Domestic violence is a violence involving intimate partners in a relationship. The violence occurs in many forms including sexual, emotional, physical abuse, and threats. The violence can go either way, but in most cases, it is directed towards the women. Also, the violence can happen in both heterosexual and gay relationships. The characteristics of domestic violence include an imbalance of power where the abuser uses hurtful and intimidating behavior and words to control their partner. The violence, in most cases, does not start from the onset but requires time to develop fully. The discussion will address domestic violence directed against women and the position it places them in the society.
The most common form of abuse against women is domestic violence. It is a trait that is evident in most societies in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) postulated that between 29% and 62% of women worldwide have experienced a form of physical or sexual abuse. In the United States, approximately three women are murdered every day as a result of an encounter with a past or present partner. Also, close to thirty-eight million women have experienced physical violence in their lifetime. Another research carried out found that disabled women are more likely to experience domestic violence than the women who have no disabilities ( Straus, 2017). Research by the WHO also found out that males who were exposed to incidences of domestic violence at a young age are three times more likely to practice the violence against their partners than those who were not exposed to the vice while children.
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In understanding domestic violence, it is important to note the factors that lead to the act of aggression against women. Intimate partner violence is a historical vice that has been there since time immemorial. The societal position of women, where they are considered weak and vulnerable leads to their exploitation. The society has developed a sense of acceptance that violence should be directed against the women. Factors that set the precedence for this form of violence may include religious, cultural, economic, and political factors. Some factors may cause one to act with violence against their partner including social and cultural norms as observed in countries such as India. Individual variables such as exposure to the violence at an early age, improper parenting, and peer associations that are delinquent may also play a role. The gender-based violence meted on the women is enhanced by the aspect of the disadvantage of women in as far as their physical size and strength are concerned. Gender roles put the women in a position where they are poorly equipped to deal with or protect themselves from their violent partners. The men who batter their wives see it as an exercise of their power, right, and authority in maintaining order in the family through warranted punishments.
Domestic violence has many implications for women. It causes physical injuries and also undermines the psychological, social, spiritual, economic, and emotional well-being of the affected and the society as a whole. According to García-Moreno et al . (2015), it has also been documented as a major contributor to the poor health of the women. Domestic violence also affects the physical and mental health of the women which subsequently affect their sexual and reproductive health. Other than the injuries, the women might also experience gynecological problems, disabilities, depression, and in extreme cases, suicide. Most of the abuses begin with minimal harm at first, but expand as time goes. Most women tend to adapt to the violent and abusive behavior to the extent that sometimes they fail to recognize the negative impacts it has on them. The physical injuries and mental torture the violence causes on the women in most cases interrupt their educational and career pursuits hence making them vulnerable to poverty and economic viability. Also, reproductive health issues are common among women experiencing this type of violence. Gynecological problems such as miscarriages are a common phenomenon among these women. Secondly, most men perpetrating this kind of violence might have at one time engaged in extramarital relationships, hence exposing their partners to sexually transmitted infections in the case of sexual abuse.
Domestic violence has several psychological and emotional consequences. Aspects of the violence such as frequent verbal abuse, confinement, harassment, and deprivation of resources are the primary reasons for the psychological and emotional problems. The violence undermines the self-esteem of the women making them susceptible to suicides. Also, insults may result in the undermining of the women's self-confidence and security. Children experience collateral effects from the abuse of their mothers, particularly when it has traumatic effects. Such children may develop behavioral, emotional, and development problems that may jeopardize their academic life as asserted by Geffner (2014). The children, therefore, become more likely to use violence in school, attempt suicide, use drugs, commit crimes, and may exhibit the prospect of becoming abusers later in life.
One surprising thing about domestic violence against women is the fact that in most cases it does not result in the women leaving the relationship. Several factors may act as a barrier to a woman who may want to exit the relationship. Economic dependence is a major hindrance for women who seek to walk out of a battering relationship. This is because they are unable to sustain themselves economically if they walk out of the relationship. The values of a given culture and societal demands might compel the women to continue staying in a relationship where violence is directed towards them. Fear of the consequences of leaving the marriage might also play a part in making the women stay. The results may include their children having a bad life, retaliation from the husband, poor relationship with family members from both sides, and shame among others. Most women also tend to lack vital information concerning the options they can take when they are exposed to violence. Other women also believe that it is in the authority of the husband to punish them in whatever way if they have done something wrong. Women tend to be silent about the abuses they experience because they fear that their partners might subject them to more assault.
The most effective way to deal with violence against women is to give it a multi-faceted approach. The first initiative should be directed to solve the needs of the victims. Secondly, a follow-up should be done on a long-term perspective. Thirdly, the strategies should be geared towards altering the cultural and legal provisions that tolerate the violence against women. The health sector can also address and deal with violence directed against women through giving reproductive health services. They can also assist the women by identifying the abuse at an early stage and hence providing them with necessary treatment and if necessary refer them to appropriate healthcare services. The health services must be friendly, respectful, and free from stigma. An awareness campaign can also be done to enlighten the women of their rights.
In conclusion, ant form of violence that is directed to the women is a strong violation of their basic human rights. Several countries and states have failed to mitigate this vice hence playing a role in ensuring that it remains prevalent in many societies. The violence can only be eliminated through a good-will depicted by the political, legal, and civil class.
References
García-Moreno, C., Hegarty, K., d'Oliveira, A. F. L., Koziol-McLain, J., Colombini, M., & Feder, G. (2015). The health-systems response to violence against women. The Lancet , 385 (9977), 1567-1579.
Geffner, R. (2014). The effects of intimate partner violence on children . Routledge.
Straus, M. (2017). Physical violence in American families . Routledge.
