Domestic Violence: Impact on Women and Children - Research Paper Example

RUNNING HEAD: Domestic Violence Domestic Violence: Impact on Women and Children Introduction Domestic violence impacts women and children differently, depending on the lifestyle or household situation as well as the level to which abuse has occurred. There are physical and emotional scars that are just as dynamic as the physical abuse. Domestic violence occurs in several different fashions, including pushing, slapping, hitting and choking as well as forcing sexual activities without consent (domesticviolence.org, 2009). The abuse activities have short- and long-term impact that are dependent on their social environment and can directly impact economic stability. Domestic violence and its associated outcomes creates both negative emotional outcomes and opportunities in some instances. Defining the Victim and Abuse Outcomes Morgan Steiner (2009) describes the type of victims that are experiencing domestic violence across America. The author presents a case study of a Harvard-educated wife that had been controlled by her husband who actively worked to cause emotional and physical harm to her. There is a general stereotype in society that battered women come from lower income homes or maintain inferior educational credentials. What the author calls “smug pronouncements” create society’s victims as being weak and self-destructive (Morgan Steiner, 2009, p.40). Battered women come from all different walks of life and maintain different demographic and socio-cultural backgrounds. This greatly impacts the level to which the battered women are affected by the abuse. Generally, with higher economic resources, they escape their situation and are able to refresh their lives either through counseling or by simply starting a new life afresh. DeRiviere (2008) identifies that low income women, especially in escalating abuse environments, lowers their probability to be engaged in paid work. When abuse is occurring, even if the victim is working within a paid work environment, their human capital skills are depreciated that can lead to a poverty trap (DeRiviere). As identified, women have different outcomes depending on their status as a caretaker and/or business professional with measurable sustainable incomes. Women or children that are abused are also victimized by what is occurring within the male as related to their personality. When men feel threatened by external forces, it reinforces gender role inequality when men feel humiliated and unable to provide for families or have become victims of conflict in their lives (McDonald, 2010). The effort is to re-assert dominance in their homes via violence, thus making abuse outcomes different depending on what is driving the root cause of the violent behaviors. Men who abuse women are referred to by Izenberg (2007) as coercive controllers. This type of abuser would refuse to let his wife’s family visit the marital home, accuses a women of infidelity when travelling with friends, or records her spending in a daily logbook (Izenberg, 2007, p.84). This is manipulative domestic abuse that degrades women and “can be more devastating than injurious assault” (Izenberg, p.84). It leaves a lasting emotional scarring on the battered wife as the husband attempts to control her environment and make her question her own integrity through degrading commentaries. Some believe abuse is a physical harm caused, however the coercive controllers have the ability to leave long-lasting effects on female self-esteem and self-confidence. When a child has been abused in their youth, especially those shamed by their father, it is a strong predictor of physical abuse characteristics developing in the youth in later adult years (Talbot, 2001). Shame abuse, an emotional tool, includes making them feel defective, unloved, ineffective and degraded (Talbot). Children in young adolescent ages are seeking concepts of self-discovery and identifying with their personality as measured against broader society. Shame conflicts with this development and makes the youth question their role in the household and their own sense of self-value. It could even create a borderline personality in the future (Talbot). Women that are in abusive relationships may be unwilling to seek help from community agencies for a variety of different reasons. First, in their minds they may tell themselves that the abuse is not serious enough to warrant assistance (McLeod, Hays & Chang, 2010). Second, the victim may perceive that the available community help and services are not useful. Third, they may just be unaware of the wide-ranging program availability and resource networks to contact or could be restricted from accessing these sources by the abusive partners (McLeod et al). All of this would be dependent on their lifestyle, socio-economic or educational status, and the role of the abuse within their lives. Some common outcomes of women that have survived domestic violence include lack of transportation, lack of housing, ineffective child care, and minimized educational or job opportunities (McLeod et al). This is why the abuse situation is so critical for women, since the long-term outcomes of having been exposed to abuse can leave structural marks everywhere in areas of employment and even basic physiological needs as described under Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Financial resources or lack thereof are often cited as common barriers for not leaving an abusive relationship. A Focus on Youths Referring back to children as the abuse victims, some develop new risk symptoms in the product of domestic violence. Exposure to domestic violence creates “a continuum where children demonstrate enormous resiliency while others show signs of significant maladaptive adjustment” (Carlson, 2000, p.322). It is dependent on the child and their development, along with social network or coping capability, that determines the outcome. It is cited that such factors driving a more stable adjustment to domestic violence exposure includes intelligence, high self-esteem, strong peer relationships, and a supportive adult presence in their lives (Carlson). Maladaptive behaviors or inability to adjust would be dependent on the type of abuse occurring, the frequency of its exposure, and those in the community and social networks related to how they respond to the child’s needs. Children who have become victims of domestic violence also have a three to four times higher percentage rate of being unable to make friends than that of non-abused children (turningpointservices.org, 2009). The impact of the abuse can leave them isolated from others, which is important in a very critical self-developmental stage. Children develop their sense of self and their role within broader society through ongoing social contact. If the emotional scars created by domestic abuse makes them unable to build an adequate social network, the risks related to identify formation can be substantial. Children of abuse also are known to throw temper tantrums and achieve failing grades at school (turningpointservices.org). Failing grades could be the by-product of the child having ongoing thoughts that obsess about the abuse, however the lasting impact to failing grades causes considerable problems for the child into the future. It could begin a downward spiral of poor education that gives them insufficient tools by which to gain high income or high profile adult education. This is why domestic abuse is so important for study as it is not a short-term situation, it is one that builds long-term risk in many children of different backgrounds. There are some children in society that live in homes where violence occurs regularly, and instead of falling into the traditional traps already described, might adjust positively as a means to cope or compensate. For example, an older sibling might become a loving caretaker for the adult victim. When the victim is the child, some children just try to keep peace in the home and become high achievers in other areas of their lives (Vargas, Cataldo & Dickson, 2008). However, there are some children who are abused that withdraw from society and start developing aggressive peer relationships at home and at school. Negative coping behaviors can include self-injurious behaviors such as drug and alcohol use, unsafe sexual activity, or cutting themselves (Vargas et al). Again, this points toward the fact that children will adjust differently and there is no singular measurement or predictive analysis that can determine how a child will respond. The nature and structure of their lives, along with the dimensions of their social network, will determine what avenue the child takes to deal with the complicated emotional and/or physical problems of being exposed to domestic violence. One outcome of domestic violence on children can include the development of more severe problems. One of these is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD can be produced by witnessing an actual death or serious injury to others and the reaction to these events is intense fear, horror or disorganized helplessness (Hornor, 2006). The American Psychiatric Association’s identifies that the intensity of the abuse situation, its duration and its proximity are important scenarios that will determine whether post-traumatic stress disorder exists. This very serious mental condition can lead to ongoing delusions and flashbacks or cause the child to withdraw from others and demand non-interference from society members. Without appropriate counseling or the emotional intelligence to cope effectively and find conclusions involved with the abuse, it could lead to long-term problems in career, marriage and social adjustment. Women Survivors of Abuse Low-income women that have left abusive relationships might believe that their problems have been removed and they are ready to start fresh relationships and self-interest opportunities. However, Baum (2000) recognizes the realities of today’s society and the many complications that occur at the economic and support level in order to bring women comfort and opportunity after exiting an abusive relationship. Baum points out a case study scenario involving a woman named Gonzalez who had to apply for a “coveted” Section 8 voucher, which is a subsidy from the government to allow the bearer to rent an apartment and pay one-third of her income in rent (Baum, p.15). Even though there are subsidized programs for low-income survivors of abuse, finding affordable housing in some urban or rural areas is difficult and there are long waiting lists for those apartments that would be considered fair value under Section 8 guidelines. Gonzalez, in an attempt to rebuild her life, actually lost the voucher as she could not find an apartment, even at only one-third of her income level, that was affordable with a budget of only $719 month (Baum). Even though the abuse situation has stopped and the female is ready to start a new life, especially the low-income victim, they are subject to hard realities of the system that binds their lifestyle. For example, Gonzalez was from Boston, an area with high rent districts and taxation based on its historical importance and its urban development record. Others in rural communities might be able to land an inexpensive apartment or house that is affordable, however the geography of lifestyle impacts their recovery. Gonzalez eventually became an advocate for economic literacy program teaching for low income women and was supported by Boston’s Elizabeth Stone House, a feminist alternative mental health system (Baum). However, others are not as fortunate. The long-term financial impact on Gonzalez’s life could have lingered for a generation, creating a new generation of low income youths that are used to living on subsidized vouchers and other welfare systems. Helping and Understanding Victims The long-term consequences stemming from domestic violence were identified as lack of housing and transportation and inadequate child care (as two examples). Reliance on subsidized systems or other governmental support for low income women can lead to longer consequences on children who are receiving inadequate child care as the woman seeks new economic opportunities. Prolonged removal of parental influence and third party direction, something which often occurs in the face of child care issues, can lead to detachment or improper moral and ethical guidance. Lack of these factors in a child’s life can lead to a distorted sense of self, therefore driving them further into long-term problems related to socialization and relationship-development. The goal for helping children recover from domestic violence is to either remove them from the abusive situation or help them gain coping tools through different methods related to their socio-cultural or development stage backgrounds. Children would be less affected in a spousal abuse environment where psychological tactics and manipulation occur at the marital level, therefore adjustment is personalized based on their own empathy toward the abused parent or their role/status within the household. This type of coercive control emotional abuse is not necessarily directed at the youth, therefore coping is easier. In a physical abuse environment, shame outcomes or gender inequalities created through the control efforts can lead to very non-discreet personality dysfunction or improper adult or adolescent development. Children who develop the same abusive characteristics of the parent abuser will display different symptoms that include aggressive action with peers and adults in home and school or reliance on foreign substances as a coping method (Vargas et al). In this case, it would be the responsibility of the household network or the community systems that support education and in-school counseling to recognize the problem and take professional action within the limits imposed by their jurisdiction or expertise. Children with longer-lasting dysfunctions such as post-traumatic stress disorder would require a licensed therapist or psychoanalyst to assist as the intense fear and horror of domestic abuse will linger over their life span without the ability to successfully recognize and take a self-functional analysis to identify better coping strategies. Higher resource women, such as the case study involving a Harvard-educated woman from an affluent background that was subject to control and physical abuse, would have less problems with exiting this environment based on economic status and educational ability to procure meaningful work to support their lifestyle. However, it is important to identify that domestic abuse does not occur only in less stable, low income environments and each reaction or impact is unique depending on characteristics of the abuser both physiological and psychological. Conclusion The outcomes of domestic abuse on women and children do not fit any singular profile and the volume of potential dysfunctions or eroded self-concept that occurs as a product of it cannot be classified. Income, education, family role and status, and the nature of the abuse dictate whether outcomes are negative or achieve some form of new opportunistic lifestyle improvement approach. Children are much more the long-term victim of abuse as it occurs during the stages of childhood development where the youth begins to make abstract sense of his or her world and relies on input and support from those in peer and parental networks. From cutting oneself, to drug abuse, to the presence of potential post-traumatic stress disorder, children who are exposed to domestic abuse put considerable strains on society in the short- and long-term based on the dysfunctions produced within the youth as a product of the abuse. Unfortunately, it does not seem that there is a one-cure-fits-all strategy for women or children who have been abused. The duration of abuse seems to be a factor that determines outcome and whether it is psychologically-based or physical assaults. Whatever the socio-cultural or socio-economic status of the victims, most outcomes of domestic abuse are negative and creates a need within the victim for support and/or a competent exit strategy as the first step toward healing. References Baum, Anna. (2000). “Taking Control”, Dollars & Sense. Iss. 227, pp.10-15. Carlson, B.E. (2000). “Children exposed to intimate partner violence: research findings and implications for intervention”, Trauma, Violence, and Abuse. 1(4), pp.321-340. DeRiviere, Linda. (2008). “Do economists need to rethink their approaches to modeling intimate partner violence?”, Journal of Economic Issues. 42(3), pp.583-602. Hornor, Gail. (2006). “Domestic Violence and Children”. Retrieved November 29, 2010 from www.jpedhc.org. Izenberg, Dafna. (2007). “Emotional Rescue”, Macleans. 120(4), p.84. McDonald, Alyssa. (2010). “Home, Sweet Home”, New Statesman. 139(4986), p.40. McLeod, A., Hays, D. & Chang, C. (2010). “Female intimate partner violence survivors’ experiences with accessing resources”, Journal of Counseling and Development. 88(3), pp.303-311. Morgan Steiner, Leslie. (2009). “Crazy Love”, Psychology Today. 42(3), pp.40-42. Talbot, Nancy. (2001). “The Abusive Personality: Violence and Control in Intimate Relationships”, Community Mental Health Journal. 37(4), pp.375-377. Turningpointservices.org. (2009). “Domestic Violence – Children of Domestic Violence Statistics”. Retrieved November 30, 2010 from http://www.turningpointservices.org/Domestic%20Violence%20-%20Children%20and%20Domestic%20Violence%20Statistics.htm Vargas, L., Cataldo, J. & Dickson, S. (2008). “Domestic Violence and Children”. Retrieved November 30, 2010 from http://www.counseling.org/Resources/Library/VISTAS/vistas05/Vistas05.art13.pdf Read More