Individualized Safety Plan Reflection In thinking about helping someone develop a safety plan in case they find themselves in an intimate partner violence or IPV situation, I turned to a woman I know that is soon to be married. The couple has had some quarrels that verge on verbal abuse off and on for the past year. Although none have resulted in physical violence, learning about intimate partner violence allows me to see aspects of relationships in a different light than I have seen them before. The potential victim with whom I have chosen to facilitate the safety plan does not consider her relationship to be abusive, nor do I. However, the victim, Crissy, could use a plan of action if the verbally abusive fights begin to take a physical nature. This reflection will include the summary of developing the safety plan, the issues the plan brought up, and the emotional reflection of both the victim and myself. It is important to note that all names have been changed for the sake of confidentiality. Summary of Safety Plan Development Crissy is a 21-year-old, Caucasian, working female in college at the University of North Texas. She has been in a relationship with her 29-year-old boyfriend for 2 years now. They live in separate apartments but often stay with each other for days to weeks at a time. When Crissy agreed to play the part of an abused victim, she did not know quite where to begin. To help her begin thinking about an IPV situation between her and her boyfriend, I had Crissy think about where most of the quarrels between her boyfriend and her took place. Crissy decided that the arguments mostly happened in her room or the living room. I also had Crissy think about what resources she had available around her every day. For ex... ... middle of paper ... ...y seen her strengths until I considered her for the victim in this assignment. I will also never see Crissy the same again. This woman that started out in my eyes as helpless in a potential IPV situation became a beacon of hope to all women plagued by intimate partner violence. From facilitating this safety plan, I have learned how to help women move through their options for safety. I have seen that women can be even more creative, strong, and empowered than I imagined possible. Most importantly, this assignment has given me the opportunity to truly consider and offer an alternative to a life of abuse that many women have never heard of before. I believe that the safety plan is important to both the woman seeking safety from her abusive relationship as well as the advocate having trouble seeing the victim as able to overcome the risks of intimate partner violence.
Pence, E., & Paymar, M. (1993). Domestic violence information manual. The Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention Project: The Manual. Retrieved March 25, 2014, from http://www.eurowrc.org/05.education/education_en/12.edu_en.htm
Warshaw (n.d.) stated that the first stage of intervention is identifying that there is domestic abuse. Asking about the abuse will help the battered woman open up and learn that there are services available when she feels ready to use them. A very important skill to use when dealing with battered women is validation because it will help the woman see that she is not alone and there is help. Women in this predicament usually blame themselves for the abuse and are told to make the best of it. Secondly, discussing information about domestic violence is important. The use of the “Power and Control” wheel is helpful in describing the controlling behavior of the abusive partner, with the message that the abusive behavior will likely continue to increase over time. Thirdly, it is important to develop a safety plan that addresses decisions regarding leaving and where to go, educates on safety-related issues such as returning back to the abusive partner, plans for handling the situation, and refers to domestic violence programs in the community.
...nd incidence of such violence, there still seems to be gaps amongst the research that creates links to other aspects of IPV. By providing a further analysis of how women go from being the victim to the offender, it may create a more realistic understanding of why the recent intimate partner homicide/violence rates for women offenders has increased. Perhaps society needs to not see females as become more serious 'aggressors' and 'bad girls' but rather as women who are finally fighting back. By relating the social learning theory, the self defense theory as well as the male proprietariness theory to intimate partner violence it creates a more thorough understanding of the causes and affects of this form of violence. Conceivably, future directions of research on intimate partner violence should investigate the reasoning behind this new 'husband abuse' phenomenon.
Intimate partner violence is still a common issue that affects women from all walks of life. It is an issue that is too often ignored until the violence has become deadly. In the book “Women: Images and Realities a Multicultural Anthology,” chapter seven entitled “Violence Against Women” includes pieces that cover the issue of intimate partner violence. In Michele McKeon’s piece “Understanding Intimate Partner Violence” she states that “In 1994 the Violence Against Women Act was passed, revolutionizing programs, services, and funding for individuals affected by intimate partner violence and their families” (McKeon 497). Yet the revolutionized programs, which McKeon speaks of, haven’t changed the fact that the violence continues and in my opinion, it is not enough to just deal with the aftermath of the violence, the prevention of intimate partner violence is something that society needs to address. In addition, McKeon also states “The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that 1,181 women were murdered by their intimate partners in 2005; two million women experience injurie...
...sn’t she just leave?” However, when informed of the actual complications that victims of domestic violence face, a bystander may instead ask, “How can I help her leave?” Katie may not think that leaving is an option and may not even see her situation as abuse, but an informed advocate for domestic violence victims may be able to recognize the signs and share with Katie that her life doesn’t have to be that way. There are many explanations for why she does stay and only few that should guide her otherwise, as a bystander or a survivor becoming learned of the issues revolving domestic violence and intimate partner abuse can increase the odds of victim survival. Victims must become educated and connected with resources before they will begin to feel that there may be hope for a better life and only until then will they remain victims and not become survivors.
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 affecting 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).
McHugh, M. C., & Frieze, I. H. (2006). Intimate partner violence. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1087, 121–141. doi: 10.1196/annals.1385.011
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.
Thesis: In my paper, I will be examining the different types, possible causes, and effects of Intimate Partner Violence, and what treatments or programs are available to combat this growing problem in America. Regardless of differing approaches to fight it, statistics show that women all across the world suffer from the effects of domestic violence at a similar rate independent of class, race, or religion.
In today’s society, many women are treated violently by their spouses, while they suffer in silence. Intimate partner violence can affect anyone, no matter what race, age, religion or revenue. IPV is a pattern of abusive or threatening behaviors used by a person on a lover or family members, to ultimately gain power and control over the household. It is also known for the abuser to contain power and control of the victim throughout the relationship. It most often occurs in married or cohabitating couples, although it is refer to violence against another, it mainly ensues toward women who receives the abuse from their significant other. It has been described as a pattern of behavior, were one partner inflicts violence on the other, such as physic...
“About 8% of the officers killed in the line of duty between 2000-2009 were responding to domestic violence calls”. (Cahill, Davis, DeBoard, Gibson, Johnson, Marcon, & West, 2011) General consideration for an effective response strategy to domestic violence include implementing a comprehensive and collaborative response strategy. It important to strategic time for responses before, ongoing, during, and after a response. The goal is to prevent victimization. Another response to domestic violence is by educating collaborative partners. “Each partner in s domestic violence reduction collaborative brings a unique perspective and body of knowledge”. (Sampson, 2007) Therefore it is important to work with specific and truthful information about what works and does not work in a community. The most specific response to domestic violence is by educating potential victims and offenders. For instance, there are school programs and well as awareness campaigns that teach teenagers about dating violence and ways to handle the conflict. Even though these school programs and campaigns teach teenagers about violence, the effectives on these prevention strategies to reduce dating violence is
It is not always easy to determine in the early stages of a relationship if one person will become abusive. Abusers may often seem wonderful and perfect initially, but gradually become more aggressive and controlling as the relationship continues. Violence and control always intensifies over time with an abuser, despite the apologies (ncadv.org). I Choose Life attempts to give a voice to the victims and survivors of domestic violence. Along with, offering an understanding to domestic violence, we construct educational seminars and programs that will help to drive that change. Domestic violence is the sole responsibility of the abuser.
Kennedy, Bernice R. Domestic Violence: A.k.a. Intimate Partner Violence (ipv). New York: iUniverse, 2013. Print.
“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 ps...
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. First of all, the most important tool we have available against this type of crime are the authorities, which include the police department, hospital, and social workers. If they manage to work together as a team to make the whole process of protecting a victim more efficient, it will encourage victims to actually phone for help.