A Not So Perfect Family

1711 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Solving the problem of domestic violence

As society changes, so does everything in it. From the books we read to the movies we watch, the music we listen to, and the clothes we buy. Everything changes. One thing that affects us most though is the family environment we grow up in. There are so many challenges families face today and they all impact us and the way we shape our society. No family is perfect, though it may look like it from the outside.
One major issue facing families today is domestic violence. This is taking place behind closed doors and is rarely discussed. It is happening with a growing numbers of families, and the affect can be devastating. Domestic violence can be described as a pattern of behavior that is used by to gain control or dominate another person. Whether it is the husband dominating the wife, the wife controlling the husband, or a parent(s) domineering the children. It can come be shown through many forms such as physical, psychological, emotional, or sexual actions or threats that can intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, or wound someone. Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence men, women, and children. It can also happen in same-sex relationships. No one is immune. Research has shown that one in four women will experience domestic violence during their lifetime. Women experience more than four million physical assaults and men are victims of nearly three million (Domestic Violence: Statistics & Facts., 2014).
Domestic violence not only affects the abused, it can have substantial impact on family members, friends, co-workers, and the community. The family is affected in many ways. According to the website Safehaven, there are more than three million children who are witnesses to domestic violence within ...

... middle of paper ...

...e effects, every challenge presents an opportunity. So while no family is perfect, each family had the opportunity to be as perfect as they can be.

Works Cited

Allen Jr., J. L. (1997, October 10). Always Our Children. National Catholic Reporter, 33(43), 9.
An Equal Opportunity Destroyer. (2010, September). Christianity Today, 54(9), 71.
Domestic Violence: Statistics & Facts. (2014). Retrieved June 23, 2014, from Safehorizon: http://www.safehorizon.org/index/about-us-1.html
Family Structure and Children's Living Arrangements. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2014, from Forum on Child and Family Statistics: http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/famsoc1.asp
Kirchner, C.Ss.R., D. (2014, July). Beauty Distorted: How pornography is uining many lives and marriages. The Priest, pp. 36-39.
Wagner, C. G. (2010). Homosexuality and Family Formation. The Futurist, 44(3), 6-7.

Show More
Related

  • The Day It Happened by Rosario Morales

    1290 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, is defined as a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors, including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks as well as economic coercion that adults or adolescents use against their intimate partners” (Peeks-Asa). When it comes to domestic violence many people don’t want to get involved, but if just one person took a stand maybe others would follow and potentially save a life, like the neighbors did in The Day It Happened by Rosario Morales. Domestic violence can happen to anyone at any time, there is no typical victim or perpetrator. The fact that there is no one specific group that domestic violence occurs in more than another, only makes it more difficult to get an accurate representation of just who is being affected by this crime. “Domestic violence and abuse does not discriminate” (Smith and Segal). Domestic violence can have specific victims such as a spouse or domestic partner, a child, or an elder. Domestic violence can affect men as well as women. Some types of domestic violence are physical, verbal or nonverbal, sexual, stalking or cyberstalking, economic or financial, and spiritual.

    Read More

  • The Homosexuality Debate: Conference of United States Religious Leaders and Ministers

    2080 Words  | 5 Pages

    "Pontifical Council for the Family, The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality." HUMAN SEXUALITY. N.p., 8 Dec. 1995. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

    Read More

  • PLEASE PLEASE LET THIS WORK!!

    788 Words  | 2 Pages

    As a societal unit, the family institution has become more individualized and is negatively impacting societies future. From the 1930’s to now the family has disintegrated into more and more of a single person unit. A family in the 1930’s was envisioned to be a male-breadwinning father, a doting-homemaker wife, and several children. Yet understand while the Great Depression was rolling the family structure did not change. The husband went out and looked for work, while the wife stayed home and kept the children out of trouble.

    Read More

  • Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    Each year approximately 4.8 million acts of physical or sexual aggression are perpetrated against women while 2.9 million physically aggressive acts are perpetrated against men within the United States (Edleson, Ellerton, Seagren, Kirchberg, Schmidt & Ambrose, 2007). Many of these incidents take place in the presences of children, which make these figures even more disturbing (Evans, Davies & DiLillo, 2008). Research indicates that 40.2% of United States battered women responding in national surveys state that their children have witnessed one or more abusive events (Edleson et al., 2007). Overall 66% of research samples regarding childhood exposure to domestic violence reported to having direct exposure to the abuse (Barnett, Miller-Perrin & Perrin, 2011).

    Read More

  • Are children affected by domestic violence relationships?

    615 Words  | 2 Pages

    Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in a relationship that is used by one partner to achieve and maintain power and also to gain control over another partner. It can be emotional physical or even sexual. Domestic violence can happen anywhere and to anyone but certain factors increase the risk, these include the mother’s age, poverty, unemployment, and alcohol and drug abuse . A study done in Canada found that women who lived with heavy drinkers were five times more likely to be assaulted by their partners than those who lived with non-drinkers. “Rodgers, K. ‘Wife assault: the findings of a national survey” Children who live in a home where domestic violence takes place will face many challenges that could last through out their whole lives. Studies have shown that a third of all children who see their mothers being hurt develop emotional problems and boys who see their fathers beating their mothers are ten times more likely to be abusers in their future relationships. “Clarkprosecutor.org domestic violence in families” Children also living in these home are more likely to experience aggression and antiso...

    Read More

  • Intimate Partner Violence

    1173 Words  | 3 Pages

    Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is historically referred to as domestic violence. It describes a pattern of coercive and assaultive behavior that may include psychological abuse, progressive isolation, sexual assault, physical injury, stalking, intimidation, deprivation, and reproductive coercion among partners (The Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF), 1999). IPV leads to lifelong consequences such as lasting physical impairment, emotional trauma, chronic health problems, and even death. It is an issue effecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, nationality or educational background. Eighty-five percent of domestic violence victims are women (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2003). More than one in three women in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2012). Thirty to sixty percent of perpetrators tend to also abuse children in the household (Edelson, 1999). Witnessing violence between parents or caretakers is considered the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next (Break the Cycle, 2006).

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence in the United States

    1532 Words  | 4 Pages

    Domestic violence affects a large amount of relationships in the United States each year. As the times have changed, abuse has become less accepted as a normal occurrence, and society has begun working together to provide awareness towards violence in intimate partner relationships. “Problems of family violence are potentially the most destructive in our society” (Kurland 23). Domestic violence is a problem that begins in the home, and spreads to affect the world around it. Violence is present in relationships of all demographics, be it race, sexual orientation, or social class. No one is entirely safe from experiencing abuse, but if society is taught to recognize the signs it can save a life or even prevent abuse from happening.

    Read More

  • The Negative Results of Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence

    844 Words  | 2 Pages

    The phrase “domestic violence” typically refers to violence between adult intimate partners. It has been estimated that every year there are about 3.3 to 10 million children exposed to domestic violence in the confines of their own home (Moylan, Herrenkohl, Sousa et al. 2009). According to research conducted by John W. Fantuzzo and Wanda K. Mohr(1999): “[e]xposure to domestic violence can include watching or hearing the violent events, direct involvement (for example, trying to intervene or calling the police), or experiencing the aftermath (for example, seeing bruises or observing maternal depression)” (Fantuzzo & Mohr, 22). The effects of exposure can vary from direct effects such as behavioral and developmental issues to interpersonal relationships, all of which lead to detrimental prospects on the child’s development. This paper will explore those effects and how it affects children.

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence

    1024 Words  | 3 Pages

    Domestic Violence Statistics states, “Around the world, at least one in every 3 women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime” (1). The United States Department of Justice defines domestic violence as, “a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner” (para. 1). Domestic violence is a crime that numerous citizens fall victim to in every country. Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence regardless of race, gender, sexuality or religion. Being a victim of domestic violence can affect a person’s way of life permanently and the way these victims interact with other people can become a difficult task and can eventually affect their future. Domestic violence is substantially wrong because it can cause drastic permanent effects in a person’s life, can cause physical, emotional and intellectual damage, and affects a child’s state of mind of what is normal and what is not if they are in a domestic violent atmosphere. While women are usually victims of domestic violence, men are victims of this crime as well. The Clark County Prosecuting Attorney states that, “According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, men account for approximately fifteen percent of the victims of reported intimate partner crimes” (Clark County Prosecuting Attorney, par.1). Physical, emotional, economic and physiological abuses are all forms of domestic violence that many people would consider to fall under another crime. There are many crimes that many citizens commit, but domestic violence is one of many that should not be taken lightly.

    Read More

  • Women Shelters Essay

    1340 Words  | 3 Pages

    Statistical evidence can be used to stress the seriousness of domestic violence and the importance of having women’s shelters dispersed throughout the nation. According to recent surveys, one in every three women will experience domestic violence at some time during her lifetime. Domestic violence is also the leading cause of injury to women, with the abuser usually being a member of her own family. Finally, up to ten million American children witness some type of domestic violence every year (Fantuzzo and Fusco, “Children’s Direct Exposure to Types of Domestic Violence Crime: A Population-based Investigation”). These statistics show that domestic violence is a reality and that the efforts of women’s shelters are not in vain.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the article “The Mental Health of Children Who Witness Domestic Violence”, Meltzer et al. (2009) noted that domestic violence is not only limited to seeing the actual violent acts taking place, but it also includes witnessing the outcomes of the violence. These outcomes can include seeing their parent hurt and depressed, as well as noticing the broken objects left around the house. As well as defining domestic violence, Meltzer et al. (2009) discussed the steps that were taken to conduct a random research on families and children that had been exposed to domestic violence and those who had not. The researchers identified...

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence In America

    582 Words  | 2 Pages

    Domestic violence is not just fighting, hitting or an occasional argument. It’s a chronic abuse of power. The abuser of domestic violence, controls and tortures the victim of threats, intimidation, and physical violence. Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of violence in America. The abusers are not only men, women can be abusers as well. Women make up the vast majority of domestic violence. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), 90-95% of domestic violence victims are females and 70% of intimidating homicides are females. Domestic violence is a serious crime and everyone needs to be aware of its effects. This essay presents and explains the evidence supporting the major risk factors for intimate partner homicides.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Domestic Violence

    771 Words  | 2 Pages

    Violence is displayed everywhere in society through media like entertainment, in their schools and communities, and within their homes. It is difficult to imagine living in a world without some sort of violence due to it being so prevalent in society. Many children have been exposed to violence in their own homes or have become victims leaving detrimental short and long term effects. There are three forms of domestic violence in the homes. They are physical, sexual, emotional abuse. People often think of domestic violence as having bruises or a broken arm, but in reality it is an occurrence that happens repeatedly over a period of time. One study concluded “children in domestic violence shelters found that almost half their mothers had

    Read More

  • Domestic Violence and the Effect it has on Family

    1602 Words  | 4 Pages

    Domestic violence can affect families in more ways than one: the husband-wife relationship, the children, and also the financial stability. “One woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States” (Stewart & Croudep, 1998-2012). Domestic violence can interfere with the husband-wife relationship because one spouse is always in constant fear of the other. This violence could vary from physical abuse to psychological abuse, meaning that the abuser persuades the victim that they deserve the beating.... ...

    Read More

  • Solutions to the Problem of Domestic Violence

    815 Words  | 2 Pages

    Domestic violence is skyrocketing in our society. In the U.S., as many as 1.5 million women and 850,000 men were physically assaulted by their intimate partner last year, and numerous children abused by their parents. These sad criminal acts will continue to grow in our society, unless our community takes action to stop these crimes.

    Read More

More about A Not So Perfect Family

Open Document