97 Of Reported Domestic Violence Victims example essay topic

The escalating rage was easily detectable. What would be the reason this time? Maybe because dinner wasn't on the table awaiting consumption and that was unacceptable. The dishes were still dirty and that might as well have been the eighth deadly sin.

Another long day at work and again someone else would become the victim of this anger. The stinging, open-handed slaps would ring throughout the house. Blood would creep from the nose and lips. The screaming would pierce ears and the scratches would begin to leave marks. It would be difficult to hide the bruises. Too scared of the consequences to retaliate and too prideful to tell anyone, he suffers this torment in silence.

How often are men abused by their female co-habitats? This is obviously not the greatest concern within domestic violence. However, do these instances not deserve a certain amount of attention when addressing these concerns? To better understand the issues surrounding domestic violence, a closer look should be taken at the larger problem. Although there have been exceptions, from the beginning women have been seen as inferior to men. The denial of the equality of women is essential to the existence of domestic violence.

In Roman times, it was considered acceptable for a man to use reasonable force in disciplining his wife. This was to include blackening her eyes or breaking her nose if necessary. Women were also considered the property of men. English rape laws once considered rape a crime against the husband, fianc'e or father of the victim. In many parts of Europe, a man could kill his wife without penalty until well into the 1600's. English common law sanctioned wife-beating under the notorious "rule of thumb", which stated that a man might use a rod "not thicker than his thumb" to chastise his wife.

American states adopted this rule in the early nineteenth century. By 1910, only 35 out of 40 states had passed reform legislation that classified wife-beating as an unlawful assault. Today, studies show that a woman is raped, stabbed or beaten every six seconds. This information puts all attention on males as the common perpetrator. Yet some surveys show that 54% of all violence in the United States termed "severe" was by women. In domestic violence incidents, roughly 70% of serious injuries are sustained by females.

Men account for the other 30% of serious injuries. A minority, but it is hardly an insignificant number. Should 100% of the public's attention toward domestic violence be going to female victims? The countless issues of domestic violence are very disturbing. The way society deals with these issues is a continually evolving process. Prior beliefs held that what happened between a man and a woman behind closed doors was a private matter.

Though the government's fundamental obligation to its citizens is its duty to protect them from harm. There seemed to be an exception for spousal abuse. Only recently has police intervention become somewhat of a protocol for domestic violence. The fact that these issues were deemed "private" may have played a part in the increase of violence within intimates. When 97% of reported domestic violence victims are women, it is easy to place the blame on the male gender. Earlier this month, President Bush signed a proclamation naming October National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

In his address to the nation, our Commander in Chief only referenced males abusing females. He only spoke about the consequences that would come if you "beat up a woman", or if you "abuse your wife". This stereotype or bias seems to represent the majority opinion. But why wouldn't it?

Some experts say that domestic violence is a mutual destructiveness, an incapacity for intimacy and appreciation of differences. Couples need each other to perpetuate personal and collective dramas of victimization and lack of love and so, regrettably, neither can leave. There is a natural tendency to cling to the pure and virginal image of a sweet, young woman. Men often get labeled as the evil, brutal perpetrators. Why does our culture refuse to hold women as well as men accountable for their participation in domestic violence? A national family violence survey showed that women and men were physically abusing one another in roughly equal numbers.

A significant number of wives reported that they were more often the aggressors. The same survey revealed that half of spousal murders are committed by wives, a statistic that has been stable over time. Women play a significant in role domestic violence. So why is the finger continuously pointed at males as the source of this problem? Domestic violence has become a national epidemic.

In efforts to find a solution, it must be determined what role and level of responsibility women have in domestic violence. The women's movement states its goal to be equal rights for women. If that is so, then shouldn't women share the responsibility for their behavior and their contribution to domestic violence? A United States family violence study showed that 1.8 million women annually suffered one or more assaults from a husband or boyfriend, while 2 million men were assaulted by a wife or girlfriend. This statistic, along with the 30% of serious injuries being sustained by males, coincides with the fact women are nine times more likely to report their abusers to authorities.

How many men are being abused that we have no idea about? How much would these percentages or numbers increase if all cases were reported? There is an obvious problem in front of us. Corporal injury inflicted upon a spouse or co-habitant is wrong regardless of gender. Females comprise a larger group of victims. Research shows that one out of every four women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives.

Does that mean we ignore the smaller group? Our hearts go out to the poor woman who is beaten by her male counterpart. Our communities strive to provide adequate women shelters, battered wife hotlines and emotional and legal support for abused women. Are we morally obligated to recognize that men can be victims just as women are? Are numbers like 2 million or 30% miniscule enough to ignore?

Within domestic violence, battered husbands are not of great concern. In 1993, approximately 575,000 men were arrested for committing violence against women. At the same time, approximately 49,000 women were arrested for committing violence against men. It is easier to put the blame on men; the statistics show it. The statistics also provide us with a smaller yet still significant fact. Men are victims too.

This information does not provide a complete picture or full representation of all cases. What about the undocumented instances? Women have struggled for so long to obtain equality, is it unreasonable to ask that some amount of responsibility be given to both parties? This challenging issue of domestic violence can be thought of as a scale. On the right side, the males are abusing females.

On the left side, females are abusing males. The scale would undeniably be heavily tilted to the right. In efforts to eliminate domestic violence, what would happen if only the right side of the scale was eliminated?