Domestic violence is a huge issue around the world. Many people are effected during the abuse, but most commonly the wives and the children are the ones being effected. I will be discussing what domestic abuse is, why the abuse occurs, how it effects the victims, what the victims could do for help, and some statistics about domestic violence. I hope that you will become aware of the situation and know how to recognize if someone is being affected by domestic abuse.
"Abuse is all the physical, emotional, or psychological actions or threats of action that influence power, control, or force over another human being. This includes anything that frightens, intimidates, terrorizes, manipulates, hurts, humiliates, blames, injures, or wounds the victim." (Marecek, 1983).
Domestic violence usually occurs by the male whether he is the women's husband, ex-husband, or has some sort of relationship with them. According to "Women Against Violence", domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between .
the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States; more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes .
combined. There is also three to four million women in the United States beaten in their homes each year by males. That turns out to be one woman beaten by a male every fifth teen seconds a day. Battery occurs among many people of all races, ages, socio-economic classes, religious affiliations, occupations, and educational backgrounds. Men who were abused as children are more likely to batter their wives when they get older.
Battered women suffer many long-term effects due to domestic abuse. Like emotional, psychological, financial and physical problems. Many of the physical injuries sustained by women seem to cause medical difficulties as women grow older. Some of the medical conditions may be arthritis, hypertension, and heart disease (Foy, 1992). Women also have a hard time leaving their abuser because they are scared of living alone and supporting themselves.
