GLOBAL ISSUES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The United Nations remains virtually helpless as an increasing number of armed groups - described as 'non-state actors' - continue to exploit, abuse and deliberately harm children in battle zones in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

• Groups of girls, en route to school, are being attacked by militants by throwing acid on their faces.
• Insurgents are strapping explosives to  young girls and remotely detonating them as they approach  Iraqi army command posts.

Global Issues: “Social, Political, Economic and Environmental Issues That Affect Us All.” (2009). Retrieved from <p><a href="http://www.globalissues.org/news/2009/04/29/1351">Rights: Recruiters of Child Soldiers Defy U.N. Pressure</a>, <cite>Inter Press Service</cite>, Wednesday, April 29, 2009 (posted by Global Issues)</p>

"SIN by Silence" depicts a case of spousal abuse an homicide. Battered Woman Syndrome is encountered by millions of women worldwide.

Self-Defense for Women (2012) discusses information regarding:

Battered Woman Syndrome                                      

Ø  The legal defense revolves around the woman’s mental deficiency and helplessness.

Ø  Her defense claims it was a form of self defense.

Ø  Battered Woman Syndrome is considered a subcategory of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but not a mental disease in the context of insanity.

Ø  Expert testimonial regarding domestic violence can be used for various purposes:

o    To demonstrate the defendant is a battered woman, to explain an abused woman’s state of mind and/or conduct or to support a claim or the validity of a particular defense.

http://www.selfdefense-4-women.com/battered-woman-syndrome.html

This scholarly article, “Spouse Murder Defendants in Large Urban Counties," (1995) highlights the characteristics that distinguish victims of intimate partner homicide (IPH) from the victims of nonfatal intimate partner violence through a risk assessment model.

      Ø  The risk of a male killing a female partner is higher in cohabitating than marital relationships.

Ø  Homicide by violent beating is more common in such relationships.

Ø  Homicide risk also increases with the size of the partners’ age difference.

Ø  Fatalities were associated with the victim having a child from a previous partner, the offender having made previous threats with a weapon, and marital separation.

 http://ida.lib.uidaho.edu:3513/content/nj05j36350492366/fulltext.pdf

This video clip, "Faces of Battered Women...why don't they leave?" (2011).  Highlights the cycle of abuse of the Battered Wife. http://youtu.be/hv5nRNB3NHk

Rihanna (2010) writes about how relationships seem good at first, but can turn to abuse:

Rihanna - Love The Way You Lie     http://youtu.be/wYS70rhY_QU

On the first page of our story
The future seemed so bright
Then this thing turned out so evil
I don't know why I'm still surprised
Even angels have their wicked schemes
And you take that to new extremes
But you'll always be my hero
Even though you've lost your mind

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's all right because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's all right because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie
Ohhh, I love the way you lie

Now there's gravel in our voices
Glass is shattered from the fight
In this tug of war, you'll always win
Even when I'm right
'Cause you feed me fables from your hand
With violent words and empty threats
And it's sick that all these battles
Are what keeps me satisfied

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's all right because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's all right because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie
Ohhh, I love the way you lie

So maybe I'm a masochist                                                                                                                                                            
I try to run but I don't wanna ever leave
Til the walls are goin' up
In smoke with all our memories

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's all right because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's all right because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie
Ohhh, I love the way you lie

Dawson, J., Langan, P. “Spouse Murder Defendants in Large Urban Counties.” (1995). Discuss the statistics of abuse.

Convicted wife defendants sentenced less severely

  Ø  81% of convicted wives but 94% of convicted husbands received a prison sentence.

Ø  Convicted wives received prison sentences that were about 10 years shorter than what husbands received.

Ø  More wife defendants (44%) than husband defendants (10%) had been assaulted by their spouse (threatened with a weapon or physically assaulted) at or around the time of the murder.

Ø  Self-defense as possible explanation for wives' lower conviction rate

Retrieved from  http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/SPOUSMUR.PDF

The news article, "Mirkarimi prosecutor wants expert in battered women’s syndrome to testify,"
 (2012) discusses what women are facing in domestic violence. Retrieved from http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/crime/2012/01/mirkarimi-prosecutor-wants-expert-battered-women-s-syndrome-testify#ixzz1oplC0B3y 

truenewsfromchangenyc.blogspot.com

Chapter 6, Heavy Hands, focuses on Adolescent Perpetrators. The main reason that I chose to discuss the information within Chapter 6 is due to the information on the consequences that can arise from witnessing Domestic Violence and the Intergenerational Cycle of Violence.

Studies show that school-age children who are raised in homes where they witness DV are more likely to develop psychological problems such as:
       ·         Low self-esteem, post traumatic stress, and internalizing/externalizing problems.

Research suggests that:

·         1/3 of people will subject their children to maltreatment.

·         Child victims have a higher risk of becoming offenders of criminal behavior.

·         Being abused or neglected as a child increases likelihood of arrest as juvenile by 59%, as an adult by 28%, and arrest for violent crimes by 30%.

·         Men who witness their parents physically attack each other are believed to be more likely to hit their own wives and women are more likely to be victims as adults.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). "Violence Prevention."provides resources and information to prevent violence. There are links for information pertaining to different age groups and different types of violence such as sexual, intimate partner, global, etc.  Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/

 The Prevention Institute brings research, preparation, and examination to today's pressing health and safety concerns. Its primary goal is to accomplish health and safety, to improve community surroundings equitably, and to serve as a focal point for primary prevention practice. Retrived from http://www.preventioninstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=187&Itemid=276

This video clip , Domestic Violence Commerical," portrays the short and long term effects of children witnessing domestic violence or abuses themselves. Retrieved from

http://youtu.be/i_Vk7-9NCag

This online news article discusses how prevention and counseling can have positive outcomes after children have been exposed to domestic violence and abuse.

http://www.swbooster.com/Living/Family/2012-02-09/article-2890319/Children-and-interpersonal-violence/1

Herrenkohl, R., Herrenkohl, T., Moylan, C., Russo, M., Sousa, C., Tajima, E. “Journal of Family Violence”; (Jan2010). This scholarly article discusses the effects of children witnessing domestic violence such as depression, and internalizing and externalizing. Retrieved from http://ida.lib.uidaho.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=47128655&site=ehost-live


Nickelback (2000) writes about abuse and when enough is enough:

                                                                               "Never Again"

He's drunk again, it's time to fight
She must have done something wrong tonight
The living room becomes a boxing ring
It's time to run when you see him
Clenching his hands
She's just a woman
Never Again

I hear her scream, from down the hall
Amazing she can even talk at all
She cries to me, Go back to bed
I'm terrified that she'll wind up
Dead in his hands, She's just a woman
Never Again

Been there before, but not like this
Seen it before, but not like this
Never before have I ever
Seen it this bad
She's just a woman
Never Again

Just tell the nurse, you slipped and fell
It starts to sting as it starts to swell
She looks at you, she wants the truth
It's right out there in the waiting room
With those hands
Lookin just as sweet as he can
Never Again

Seen it before, but not like this
Been there before, but not like this
Never before have I ever
Seen it this bad
She's just a woman
Never Again

Father's a name you haven't earned yet
You're just a child with a temper
Haven't you heard "Don't hit a lady"?
Kickin' your ass would be a pleasure

He's drunk again, it's time to fight
Same old shit, just on a different night
She grabs the gun, she's had enough
Tonight she'll find out how fucking
Tough is this man
Pulls the trigger as fast as she can
Never Again

Seen it before, but not like this
Been there before, but not like this
Never before have I ever
Seen it this bad
She's just a woman
Never Again

Retrieved from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nickelback/neveragain.html

Chapter 4, Heavy Hands, focuses on Child Abuse. The reason that I chose this is due to the issues that can arise from a child being abused. It is estimated that over 30% of children witness abuse. It also states that children who are witnesses to Domestic Violence are at a greater risk for psychological, behavioral, social, and educational problems later in life and are also at a greater risk for physical abuse against their children later in life.

The Makers Foundation uploaded a 911 domestic violence call from a child witnessing abuse

(2012). This was done to heighten awareness of the effects of DV on children. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/embed/ryLBCu097ns




This site has a summarization of the state laws and circumstances surrounding a child witnessing domestic violence."Child Witnesses to Domestic Violence: Summary of State Laws."  (2009)
Retrieved from www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/witnessdvall.pdf

The National Center for Children Exposed to Violence (2003) is an organization that provides resources, trainings, and forums to individuals and groups of the effects of domestic violence on children. Retrieved from http://www.nccev.org/violence/domestic.html

This new article by Dado, N. (2012). Discusses the impact that domestic violence and child abuse in the family. Retrieved from http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=Community&article=5210

This song by Christina Aguilara, "WHY?" (2008).  Represents the feelings I had while reading this chapter. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/embed/y0MU35wEwJU"

Ducklow, D. Domestic abuse: "mandatory arrest policies: failure to break the cycle of violence." (2011).

·         Definition of Domestic Abuse

·         Mandatory Arrest Defined

·         Research that suggests enforcing mandatory arrest policies are ineffective

·         Cycle of violence theory

·         EVALUATION OF CURRENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATUTES

·         RECOMMENDATIONS: all states to have mandatory arrest laws, new legislation focusing on increases sanctions during sentencing when a child is within audio or presence of a child during a domestic violence event, “No Drop” prosecutions when children are present, and mandated victim involved in criminal justice proceedings
Retrieved from http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/53940

Photo bucket. (2010). This site displays an image of the statistics of child abuse and prevention.                                        

http://media.photobucket.com/image/IMAGES%20OF%20CHILDREN%20GETTING%20ABUSED/veritas336/ChildAbusedMonth.jpg



Martina McBride, "A Broken Wing," (1997) is a good example of a song that depicts what an abused women endures.

http://youtu.be/dgjTO5eAbZY

These lines, by Rebecca Burns (2010), express the abuse she endured:

Not Abuse? 

I went to the police today
My life I could not withstand
The officer questioned, “About my problem
Tell us about your abusive husband
I have to follow his rules
And he refuses to ever unbend
He handles all our entire money
Not a penny I can spend
He says I do things wrong
He never apologies he’s always right
I am never allowed to go
Without permission or out of site
He monitors all my phone calls
He will even dial the phone
Not a moment of my life
Am I allowed to be alone?
I’m timed going to the store
I’m punished in many different ways
For every minute I’m late
My family I can’t see for days
I am not allowed any friends
I’m not even allowed to work
He has control of my life
My husband has become a jerk
This control, never having a choice
Life can be different I believe
Can’t take this abuse no longer
Please stop him help me leave
Does he push you, shove you?
Make you fear for your life?
If NO, then what do you?
Expect ma’am you are his wife
Are there bruises on your body?
Has he given you a black eye?
“No, he has never hit me.”
“Yet, you say there’s abuse, why?”
Walking away shaken and defeated
Yet knowing there’s no use
Just because there’s no bruises
Doesn’t mean it’s not abuse.
Printed with permission from author Angela Hutcherson-Jenkins
lulu.com/xeson