Domestic Violence
Reflection Paper
I think this class should be taken by everyone; it should also be a whole semester and not just a workshop. I learned a lot in just the couple of days that we had class. I believe that there is so much that could be covered. The speakers gave us a lot information that pertained to their type of work. They also handed out volunteer opportunities for us to be able to help those that they serve. I also thought that the videos were good to see, especially the one with the women in prison. It showed them completely open up to the story they were telling about their life and how they ended up in prison.
As I read the readings that were assigned to the class and didn’t realize that there was so much material out there to read on the subject. It really makes a person think about what happens in these violent relationships and who is affected by domestic violence. We don’t know who is in this type of relationship, especially since it is something that is kept quiet and not openly talked about.
The topic that I choose to read was on intimate partner homicide. I was interested in finding out more on this topic because of a couple of homicides that sticks out in my mind that was a result of domestic violence. I wanted to know why the spouses or partners murder, and what lead to these murders.
The Essay on Reducing Domestic Violence
In a study, published in the Archives of Family Medicine, Sugg, et al., defines domestic violence as "past or present physical and/or sexual violence between former or current intimate partners, adult household members, or adult children and a parent. Abused persons and perpetrators could be of either sex, and couples could be heterosexual or homosexual." In addition, domestic violence is also ...
According to Intimate Partner Overview; homicides by intimate partners have declined in the past 25 years and women are more likely to be murdered than men. In this journal it was also noted that most of the men that murdered their partner had abused drugs and/or alcohol. There were three risks that were looked by Carolyn Rebecca Block; the recent attack, the frequency of the violence and the history of past violence. Most of the women suffered some type of violence a month or one to two days before her murder. The abusers were controlling, jealous, and had drug/alcohol abuse.
It always seems to me like that our society places blame on the victim. They are always asking; why doesn’t she just leave him. I don’t think that they realize that it is not as easy as just packing a bag and leaving. If there has been years of abuse and control the women will find herself without any money or place to go. When the women in most cases tries to leave the violence increased and sometimes results in the murder of the woman.
Those that are able to leave have to find a place that they can be safe. There are shelters that offer a safe place for the women; some don’t go to these shelters out of fear. Without money or in some cases a job it makes it harder for the woman to leave. Since she is controlled by the man she may not have a job, access to finances, or her own transportation. She continues to be in a trap that may result in her death if she is not able to leave.
While there have been improvements in accessibility for women to get into a shelter and more work is being done to prevent intimate partner homicides. The police departments, social services and courts are receiving more education on how to handle intimate partner violence. The women of intimate partner violence need to be able to trust those that are trying to help them. Without building a trusting relationship the women will feel like she has no place to go.
It is horrible that the women that are murdered are mothers and their child will lose not only a mother but, also what they know as father; leaving the child to be cared for by other family members. It is almost as if it is the man’s way of saying he is still in control of the wife or his family.
The Term Paper on Violence Against Women Partners
Violence against Women Partners (1) In order for us to be able to define principles, upon which social policies that are meant to protect women partners from sexual and physical abuse, need to be based, we need to understand what creates preconditions for the violence against women in the first place. The article The 10 Steps to End Violence against Women, which is available on the web site of ...
There is so much to read on this subject that no women should have to feel like she is trapped in the abusive relationship. If she is able to leave hopefully she will find the resources that are available to help her start a new life.
Zahn, Margaret A. “Intimate Partner Homicde: An Overview.” National Institue of Justice Journal (2003).
, 3
Block, Carolyn Rebecca. “How Can Practitioners Help an Abused Woman Lower Her Risk of Death?” National Institue of Justice Journal (2003).
