The Domestic Violence Problem of the Modern World - Essay Example

Norma Ortiz Donna Ginn ENG 111.0909 19 April The domestic violence problem of the modern world Many family breakups and divorce in the modern society are due to domestic violence that is either inflicted on the marriage partners or the other household children. From a legal standpoint, any act or verbal expression that is abusive, coercive, forceful or threatening inflicted by one member of a family on another is considered as domestic violence (Gordon, 254). In this context, domestic violence may include the tendency to dominate the other person with whom he/she has a prior relationship. According to Roberts (34) these coercive behaviors can as well assume the form of sexual assaults, psychological as well as physical abuse. However, the determinants for the consideration of a particular act of domination as domestic violence vary. Consequently, domestic violence has been a controversial phrase to define or describe in precise universal terms. Following this, studies have been conducted in order to determine from the society itself, in different contexts, what various societies consider to constitute domestic violence. This paper, therefore, seeks to present what actually constitutes domestic violence in the modern society. In this regards, it highlights how best domestic violence can be defined. The paper also proposes a solution to preventing possible domestic violence in the modern society through education. An adequate definition of what domestic violence is seemed to be quite liquefied in the sense that every context provides its own defining limits. In this light, in Fernandez (66) pointed out that the definition of domestic violence regularly varies depending on the setting in which the term is used. This is also in agreement with the postulation by Brittny et al. (207), according to whom within a behavioral context, view domestic violence as a pattern of assaultive and/or coercive behaviors which include physical, sexual and psychological attacks as well as economic coercion that an individual use against their intimate partners. Therefore, in this context acts such as slapping or punching a partner or forcing an intimate partner into a sexual intercourse constitute domestic violence. It is worth noting that domestic violence is a worldwide phenomenon. Almost every society the world over has an idea what constitutes domestic violence. This is because, in one way or another, these communities have either been victimized or affected by domestic violence in their lifetime (Fernandez 86). That is to say, many families have been trapped in the violence although a small percentage of these families go out of the way to speak of the violence in their homes. The knowledge of what constitute domestic violence brings with it helpful ways of educating the society on the potential factors that may be considered domestic violence on a repeated basis. To this end, Gordon, (255) observed that such knowledge would help educate the young on how to build healthy relationships and avoid any abusive acts. Albeit many societies may concede to what constitute domestic violence, a differing and lingering subject of contention revolves around what influences domestic violence. In other words, what factors instigate domestic violence in the family? This is a controversial subject especially if domestic violence is limited in definition to violence on one married partner or the children or the elderly (Brittny et al. 206).In this context, social views on domestic violence are admissible to vary from region to region and from one particular community to another. To some communities, wife beating is regarded as a justified thing to do in some particular circumstances. As such within these communities wife beating is but a norm, a tradition and so is not considered a domestic violence. In these communities, cases where a wife is actually or suspected of infidelity or disobedience towards the husband, violent acts are thus not considered abuse by the society but are seen to have been provoked by the behavior of the wife.In the agreement, a study by Shipway (48) in India indicated that 57 percent of the Indian boys and 53 percent of the girls of the ages between 15 and 19 felt that wife beating is justified. This thus shows that among such communities, wife beating does not qualify to be a domestic violence. What then constitute domestic violence? Religion has been criticized for instigating violence against women by affirming the issue of male dominance. Some religious scriptures have been blown out of context to support the discrimination of women within a community setting (Brittny et al. 207). Acutely, though, there have been many controversies regarding the influence of religion on domestic violence. Some religious denominations such as Christianity have been criticized for opposing divorce and so end up trapping victims of violence in the abusive marriages (Roberts 74). Although religious leaders have played a central role in preventing and treating domestic violence through the provision of guidance and treatment options information and necessary support provision, religious involvement is still a matter of concern. According to Fernandez (106), religion is to blame for violence owing to its support for honor killing that is violence against women in the Islamic community. Some scholars such as Gordon (256) have contradicted this claim that it is the domination of men and the inferior status of women in the society that have resulted in such acts of violence against women but not religious inclination. In reference to the prevalent practice in Asia, Brittny, et al., (209) observed that local customs and traditions are often responsible for the practice of domestic violence against women or children. Traditions and customs such as son preference, - that is the strong desire to have a boy child than a girl child – have led to many witnessed abuses and neglect of the girlchildren by the disappointed family members. Some scholars have pointed fingers to practices such child or forced marriages, dowry, the hierarchical caste system that have stigmatized the lower ranks, have also resulted in domestic violence. In other words, these practices have been blamed to have led to the discrimination and restriction of the opportunities of the females and thus have made the female sex more vulnerable to abuse and violence in homesteads (Buzawa, Eve & Buzawa 47). Similarly, Roberts (39) in his book observed that in some communities strict dress code that could even be forced through violence by family members, the definite requirement of female virginity before wedding and violence to non-conforming women and girls can be said to have subjected women to socially acceptable violence. As such, violence against women is permissible and acceptable. In this context, therefore, there is almost vanishing thin line of what does or not constitutes violence. Further, a report by Shipway (78) also noted that customs and traditions, especially those in regards to bride price which to some communities is taken as a legal purchase of a wife’s sexual favors and reproductive capacity, have underscored an entitlement of the husband to resort to violence to get his dictates. Moreover, prearranged marriages that are practiced in some communities are also viewed as contributing to the domestic violence that would be witnessed the family later in the marriage. In some instance, girls are married off while still underage (in this case below 18 years of age), thus subjecting them to violence owing to the dominance of the male sex. To this end, some scholar have observed that just like forced marriages, prearranged marriages instigate and perpetuate the rampant cases of domestic violence in some communities that have this sort of practice(Buzawa, Eve & Buzawa 67). Traversing the problem of providing actual defining limits of domestic violence is contextual definition (Brittny et al. 209). That is to say, domestic violence should be defined within the very context of it usage. In other words, a universal defining limit of the term domestic violence does not exist. This is because every community has a differing view on what constitute domestic violence. However, one bottom-line in the controversy is that there must be an element of repeated abusive act towards the other party. Further, in the event of domestic violence, women and children remain to be a highly affected lot of individuals since in most cases they are on the receiving ends of the abusive acts. Moreover, educating the community and creating awareness of factors that can be considered domestic violence, its impact as well as how to intervene safely (Brittny et al. 211). This can be done in collaboration with various organizations and both the local and religious leaders. This will enable create an influence of numbers who would be willing to stop abusers. This will lead to the creation of a community where domestic violence is not tolerated. Education and awareness would create a situation where the neighborhood keeps watching over itself against domestic violence (Shipway, 78). Arguably, knowledge is power, as such the more people are well informed and educated about domestic violence, the closer it gets to eliminate it from the society. Further, education will enable individuals know their roles in the prevention of domestic violence as well as let them understand the cultural influences that can easily trigger domestic violence. In conclusion, it is every society’s wish to find a lasting solution to the unending domestic violence menace. It would easy to know how to address the domestic violence problem conclusively once its leading causes are established, and its constituting elements defined. This study provided reliable information that can be used by society-based antiviolence campaign groups in their attempts to help families steer clear of domestic violence. Domestic violence has acquired various definitions depending on the context in which it is used. However, the constituting elements of domestic violence are predominant within religious, traditional practices and the overall perception of male dominance. The lasting solution to the problem is education and creation of awareness as a way of sieving the factors in the modern that are considered abusive even though they were initially socially accepted. Works Cited Brittny A. Martin; Ming, Cui; Koji, Ueno; Frank D., Fincham. "Intimate Partner Violence in Interracial and Monoracial Couples" (Family Relations2013 62 (1):202–211. Buzawa, Eve S; Buzawa, Carl G; & Evan, Stark. “Responding to Domestic Violence: The Integration of Criminal Justice and Human Services.”(SAGE Publications, 2011). Fernandez, Marilyn. “Restorative Justice for Domestic Violence Victims: An Integrated Approach to Their Hunger for Healing. (Lexington Books, 2010). Gordon, Linda. “Heroes of Their Own Lives: The Politics and History of Family Violence. Urbana.”(University of Illinois Press, 2002) 253–255. Roberts, Albert R. “Battered Women and their Families: Intervention Strategies and Treatment Programs (3rded.).” (New York, NY: Springer, 2007). Shipway, Lynn.“Domestic Violence: A Handbook for Health Professionals.”(New York: Routledge, 2004). Read More