a relatively a merry child and her rights had been violated by her father. Although, Tracy’s life was very limited it still had quality and value. In the end, Latimer was ultimately released on 2008 with his constitutional exception. Latimer’s leniency did not degrade the disabled since related cases such as battered women who killed their batterer often received leniency from the courts. Laws affecting the outcome of this case may change future laws. Euthanasia, mercy killing, or...
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