The Issue of Domestic Violence - Term Paper Example

Domestic Violence Domestic Violence can be defined as any type of violent activity which occurs within the home. This is usually meant to describe abuse which takes place between domestic partners or spousal abuse. In cases of domestic violence involving children, “child abuse” is most commonly the term used. Annually, one of the leading types of violent activity which takes place occurs within the home between family members, particularly spouses or domestic partners. While cases of same sex partner abuse does occur as well as cases of women abusing men, usually the male resident is the violent actor towards the female spouse or partner, “ While battering most obviously effects women---who compromise approximately 98% of all victims---its direct or indirect impact is felt every day throughout our state by females and males in every cultural, religious, socio-economic and age group. In places as diverse as classrooms, courtrooms, and emergency rooms, victims and their children struggle to overcome the debilitating results of chronic violence in their homes”(Domestic violence in Hawaii.edu, 2008). The world looks to Hawaii as a “tropical island paradise” with little worry or trouble but, the fact is that Hawaii is an ever growing location of domestic violence. Unlike many other states, Hawaii is without a statewide coordinated database which keeps track of known abusers making it difficult to monitor those who are more likely to abuse. Hawaii actually houses 9 facilities which have been established as abuse shelters. Sadly, each and every one of these shelters is filled to capacity virtually all of the time. The growing problem of Hawaii’s domestic violence epidemic is harrowing. In the area of Oahu alone, over 1,000 calls monthly are received by police, reporting domestic violence. Oahu was also reported to have had 23 domestic related fatalities within a twelve month periods in very recent years. (Domestic violence in Hawaii.edu, 2008). The services available to help those suffering from domestic violence are extremely limited as the cases of violence far outweigh the availability of services and recourses.. It is not uncommon for court calendars to have continuous backlogging on cases of domestic violence and services that provide counseling to abuse victims often have extremely long waiting lists. This is mostly in the cases of those who have been victims to physical abuse and violence. It is important to mention however, that domestic abuse is more involved than just the aspect of the physical. Often times, victims of domestic violence are subject to a great deal of psychological, verbal, mental, financial and sexual abuse. Domestic abuse can encompass regular verbal matches where the abuser issues threats to the victim or restricts the victim from access to his or her personal belongings or basic necessities. For example, if a victim is prevented from using their vehicle in order to get to work, this is considered both financial and property abuse. An astounding number of unexcused absences from work take place on a yearly basis due strictly to domestic violence and abuse. This in turn, effects the local and federal economy. In fact, in America, a loss of $1.8 billion annually is experienced due to lost wages and national productivity due to domestic partner related violence. Also on a national level, an estimated $5.8 billion is spent on the medical and psychological treatment of abuse victims. Obviously, domestic violence is not just a problem to those who are victims, it is a national problem and it is therefore everyone’s problem. Reducing the occurrence of domestic violence not only on a state level in Hawaii but on a national level; will come only from increased education and decreased tolerance for abusers. The availability of help lines, hotlines, shelters and aid to victims of domestic violence has to meet the immediate need in order to address the problem head on. State and national legislation has to send a clear message to abusers that domestic violence will in no way be tolerated. The message that domestic violence is marginal or even tolerable; is something that we send to our children when we do not actively educate about the tragedy of domestic violence. When we teach through media prompted stereotypes that it is ok for men to be aggressive and for women to be domesticated and subdued, we begin the ideology that not only are women synonymous with property but are subject to male domination and punishment. When this message becomes unacceptable nationally, and the message of gender equality prevails in schools and in public media; this country will be closer to an end to an epidemic of violence. Sadly, in order for victims to achieve minimal protection such as a PFA (protection from abuse), they have to prove that they are in immediate danger from said defendant. Even if an individual is able to convince a judge to grant them a PFA, having a PFA enforced is even more complicated. In most cases, a PFA will prohibit the defendant (the abuser) from coming within an area of about 500 ft. from the plaintiff (the victim). This is supposed to protect the victim from being harassed at work or from feeling threatened by the abuser. A PFA however, is merely a piece of paper and in the case of abusers who seek to seriously harm or kill their victims, the PFA is useless. Another aspect of the PFA is that having one in place alone will often prompt an abuser to act out of revenge. When a PFA is in place, the abuser is served at his or her home or work, usually by an officer(s) of the law. The officer(s) will explain to the abuser the confines and restrictions of the PFA and who has filed for said PFA. It is not uncommon for those with a propensity for abuse to react violently to having been served at work or at home, by the law. In many cases, a judge will not sign a PFA order unless there is a history of abuse or a recent threat on the victim from the abuser. This means that a PFA is not a preventative measure and requires some previous act of violence or abuse in order to be instated. Sadly, many victims are severely injured or killed prior to ever having the chance to attain a PFA. There are laws in place which allow the action of law enforcement in the event of a terroristic threat, since the tragic events of 9/11. This means that making a terroristic threat can earn an individual prosecution and incarceration. Unfortunately, it took the pointless deaths of over 5,000 people to make this law possible. The question arises then, how many individuals who are domestic violence victims must die before similar laws are in place to protect them? On a global scale, it is estimated that one in three women has at one time been physically or sexually abused by a domestic partner. This is absolutely astounding and frightening, “Estimates range from 960,000 incidents of violence against a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend per year1 to three million women who are physically abused by their husband or boyfriend per year”(Family Violence Prevention Fund, 2008). Incidents of domestic violence, predominantly against women, are taking place every minute of every day. What this means is that enough is simply not being done. The need to educate and enforce is ever present. Victims need to know their rights and what recourses are available before they become victims. Those with the propensity to become abusers need to be educated on how unacceptable and tragic abuse really is. The past complacency to place women in subdued and submissive roles has to be unacceptable and intolerable from this point on in an effort to teach this generation’s children and youth how to respect one another as equals and how to deal with anger and frustration in non violent ways. Works Cited: American Institute on Domestic Violence, (2008) “National cost on domestic violence”, retrieved from website at: http://www.aidv- usa.com/Statistics.htm Family Violence Prevention Fund, (2008) “Get the facts”, retrieved from website at: http://endabuse.org/resources/facts/ ----------------------, (2008) “Domestic violence in Hawaii”, retrieved from website at: http://home.honolulu.hawaii.edu/~tanalee/DomesticViolence/JODVinHi.ht ml Read More