Violent Crime against Women - Research Paper Example

First Last Number 17 September Violent Crime against Women Violent crime against women is prevalent in today’s society. There are different forms of violent crimes as well as the situations and circumstances leading to them. However all of the acts are both horrific and criminal in nature, thus they should be condemned at all costs. In most cases, the acts seek to degrade, harm or humiliate women in the society so as to pave way for the criminal to gain control and/or power over the victim. The various forms of violence against women are manifested in different forms such as financial, criminal harassment, neglect forced marriage, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Therefore, the society should be actively involved in efforts to sensitize women and young girls about the looming dangers ahead as well as initiating corrective measures to eradicate gender based violent crimes. This research seeks to provide detailed information concerning various forms of violent crime against women as well as offer suggestions on the possible solutions to the identified crimes. A systematic discussion of various form of violent crime against women will be discussed in this research. The research will rely on information from books, credible websites and articles reporting about the state of violent crime against women in countries like India and Canada. At first, there will be thorough presentation of information on physical abuse against women, which can lead to physical injury of pain (Government of Canada). Next will be discussion of sexual abuse against both women and young girls. Since women suffer from emotional and psychological abuse, the vice forms another set of violent crime. The other crime considered in this research is associated with financial abuse. Also, stalking will be analyzed as a form of violent against women. There are also other instances when women are neglected by their closest person or their loved ones. In addition, the research will present convincing reason to show violent crime against women which are committed in presence of honor. There have been other instances when women are forced to enter into a marriage without their consent. After discussing the above listed violent crime, possible solutions to the identified crimes will be presented. Finally, a summary of the identified violent crime will be presented to sum up the study. To begin with physical violence, women have been constantly been assaulted in the society by either their closest friends or strangers (Government of Canada). In most cases, very few cases are reported to the relevant authority for legal actions, while many go unreported. Although the vice is mostly carried out by men, women too have been on record by intentionally exerting force against fellow women without their consent. Women who have been assaulted end up feeling pain arising from physical injury. Among the physical abuse and violent crime suffered by women are pushing, hitting, slapping, punching and pinching. Others include kicking, stabbing, cutting, shooting, strangling and in some instances killing. Women also suffer from sexual abuse, mostly in the hands of men as well as their fellow women. Sexual crimes occur when an individual forces a woman to either engage in sexual activities or sexually related activities (Watts Charlotte and Cathy Zimmerman 1233). some of the sexual activities carried out on women and have been outlawed by justice system in many countries include touching them in a sexual way without their consent, prolonged sexual contact against a woman even after being requested to stop as well as forcing them to take part in sexual acts which are not safe. The crime in sometimes carried out by spouses in marriage, dating partners as well as by lawful partners. Young girls of less than eighteen years have also been victims of sexual contacts. The crime is mostly carried out by step-fathers, elder brothers, teachers, coaches as well as people in authority. The violent crime experienced by young girls include prostitution and exposure to pornography contents. Also, sexual abuse involves all cases and forms of rape against women. Rape occurs when men, spouse, legal or dating partner, forces a woman into sexual activities without her consent. Some of the various forms of rape perpetrated against women include incest, marital and gang rape. The other violent crime against women is experienced in form of psychological or emotional abuse (Dutton 56). Perpetrators of emotional abuse use either their actions or words of mouth to frighten, control or isolate women with the aim of taking away self-respect. The violent crime associated with psychological state of women include insults, controlling how they should wear, go as well as who they should see and associate with. Also, women are either restricted or threatened against taking up certain jobs or classes. In addition, there have been cases whereby women have complained against online harassment as well as receiving intimidation via the phone (Dutton 60). Including unlisted psychological and emotional abuse, the vice have been outlawed in many countries and perpetrators are liable of facing legal actions. Next is financial abuse against women. There have been situations whereby people use either money or property with an aim of exploiting women (Johnson et al 326). Other use their financial capability to control women in the society. Women have been financially extorted by their close associates in a number of ways. For instance money and property of women have been taken away by force by their close associates, as they are assumed to be weak. Other cases have been reported whereby men withhold money belonging to women, thereby denying them the chance and ability to make payment of things they wish to purchase. Also, women have been forced to sell property against their will. In addition, other women have been forced to change the content of their wills. The stated cases of financial crime have sometimes been categorized as theft or fraud by the justice system. In addition, women have been complaining of criminal harassment from men as well as their fellow women. Most cases of criminal harassment intimidate women to the extent of fearing of their safety and life. The criminal are mostly conducted through threats (Johnson et al, 70). Also, women feel insecure when they are being followed or watched by a stranger for long. Other cases of criminal harassment is when an individual continues sending gifts to a woman despite being advised to stop. Farther more, violent crime against women happens when other members of the family feel that they have a duty to maintain honor and respect amongst themselves (Koss, Mary P 1332). Therefore, they take up responsibilities of disciplining women believed to have disgraced the family. For instance, family members might be against women talking to young boys, refusing to undertake forced marriage, engaging in extra-marital affairs and putting on, what is believed to be, wrong clothing (Government of Canada). As a result, family members may feel that using violence is appropriate to restore family values and reputation. They end up exerting violent crime like threats, forced confinement, beatings and killings. Moreover, there are still cases of forced marriage in some communities. For instance, the article authored by Kumar Shuba places India at the highest level in terms of conducting forced marriage (Kumar et al 63). Forced marriage in India is a seen as a normal practice whereby young girls, from the age of eight years, are forced into a marriage without their consent. The practice is prevalent as it has both a strong religious and political support. For instance, the annual Akhai Teej festival provides an opportunity for both religious and political leaders to participate and bless youths getting into marriage (Kumar et al 63). It is during such occasions that young women and girls are forced to marry men without their consent. Other violent crime against women include human trafficking, mainly to be exploited for prostitution and production of pornographic materials (Outshoorn Joyce 145). The continued increase of violent crime against women reveals inadequacy and ineffectiveness of the existing measures in curbing the act. Therefore, there is need for the society to adopt reliable measure of safeguarding women against perpetrators of violent crime. Some of the acceptable measures of promoting fairness and equality if rights in the society include advocating for necessary legal actions to be taken against violent crime perpetrators. Legal action should be supported by enactment of sexual offense laws and legislations criminalizing the offenses by recommending appropriate punishments against perpetrators (African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights). Also, existing laws should be reviewed with the aim of promoting fairness and equality in the society, as a way of preventing and eradicating violent crime against women. The other approach of safeguarding women against violent crime involves reviewing and cultural, political, social and economic values and norms practiced in the society (African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights). Religious beliefs, traditional norms and stereotypes advocating of violent crime against women should be eradicated. The move should be carried out by sensitizing member of the community about rights of women and the need to honour and respect them. Also, the media should be involved in eradicating violence against women by publicizing the need of gender equality in the society. Thorough coverage of the problems by the media is a reliable means of eradicating stereotypes and negative practices that promote violent crime against women. Next, educational and training programs should be designed and adopted by all learning institutions. Sensitization of gender based programs should be enforced in the society by incorporating it the educational curriculums as well as thorough training of personnel responsible of administering and enforcing social justice (African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights). The justice system and health officials should be equipped with necessary information on handling cases of violent crime against women. Also, steps should be taken by governments to promote exchange of information with other countries on effective ways of eradicating the vice. In addition, measures should be adopted to ensure proper provision of services and information to victims and survivors of violent crime against women. Thus, there is need to ensure that victims of violent crime have access to effective police services, prosecutorial, health and social welfare (African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights). Legal aid should be provided to women to fast track prosecution process and facilitate realization of justice to the victims and perpetrators. Women should be allowed access to affordable or even free administrative and social services to empower them. In conclusion, the research has presented various forms of violent crime against women. Some of the violent crime against women discussed in the research are physical and sexual crime, emotional and psychological abuse as well as financial exploitation. Other are stalking, domestic violence and forced marriage. Despite the increase of violent crime against women, there are corrective measures which should be embraced by both the relevant authority and members of the community to promote equality and fairness. The measures include conducting gender awareness programs, incorporating gender based contents in the educational and training materials, reviewing laws and legislations that define violent against women as crimes and suggest appropriate punishments to the perpetrators. Either measures include eradicating traditional and religious beliefs and practices that promote the use of violence against women. Works cited African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights. "Prevention and Eradication of Violence against Women and Children (Addendum to the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development)." 14 September 1998. www.achpr.org. www.achpr.org/instruments/eradication-violence-woman-sadc-addendium/. 25 September 2015. Dutton, Donald G. The domestic assault of women: Psychological and criminal justice perspectives. UBC press, 2011. Government of Canada. "Forms of Violence and Abuse." 30 September 2013. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/violence/about-ausujet/forms-eng.html. 25 September 2015. Johnson, Holly, Natalia Ollus, and Sami Nevala. Violence against women: An international perspective. Springer Science & Business Media, 2007. Johnson, Michael P., and Janel M. Leone. "The differential effects of intimate terrorism and situational couple violence findings from the national violence against women survey." Journal of family issues 26.3 (2005): 322-349. Kumar, Shuba, et al. "Domestic violence and its mental health correlates in Indian women." the British journal Of psychiatry 187.1 (2005): 62-67. Koss, Mary P. "Blame, shame, and community: justice responses to violence against women." American Psychologist 55.11 (2000): 1332. Outshoorn, Joyce. "The political debates on prostitution and trafficking of women." Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State and Society 12.1 (2005): 141-155. Watts, Charlotte, and Cathy Zimmerman. "Violence against women: global scope and magnitude." The Lancet 359.9313 (2002): 1232-1237. Read More