Vulnerable Populations Victims of Violence Essay Example

Vulnerable Populations: Victims of Violence Paper Running Head: ‘Vulnerable Populations: Victims of Violence’ ‘Vulnerable Populations: Victims of Violence’ Norita Prather BSHS/302-BSAE0ZSH3 University of Phoenix Instructor: Tami Frye September 26, 2011 Each domestic abuse relationship is unique, and has a pattern that holds certain signs, clues, and characteristics that could have helped decide if one were in an unhealthy or abusive relationship. There are significant indicators that are common to all virtual cases of domestic abuse, mainly because people have heard much about domestic abuse, but did not think it applied to their situation. What is domestic abuse, how is it defined for someone to recognize and seek help; coming from someone that has a damaged cornea as a result of domestic abuse, I will give my definition. I think a single incident usually does not constitute abuse. Domestic abuse usually involves a pattern of abusive events, where victims typically experience a repetitive, cyclic pattern of destructive or violent behaviors that generally escalate over time. I think the main contributor of domestic abuse if based on power and control. There are many misconceptions of what taking control means, in a domestic abuse situation, taking control to one may think that is a sign of caring and wanting only the best for the other. Furthermore, there is no reason for anyone to go through domestic abuse whether it is physical or verbal. I would advise victims to be smart, and safe, and get awaysomeone’s life might depend on the choice you make. The history of domestic violence has been prevalent throughout the United States and other parts of the Worldand intimate partner abuse has been a art of many cultures for many generations. From my understanding, British common law had allowed a man to â€Å"chastise† his wife with â€Å"any reasonable instrument†. In the United States, throughout the 1800’s, state laws and cultural practices continued to support a man’s right to discipline his wife. It was not until 1895 that a woman could even divorce her husband on ground of abuse. Domestic abuse af fects men and women, but one out of four women will be a victim at some point of their lifetime (Roberts, 2002). We will write a custom essay sample on Vulnerable Populations: Victims of Violence specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Vulnerable Populations: Victims of Violence specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Vulnerable Populations: Victims of Violence specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The first shelter for battered women and their children was opened in London, England within a few years of 1975, emergency shelters for battered women opened in different parts of the United States such as the one in New York City; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Fresno, California. In 1994, the Violence Against Women Act was adopted. The act encouraged research into domestic abuse and generated the legal and financial support for law enforcement and social services to protect battered women. Because of the traumatic nature of domestic violence, it is recognized worldwide with major initiative to improve the continual efforts regarding policies and courts responses to battered individuals. Today, there are many policies, programs, intervention strategies, and legal enforcers for dealing with victims and abusers of domestic violence. Being a victim/survivor of domestic abuse creates numerous issues and experiences including, readjustment, insecurities, anger, confusion, and self-doubt. Oftentimes, abused individuals lose family and friends as a result of the battering. Generally, the abuser isolates them from family and friends. The level of inflicted abused becomes an embarrassment and the abused individual usually withdraws from their support system to avoid embarrassment. Feelings of anxiety sometimes emerge if you decide to exit the situation and are reentering into a new world free of violence. Social problems also surfaces from domestic abuse; it creates feelings of isolation and exclusion. According to authors, John Hamel and Tonia Nicholla (Hamel Nicholla, 2007), domestic abuse is not abusive at all times. It follows a three-phase cycle known as ‘The Cycle of Violence’. The cycle starts in the honeymoon phase, and over time, tension builds and then the abuse starts. The domestic abuse cycle is continual and people often stay because the honeymoon phase comes back around and displays remorse. Victims usually choose to stay because promises have been made that the violent acts will never happen again; do not ever believe it will never happen again because it will, and now, the abuse will become more frequent and oftentimes, more severe. Unfortunately, domestic violence is a worldwide epidemic, and is one of the most chronically underreported crimes. Your socioeconomic class, religion, race, or ethnic group, etc. does not have an influence on whether or not you become involved in the cycle of domestic abuse. Although there is no distinctive category at identifying who is at risk for domestic violence, there are some common situations among people who experience domestic violence, such as being abused as a child, witnessed domestic violence as a child, isolated socially from family and friends, physical or mental disability, unemployment, poverty or poor living situations, previously in an abusive relationship, simply planning to leave or has recently left an abusive situation, etc. The Bureau of Justice Statistics crime data brief reported that 85% of domestic abuse is women, and women of all races are about equally vulnerable to violence by an intimate partner. Allstate Foundation conducted a national poll on domestic abuse and reported that nearly three out of four (74%) of Americans personally knew someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence. Thirty-percent of Americans say they know a woman who has been physically abused by her husband or boyfriend in the past year. Getting out of a domestic violence situation is not easy, but there are many domestic violence abuse programs for victims and their children within the criminal justice and child welfare systems. The wide array of services are unlimited and range from advocacy and support services, anonymous telephone hotlines where you can call, and seek advice, abused and battered shelters where you can stay, counseling, community-based services, non-profit resources and organizations, local, and state government services and assistances. Additionally, there are plenty of national resources for domestic violence that fosters discussion forum where victims can talk with others involved in domestic violence and prevention to nurture empowerment and belonging among one another. The effectiveness of future intervention strategies depend upon human service workers, law enforcement officers, educators, domestic abuse, and child welfare organization personnel to all play collaborating roles in the prevention and intervention of cases of harmful domestic violence. Once domestic violence has been identified, future intervention should include follow-up and referral services, evaluations of the victim(s) for immediate needs, a safety plan that is personalized, and gone over with someone with a knowledgeable background with domestic violence; and efficient review of the pattern and history of the domestic violent cases to prevent future risk of death or significant injury/harm. In closing, domestic abuse is an unfortunate situation that profoundly affects everyone that is involved in the situation and intervention process. Domestic violence should not happen to anyone, but it does, and when it occurs there is help. Domestic abuse can cause major long-term troubles for battered individuals such as physical and mental difficulties. Overall, any type of abuse whether it is physical or verbal is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. Everyone deserves to live free of fear, and be safe and happy. References Allstate Foundation National Poll on Domestic Violence, 2006. Lieberman Research Inc. Tracking Survey conducted for The Advertising Council and the Family Violence Prevention Fund, July – October 1996. Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Domestic Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003. Hamel, J. , Nicholla, T. , (2007). Family Intervention in Domestic Violence. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, LLC. Roberts, A. , (2002). Handbook of Domestic Violence Intervention Strategies. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.