Family Violence

Part I

Family violence often known as domestic violence is a kind that is directed towards a member of the family mostly women and children. Family violence is a deliberate action that is undertaken by one member of the family. The member of the family that is always affected by domestic violence is one that is weaker. It is a vice that can be rarely isolated from the family because it is seen as a family practice (Henslin, & Fowler, 2014). The worst thing about family violence is because it tends to increase over time. The more that it takes without that member of the family reacting or taking action towards stopping it. The deliberate act that is illegal is however rarely reported the reason that it has persisted over the years.

Since family violence is mostly directed towards women and children, it would be necessary to observe the different types of family violence that are encountered by the concerned populations. The most recorded type of family violence is physical abuse. Mostly, women and children are victims of physical abuse which could include hurting, pinching, pulling away, stabbing and other injuries that are directed on various parts of their bodies. Verbal abuse is the second-most type of physical violence that includes threats, use of insults and undermining of female parents before their children (Henslin, & Fowler, 2014). Sexual abuse is also another type of family violence that is rarely regarded since people believe that once married, anybody has the right to acquire conjugal rights. However, there are still various types of sexual abuses especially directed towards women which they are not comfortable with even when married. Other forms of family violence are emotional abuse, financial abuse, and social abuse among others. Generally, family violence destabilizes the family and may have negative instrumental effects on both women and children as they are the most affected victims of family violence. 

Part II

From the perspective of abused women, family violence is such a heartbreaking issue that affects them emotionally, mentally and physically. Abused women view family violence as nothing but complete disregard for their stature as women. It is haunting basically because it comes from people whom they loved and who they agreed to establish families with. It is therefore nothing short of betrayal to the women which are the same reason that it haunts them mentally most. Women who suffer family abuse, however, have very little to do and that is the reason that they brave it and subsequently allow its intensification. Abused women often believe that the situation can change and that they will be treated better even when the abuses intensify (Alhabib, Nur & Jones, 2010). Most of them who have children and also lack a stable income also fear that their children will suffer and they fear the fact that in the case of divorce, they would have to raise their children without a father figure. In that essential case, therefore, the views of abused women are generally that they should stay and brave the abuses with the hope that one day they could be treated better.

On the other hand, children who are victims of family abuse are generally helpless in stature and lack the ability to react against it. Some of the common violations directed towards them are physical abuse and emotional abuse not forgetting sexual abuse in some instances. The views of children who are abused in embedded in the fact that they believe that their parents have power over them and hence they could be right by according the treatment to them even when it hurts them (Øverlien, 2010). The children are also not aware of where they would find help and hence they choose to remain in the families where they are abused. Others, however, have a divergent view and they run from their homes, often ending up homeless.

Part III

Generally, family violence has lived on since time immemorial. Despite it having affected many families, society has not yet undertaken measures that could seek to wipe out family violence from the world. It is a practice is supported by the cultural social norms basically because it is viewed as an approach of instilling discipline. Therefore, husbands who physically abuse their women are therefore seen as discipline heroes and given some almost untouchable position (Peace, 2009). Societal social norms do not allow children to question the behaviors of their parents too and hence most children who are victims of domestic abuse do not speak out. To the least, family violence is only discussed at the home level as most societal norms call for family issues to be solved at the family level and hence justice is rarely realized.

Seeing that the world is changing and that every member of the society has their rights which should be respected there is need to assert more efforts in creating awareness against family violence. Such awareness can be made by making people understand the legislations that cover family violence. The awareness sessions should seek to motivate women and children who are victims of potential victims of domestic violence to seek legal and medical help. It would also be an effective step in showcasing the needs of harmonious reason by showing the various litigation principles and depicting domestic violence as a vice just like any other violence.

References

Alhabib, S., Nur, U., & Jones, R. (2010). Domestic violence against women: Systematic review of prevalence studies. Journal of family violence, 25(4), 369-382.

Henslin, J. M., & Fowler, L. A. (2014). Social problems: A down-to-earth approach. Pearson.

Øverlien, C. (2010). Children exposed to domestic violence: Conclusions from the literature and challenges ahead. Journal of Social Work, 10(1), 80-97.

Peace, C. (2009). The Impact of Domestic Violence on Society. Politics, Bureaucracy & Justice, 1(1).