Monday, May 19, 2014

How Domestic Violence Affects Children

Children exposed to domestic violence risk being abused
Exposure to violence endangers children
According to the experts in the field of domestic violence, children who live in violent relationships not only are exposed to violent events, but also face the risk of neglect, the risk of being abused directly and the tragic risk of losing one or both parents.

Studies conducted by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services estimate that 10 to 20 percent of children are at risk for exposure to domestic violence. This estimation means that from 3.3 to 10 million children witness the abuse of a parent or adult caregiver each year.

Public opinion of domestic violence and its affects on children 


A study conducted by the Human Services Policy Center indicates that the general public feels:

  • Exposure to violence harms and endangers all children. 
  •  Mothers who stay with an abuser are not protecting their children. 
  •  Childhood exposure to violence is a form of maltreatment. 
  •  Child protective intervention is needed in these circumstances. 
This study went on to reveal the results of interviews with children who have been exposed to violent situations in their homes. These children believed:

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Domestic Violence: Why Women Tolerate Abuse

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Understanding reasons for tolerating domestic abuse in relationships where women are emotionally, sexually or physically abused, is as complex as understanding why any man would treat a woman in such a deplorable manner in the first place.

 

Both love and domestic violence are learned behavior


The experts say that domestic violence is "learned behavior" and it is not caused by alcohol, drugs or any other outside condition or situation which men normally like to use as an excuse for their behavior.

One must understand that love is also a "learned behavior" and, as strange as it may seem, some women who suffer the devastating effects of domestic violence actually love their abuser. They live each day in hopes of change in the person who initially won their heart.

 

Domestic Violence Victims: What Can You Do?

Domestic violence can be stopped if people get involved
You Can Help Stop Domestic Violence
It can be very difficult to know just what to do when someone you care about is a victim of domestic violence, whether you are a close friend or a family member. The sad truth is that sometimes she may not even see herself as a victim or view her partner as a batterer.

You must remember in many violent and abusive relationships it is just as important to know what not to do in your efforts to help.

Some things you can do to help a domestic violence victim:

  • Ask questions
You may ask general questions like, "How's the marriage/relationship going?" or you can ask specific questions - "Has he ever pushed or hit you?", "Has he ever tried to intimidate you or call you names?". It is very important to understand that domestic violence doesn't always begin with physical violence and you must recognize some of the early warning signs of a possible violent relationship.

Domestic Violence Is Everyones' Problem

Domestic violence may not begin as physical abuse
Cycle of domestic violence
The domestic violence problem can probably be best described by the words of our President in his proclamation recognizing the month of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month:
"Domestic violence spills over into schools and places of work; and it affects people from every walk of life. Though abuse may occur in the seclusion of a private residence, its effects scar the face of our Nation". (George W. Bush, President of the United States)

 

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is the power and control of one partner over another in a dating, marital or live-in relationship.  Domestic violence may begin with subtle forms of abuse like, economic entrapment, psychological pressures or physical isolation, then oftentimes escalates into a pattern of violent behavior which may consist of repeated, severe beatings. Domestic violence is not a marital conflict, a lover's quarrel or a private family matter.

Reasons Victims Stay In An Abusive Relationship

Domestic violence in the workplace
Domestic violence in the workplace.
Whether it is easier to leave a violent relationship or stay in the violence is a very complex issue that will never be as easily resolved as the subject may appear. One of the major problems in the entire domestic violence issue is the general public's lack of understanding and therefore, it is oftentimes difficult for anyone to understand why the victims of violent behavior don't just leave.

According to a National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) fact sheet, 85% of domestic violence victims are women.  The University of California (UCLA) Counseling Center outlines several reasons why abuse victims stay in violent relationships, including:

Domestic Violence: Understanding Warning Signs

Please support domestic violence awareness
Domestic violence awareness needs your support.
Abusive relationships certainly don't begin that way; otherwise the relationship probably wouldn't begin in the first place. Many relationships, whether marriage or live-in relationships, often begin with both partners deeply in love with one another and little things do seem to go unnoticed. It is these "little things" that could possibly be telltale signs of bad things to come. It is important to understand domestic abuse and recognize some of the warning signs.

 

Domestic Violence Involves Excuses

One in Four Women Will Experience Violence
The experts tell us that the majority of domestic violence incidents involve men acting violently toward women and actually there are several "excuses" given by the abusive partner for violent behavior in a relationship involving domestic violence.

Some abusive partners blame their violent actions on drugs or alcohol. The abuser must have something or someone to blame for his actions, so why not? The problem here is, how does getting drunk or stoned out of one's mind cause that person to want to beat up on a woman or a child? Why not just go out and find another man to beat and threaten? Also, why aren't all alcoholics and drug addicts violent and abusive toward their partners? The facts are quite clear, all violent men are not alcoholics and all alcoholics don't beat or murder their partners.