Domestic Violence: a Life Threatening Issue That Should Be Taken Seriously or Just an Exaggerated Problem?
Moore 1
G’Anna Moore
Rothacker
English 101
13 June 2008
Domestic Violence: A Life Threatening Issue That Should Be Taken Seriously or Just an Exaggerated Problem?
Every girl growing up, including me, dreamed of the day when she would be married. My fantasies of marriage would include financial stability, a big house with a garden, and at least two children that I would raise along with my image of a perfect husband. Realistically, of course, nothing is perfect, especially marriage. There will be times when arguing may occur or both partners may have financial problems. Even arguments about the children within the home may become apparent; however, these problems can be worked out just like in any other marriage. But what happens when the one you care about, the very one that you vowed to love forever and spend the rest of your life with, turns violent and dangerous? Domestic violence is not just a private matter between a husband and wife anymore, but a serious crime that needs to be corrected.
Domestic violence is a crime that is often unreported to the police. Maria Hong states that “[d]ue to the embarrassment associated with being a victim, pressures from family and society, and fear of retaliation [from their abusers], many victims do not report acts of domestic violence” (47). What makes it worse is that many officials do not consider domestic violence as a crime. There are no solid based statistics on domestic violence because of this, but plenty of “figures based on police and hospital reports, surveys, and studies indicat[ing] the persuasiveness of the problem” (47). According to a 1998 study by the U.S. Department of Justice that was conducted Moore 2 for the Family Violence Prevention Fund, there
G’Anna Moore
Rothacker
English 101
13 June 2008
Domestic Violence: A Life Threatening Issue That Should Be Taken Seriously or Just an Exaggerated Problem?
Every girl growing up, including me, dreamed of the day when she would be married. My fantasies of marriage would include financial stability, a big house with a garden, and at least two children that I would raise along with my image of a perfect husband. Realistically, of course, nothing is perfect, especially marriage. There will be times when arguing may occur or both partners may have financial problems. Even arguments about the children within the home may become apparent; however, these problems can be worked out just like in any other marriage. But what happens when the one you care about, the very one that you vowed to love forever and spend the rest of your life with, turns violent and dangerous? Domestic violence is not just a private matter between a husband and wife anymore, but a serious crime that needs to be corrected.
Domestic violence is a crime that is often unreported to the police. Maria Hong states that “[d]ue to the embarrassment associated with being a victim, pressures from family and society, and fear of retaliation [from their abusers], many victims do not report acts of domestic violence” (47). What makes it worse is that many officials do not consider domestic violence as a crime. There are no solid based statistics on domestic violence because of this, but plenty of “figures based on police and hospital reports, surveys, and studies indicat[ing] the persuasiveness of the problem” (47). According to a 1998 study by the U.S. Department of Justice that was conducted Moore 2 for the Family Violence Prevention Fund, there
Cited: Betancourt, Marian. What to Do When Love Turns Violent: A Practical Resource for Women in Abusive Relationships. New York: HarperPerennial, 1997. Family Violence Prevention Fund. Domestic Violence is a Serious, Widespread Social Problem in America: The Facts. 2008. 3 Jun. 2008<http://www.endabuse.org/resources/facts/>. Hong, Maria. Family Abuse: A National Epidemic. Springfield: Enslow, 1997. Jacobson, Ph.D., Neil, and John Gottman, Ph.D. When Men Batter Women: New Insights into Ending Abusive Relationships. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998. Murphy-Milano, Susan. Defending Our Lives: Getting Away From Domestic Violence and Staying Safe. New York: Doubleday, 1996.