INTRODUCTION
In the United States, lives of low-income communities have been effected by the rise of violence, however not much has been done to lower the high rate of violence. Violence can take many forms, and can take place in any setting, however low-income communities have been the ones most affected. Violence can be viewed as domestic, referring to intimate partner violence, or it can also be expressed by street crime violence. In other words, street crime is also referred to as “Code of the street,” and is used and practiced in places that are high in poverty and less education attainment (Andersen 1999). My research question is, what are the effects that violence has on low-income communities in the United States?
LITERATURE REVIEW …show more content…
He classifies this contest as ‘street’ and proposes that the rules and attitudes that define the ‘Code of the Street’ are associated with participation in violence” (Hansen et al., 2014:22). Therefore “Code of the Street” is very common and part of many minority youth lives. It is a way of demonstrating their own set of rules and ways of life which in many times involves the behavior of violence. Disadvantaged communities are composed of individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups. These groups of people are not only effected with the outcome of violence but also with “disproportionately morbidity and mortality” (Hansen et al., 2014:22). The prevalence of violence in youth is a problem that comes from, “the disparities evident in its demographic distribution” (Hansen et al., 2014:22). Some minority youth are involved in violence because their communities have detrimental factors that can stand as a reason for violent behavior. Along with “Code of the Street” the minority youth are agreeing to stand for this belief because following the rules of this code is more rewarding. For instance, some participants in, Hansen et al., (2014) …show more content…
For instance, “The Southern, poor, White, single mothers interviewed in the study consistently reported domestic abuse in their families of origin and later in their own relationships with men” (Farber and Miller- Cribbs, 2014: 531). As noted, violence can be seen as a cycle that continues to grow, but can potentially be prevented with guidance and resources to help victims from it. “Moreover, victims of domestic violence often have related difficulties such as limited or inconsistent work experience, poor education, physical and mental health problems, and substance abuse issues” (Hetling and Zhang, 2010:1145). Victims of domestic violence sometimes are in doubt of what to do, and might feel helpless unless they are able to get assistance and guidance from counselors that will help them out. “Survivors of domestic violence report that successful transitions to violence-free and independent lives are often made with the assistance of social services such as shelter, counseling, and public cash assistance” (Hetling and Zhang, 2010:1145). In regard to resources and aid, there must be an increase of awareness in order to get rid of domestic violence and street violence in low-income communities. “In other words, place matters and the closer services are placed to individuals in need, the more likely these individuals will utilize [the] services” (Hetling and Zhang, 2010:1146). “Some