The physical or sexual violence and psychological hostility towards a former or current partner are referred to as partner violence. Partner violence can take various dimensions with some having one encounter that may or may not last to severe partner violence which can go on for long periods (Leventhal, 2016). Partner violence is considered among the most frequent abuse forms towards women occurring in all settings including cultural, religious and socioeconomic settings.
Partner violence can take the form of physical violence involving hitting, beating, slapping and kicking. Sexually, partner violence revolves around forced sexual encounters or other sexual coercion forms (Leventhal, 2016). The perpetrator of partner violence is seen to continuously exhibit multiple abuse forms that include threatening, terrorizing and increased controlling and possessive behavior.
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The scenario on the female client is most interesting given that violence has been taking place in her home for a long period yet she has not taken any steps. It is interesting that in most partner violence cases, the victims do not just leave although the violence has taken place over the long period. Several reasons inhibit the departure of victims. As in our scenario, most victims do not decide between leaving because they have to put up with their current lifestyle and are financially dependent on the violence perpetrator. Our, client discloses that she has to maintain her lifestyle and offer the best for her children and keep up with the seemingly luxurious life that the violent husband has bestowed on them. Research by Leventhal (2016), have noted that the pressure is created on the victim by social and family roles with the victim continuously attempting to mend the relational damage.
Another possible reason why victims of partner violence remain in violent relationships is the belief that the abuse is just a phase and it is soon going to change. Our client in has been in the abusive relationship for nearly sixteen years and given that perpetrators of violence always promise to change, she might believe that the abuse is a phase that will soon change. In other instances, perpetrators promise to attend counseling making the victim think there is a way she can behave to prevent abuse. Given the fact that the violence perpetrator in the scenario is thought to be cheating further supports the argument that victims believe they can behave in a way to prevent further abuse consequently changing the perpetrator.
Additionally, it can be concluded that some victims have the anxiety of separation. To begin with, some victims who have been in long periods of abusive relationships fear that leaving will see them subjected to worse abuse when they leave. Research by Leventhal (2016) indicates that there is a tendency for partner violence to increase with separation noting that violence risk is immediate after separation. Studies reveal that the reason for increased partner violence with separation is the fact that the violence perpetrator no longer has control over the victim.
Current research
Over the years, partner violence research has been unnecessarily politicized and fragmented. However, initiatives globally have been initiated to bring to light transparent and evidence-based knowledge on partner violence. Research by James and Missouri Institute of Mental Health (2014) has indicated a growing index of partner violence showing a widespread nature of violence. A study undertaken by the World Health Organization has shown that approximately thirteen to sixty-one percent of interviewees in various studies have been shown to have experienced partner violence supporting the fact that partner violence is widespread. In the population researched on, it was evident that severe physical violence had been met on four to forty-nine percent of the population. Comparative studies show that many women have experienced sexual, physical and emotional violence from their husbands or cohabiting partners.
Further studies by James and Missouri Institute of Mental Health (2014) indicate that in most instances a combination of more than one forms of violence coexists within formal marriages and informal partnerships. Many female participants in the World Health Organization study have reported having experienced violence during dating with their male counterparts reporting to have abused their intimate partners by way of sexual violence.
There are multiple factors revealed to have been the cause of partner violence with strong evidence. First, individual factors have been postulated to be an underlying factor for partner violence. Male partners have been revealed by studies to meet violence on their female partners who are relatively younger with a low education generally accepting violence. Relationship factors such as dissatisfaction and conflict in a relationship coupled with male dominance, economic stress as well as promiscuity have further been brought forward as possible causes of violence (James, & Missouri Institute of Mental Health, 2014).
Despite having limited research on societal and community factors that are a characteristic of partner violence, several factors are seen to be at constant play. First, there is the widespread existence of gender-inequity norms linking men with aggression and dominance in the society. The norms have in a way given men the right to be violent and thus making women endure violence without raising concern. Additionally, low economic and social women status in the society has made female partner be subjected to violence. As earlier discussed, financial dependency makes violence victims continue enduring violence since they want to maintain their class and lifestyles thus even when met with the worst forms of violence they endure promoting the culture of violence.
The society exhibits weak community sanctions to effectively deal with partner violence thus little concern is taken when partner violence cases are undertaken (Goodmark, 2018). Moreover, there exists a general social acceptance that violence is one way to resolve conflict, therefore, making it acceptable for male partners to effect violence whenever domestic conflicts arise. An increased level of general violence and armed conflict has also acted as a catalyst for partner violence. The society considers man as having a right to exercise power over his partner and values it as a socially superior trait. Additionally, it is considered rightful for a man to discipline his partner for erroneous behavior.
Consequences of partner violence
Several consequences are attributed to partner violence ranging from mental as well as physical consequences. One major consequence, of partner violence, is injury and damage to physical health. Thoracic and abdominal injuries, bruises and lacerations are some of the physical consequences that victims endure. Furthermore, victims may suffer from ailments that do not have an identifiable medical source. Such ailments range from irritable bowel syndrome, exacerbation of asthma and gastrointestinal symptoms. Often victims suffer mental health problems such as depression, phobias, and anxiety. In the World Health Organization’s study (Renzetti, Follingstad, & Coker, 2018), on partner violence, victims exhibit suicide attempts, poor self-esteem, unsafe sexual behavior and physical inactivity. Further results are seen to reveal adverse effects on pregnant ladies with miscarriages, stillbirths, fetal injury as well as premature birth.
Remedies for partner violence
When not properly handled, partner violence can be detrimental to the victim, and thus a workable framework should be put in place to respond and prevent partner violence. There arises a need to set up comprehensive, long-term and multi-sectoral approaches to remedy partner violence. First, a school-based program offering life-skills can be implemented to offer an influence to knowledge, behavior, and attitudes in young people with an aim to reduce partner violence perpetration (Renzetti et al., 2018).
Given that many cases of partner violence go unreported setting up comprehensive response services to victims and survivors will help mitigate and reduce partner violence. Setting up response services need backing from local authorities for successful enforcement of the services. Additionally, the response service needs a backing through constant training and staff support to ensure that victims are provided with effective services. According to Renzetti et al., (2018), continuous monitoring and evaluation need to be established to assess the effect of services provided and their impact on violence victims.
Empowering women socially and economically will act as a milestone in reducing partner violence since the socio-economic status of women is one of the factors that promote partner violence. Given the fact that many victims opt to endure partner violence to maintain their lifestyle and that of the children, empowering women will act to provide economic and social security (Goodmark, 2018).
Conclusion
Partner violence is a global menace which should be mitigated to prevent the ugly outcomes that result from the vice. Violence victims have a responsibility of rising and standing against partner violence to ensure that their position in the society is realized. It is important that local authorities provide a platform on which violence victims air their voice and offer the necessary structural support. Cruel traditions that show the man as the de facto household leader should be condemned to give women a voice and a place in the society. The traditions ought to be criminalized to ensure that fewer instances of partner violence are reported. It is integral for the multi-sectoral approaches to be implemented globally to prevent the statistics showing more partner violence with time.
References
Goodmark, L. (2018). Decriminalizing domestic violence: A balanced policy approach to intimate partner violence .
Renzetti, C. M., Follingstad, D., & Coker, A. (2018). Preventing intimate partner violence: Interdisciplinary perspectives .
James, B., & Missouri Institute of Mental Health. (2014). Intimate partner violence: Understanding factors that impact survivors .
Leventhal, J. M. (2016). My partner, my enemy: An unflinching view of domestic violence and new ways to protect victims .
