Anti-Family and Domestic Violence Campaign - Essay Example

RESEARCH PAPER By Name Course Instructor Institution City/State Date Anti-Family/Domestic Violence Campaign Introduction Family as well as domestic violence takes different forms. It entails aggressive, violent or daunting behaviour performed by a family member, carer or partner so as to dominate, control or instil terror/fear (Spinney, 2013, p.397). Domestic violence does not necessarily have to be physical abuse; rather, it may be psychological, emotional, sexual, financial, or other forms of abuse. Basically, domestic violence can have an effect on any person within the society, in spite of religion, sexual identity, gender, age, ethnicity, and, economic status. Still women as well as children are devastatingly the victims of family and domestic violence, and doers are overpoweringly male. Domestic violence victims can live in panic for their family and themselves, even many years after leaving violent relationship (Murray & Powell, 2009, p.533). Moreover, as mentioned by Patterson et al. (2009, p.50), domestic/family violence can influence any person and it entails all relationships forms like present and previous close relationships, co-habiting, or culturally acknowledged family groups, and is regardless of sexuality and gender. The research paper seeks to identify and critically examine the central discourse (or discourses) that are ‘at work’ in domestic violence, and the socio-political effects they produce. Campaigns Background The One In Three Campaign The campaign intended to raise public awareness of the needs as well as subsistence of male victims of abuse and domestic violence. He campaign aimed at working collectively with government and non-government services so as to offer help to male victims of domestic violence, and also to reduce the effects and rate of violence on Australian families (One in Three Campaign, 2013). In contradiction of common perception, males make almost 34 percent victims of sexual attack and no less than 34 percent victims of domestic violence as well as abuse. According to the campaign, female are the intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators (94 percent) against males; thus indicating that even men in relationship with other men are vulnerable to IPV. Whereas scores of services have somewhat correctly been set up in the last 40 years to help female victims of domestic/family violence, the campaign argue that the needs of male victims is still for the most part not achieved. “Now is the time to move to the next, more sophisticated stage of tackling the problem: recognizing men as victims as well (One in Three Campaign, 2013).” In the past, Australia’s government policies were rooted in the presumption that the most perpetrators were male while women were the main victims, and still as argued by the campaign, the modern governments’ policies are anchored in this flawed assumption. This argument is evidenced in the 2009 National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children recommendations that was excitedly backed by the Council of Australian Governments and federal government, which failed to include male victims. The proponents of this campaign believe that the time has come for action by community as well as political leaders to acknowledge that an all-inclusive approach is needed to fight the plague of family/domestic violence. Australia leaders must deal with the intricacies of family/domestic violence. “All victims need compassionate and highly responsive support and all perpetrators need services to help them stop their use of violence and abuse (One in Three Campaign, 2013).” This campaign was steered by One in Three a diverse group of both female and male professionals. No Excuse Campaign The campaign was launched in April 2014, and tries to underline that there exists no convincing excuses for family and domestic violence. During the 2014 Easter holidays, five women and children died tragically and violently and this motivated the launching of this campaign. The campaign seeks to highlight the numerous excuses offered by perpetrators of domestic and family violence (Domestic Violence NSW Inc, 2014). “Australia has had a gutful, enough is enough. Too many lives are being lost and there is no excuse for violence against women and children, ever (Domestic Violence NSW Inc, 2014).” According to a proponent of the campaign, both family and domestic violence is killing children and women in appalling numbers. Undoubtedly, if Australians were losing their lives regularly due to food poisoning, terrorism, natural catastrophes or street violence, the whole country would come together thanks to grief and outrage. Therefore as argued in the campaign, family and domestic violence is a countrywide outrage, and so there exist no excuses for such murders. In this regard, federal and state government, not-for-profit organizations and community in large must recognize the dreadfulness of family and domestic violence and to straight away team up to search for solutions. The campaign requires all Australians to append their signature on an open letter petition showing their anger at the deaths attributed by domestic violence, particularly one that happened during the Easer holidays. Besides that, akin to One in Three Campaign, No Excuse Campaign calls on the national leaders to acknowledge domestic violence as a nationwide crisis, and to strongly denounce such violent acts by taking immediate action (Domestic Violence NSW Inc, 2014). The campaign was steered by Domestic Violence NSW Inc., which offers an advocacy and representative function for specialist domestic violence and family services. Don't Cross the Line Campaign The campaign primary aim was to notify South Australians of the changes in law, but its eventual goal was is to stop relationship violence prior to its occurrence by changing attitudes of the community towards violent behavior. “Unfortunately, for many people, growing up in an environment of fear and violence is the only life they know (Government of South Australia, 2009).” The actual goal of the campaign was to show what is as well as what is not tolerable behavior in intimate relationships. In this case, the campaign was integrated with legislative change as well as community education strategies so as to take action towards domestic violence in South Australia. Importantly, the campaign concentrates on prevention as well as early intervention so as to increase awareness in the community that relationship violence cannot be tolerated. What’s more, the campaign involves boosting confidence in the legal system of South Australian in order to give victims of the violence confidence to report incidents in addition to look for support. Based on the campaign, early intervention concentrates on changing behaviours as well as attitudes before becoming accepted or entrenched as normal. Moreover, preventative programs, especially with younger generation, have proven to improve attitudes, skills and knowledge, and so younger generation was the campaign main target. This is for the reason that they are still in the learning process and majority are yet to marry. “Young people may also be participating in social activities that heighten their vulnerability to experiencing violence (Government of South Australia, 2009).” This campaign akin to the other anti-domestic violence campaigns is a vital part of a community awareness campaign against domestic and family violence. The campaign is important because the cost of implementing the campaign was $868,000. This campaign is much important than the other two campaigns since it was advertised in numerous media outlets providing information about relationship violence; changes to laws concerning the rape and sexual assault; recommended changes to the laws about domestic violence; and give locations where victims of family and domestic violence can get help and support. Socio-Political Effects Domestic violence generates fear and may destroy normal functioning of a family, and also heavily affects children. Young people as well as children as evidenced in above campaigns do not have to see the violent behavior in order to be affected by it; rather living with family/domestic violence may bring about emotional and physical harm to young people as well as children (McCarry, 2009, p.327). As mentioned in the One In Three Campaign, young people and children living with family/domestic violence are more probable to show violent behavior, have less social skills, experience anxiety, suffer depression symptoms as well as show emotional suffering. Basically, living in a society wherein economic and social resources together with power are unequally distributed, working to do away with domestic violence need political action as well as social change that will support well-mannered relationships. In this case, political action for change within the society must be updated by the experiences of domestic/family violence survivors. Therefore, in the institutions and government practices and policies, domestic violence may be unreservedly acknowledged, and working to lessen violence at homes may as well be opposed its beneficiaries. According to Spinney (2013), eliminating violence at homes needs a firm criminal justice reaction to the violence itself. Still, it as well needs various interventions that could be at variance from conventional approaches to misdemeanor in addition to prosecution. For instance, where domestic or family violence is involved, it may be hard for its victims to charge the perpetrator or leave the relationship; given that these interventions as mentioned in the Don't Cross the Line Campaign can result in rise in domestic violence. Additionally, violence victims time and again remain associated with the abuser, through kids as well as other members of the family. For such reasons, one response to domestic violence, like arresting, leaving, or charging the perpetrator, does not necessarily stop the intimidation or violence (Buzawa & Stark, 2009, p.126). Therefore, society and law makers must espouse strict rules that can protect victims of domestic violence and also prosecute the perpetrators. Bearing in mind that victims of domestic violence have the right to utilize the legal system in means they believe will best remain secure. Conclusion In conclusion, the campaign materials demonstrate that domestic violence brings about long-term as well as significant harm to its victims. Furthermore, it is expensive to the community in large. Some of the factors highlighted in the campaigns that lead to domestic and family violence include traditional culture, alcohol and drug abuse, the breakdown of law, deep-rooted poverty, inherited trauma and grief, as well as lack of traditional male and female role models. Whereas domestic and family violence takes place across every social group, socio-economic discrimination as evidenced in the campaigns are as well associated with domestic violence. Besides that, social, economic, and political policies affects people’s lives in a manner that associates with domestic violence, but as mentioned in the No Excuse Campaign, they do not excuse for domestic/family violence. Still, social as well as economic factors as well influence ability of the people to run away from violent relationships, but most make use of this to their advantage. References Buzawa, E.S. & Stark, E., 2009. Violence against Women in Families and Relationships. 4th ed. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. Domestic Violence NSW Inc, 2014. No Excuse Campaign. [Online] Available at: http://www.dvnsw.org.au/noexcuse.html [Accessed 17 November 2014]. Government of South Australia, G., 2009. Don't Cross the Line Campaign. [Online] Available at: http://www.dontcrosstheline.com.au/ [Accessed 17 November 2014]. McCarry, M.J., 2009. Justifications and Contradictions: Understanding Young People's Views of Domestic Abuse. Men and Masculinities, vol. 11, no. 3, pp.325 - 345. Murray, S. & Powell, A., 2009. "What's the problem?": Australian public policy constructions of domestic and family violence. Violence against women, vol, 15, no. 5, pp.532 - 552. One in Three Campaign, 2013. MALE VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE. [Online] Available at: http://www.oneinthree.com.au/malevictims [Accessed 17 November 2014]. Patterson, J. et al., 2009. Essential Skills in Family Therapy, Second Edition: From the First Interview to Termination. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford Press. Spinney, A., 2013. Safe from the Start? An Action Research Project on Early Intervention Materials for Children Affected by Domestic and Family Violence. Children & Society, vol. 27, no. 5, pp.397 - 405. Read More

“All victims need compassionate and highly responsive support and all perpetrators need services to help them stop their use of violence and abuse (One in Three Campaign, 2013).” This campaign was steered by One in Three a diverse group of both female and male professionals. No Excuse Campaign The campaign was launched in April 2014, and tries to underline that there exists no convincing excuses for family and domestic violence. During the 2014 Easter holidays, five women and children died tragically and violently and this motivated the launching of this campaign.

The campaign seeks to highlight the numerous excuses offered by perpetrators of domestic and family violence (Domestic Violence NSW Inc, 2014). “Australia has had a gutful, enough is enough. Too many lives are being lost and there is no excuse for violence against women and children, ever (Domestic Violence NSW Inc, 2014).” According to a proponent of the campaign, both family and domestic violence is killing children and women in appalling numbers. Undoubtedly, if Australians were losing their lives regularly due to food poisoning, terrorism, natural catastrophes or street violence, the whole country would come together thanks to grief and outrage.

Therefore as argued in the campaign, family and domestic violence is a countrywide outrage, and so there exist no excuses for such murders. In this regard, federal and state government, not-for-profit organizations and community in large must recognize the dreadfulness of family and domestic violence and to straight away team up to search for solutions. The campaign requires all Australians to append their signature on an open letter petition showing their anger at the deaths attributed by domestic violence, particularly one that happened during the Easer holidays.

Besides that, akin to One in Three Campaign, No Excuse Campaign calls on the national leaders to acknowledge domestic violence as a nationwide crisis, and to strongly denounce such violent acts by taking immediate action (Domestic Violence NSW Inc, 2014). The campaign was steered by Domestic Violence NSW Inc., which offers an advocacy and representative function for specialist domestic violence and family services. Don't Cross the Line Campaign The campaign primary aim was to notify South Australians of the changes in law, but its eventual goal was is to stop relationship violence prior to its occurrence by changing attitudes of the community towards violent behavior.

“Unfortunately, for many people, growing up in an environment of fear and violence is the only life they know (Government of South Australia, 2009).” The actual goal of the campaign was to show what is as well as what is not tolerable behavior in intimate relationships. In this case, the campaign was integrated with legislative change as well as community education strategies so as to take action towards domestic violence in South Australia. Importantly, the campaign concentrates on prevention as well as early intervention so as to increase awareness in the community that relationship violence cannot be tolerated.

What’s more, the campaign involves boosting confidence in the legal system of South Australian in order to give victims of the violence confidence to report incidents in addition to look for support. Based on the campaign, early intervention concentrates on changing behaviours as well as attitudes before becoming accepted or entrenched as normal. Moreover, preventative programs, especially with younger generation, have proven to improve attitudes, skills and knowledge, and so younger generation was the campaign main target.

This is for the reason that they are still in the learning process and majority are yet to marry. “Young people may also be participating in social activities that heighten their vulnerability to experiencing violence (Government of South Australia, 2009).” This campaign akin to the other anti-domestic violence campaigns is a vital part of a community awareness campaign against domestic and family violence.

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