The American Dream and Domestic Violence

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The American Dream and Domestic Violence

Criminal Justice Systems

Topical Analysis Paper

A Course Research Paper Presented to the Criminal Justice Department

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the

Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Systems

Keuka College

December 5, 2013

Introduction

Many people have their own American Dream which have become their driving force and center of their life. However, not everyone can achieve their American Dream. Paul Krugman, who wrote “Confronting Inequality” in essay on the American Dream, stated that, “It is harder and harder for people to achieve the American Dream. Krugman also says that, “The lack of clear economic progress for lower and middle-income families in itself is an important reason to seek more equal distribution of income” (Krugman, 2007, p.586). The American Dream could be a reality. On the other hand, the American Dream is not in every home. Financial difficulties can cause a lot of tension in the household and create anger towards one another. Unfortunately, the children also get caught up in this awful process.

Breadth of Knowledge in Topic Area

The term “The American Dream” has a few interpretations. One of the most popular is “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Declaration of Independence). This is true in most cases, but I feel that the pursuit of happiness cannot occur if there is domestic violence in the home. You can have money, and luxuries, but without the feeling of being safe, I do not think the pursuit of happiness could be part of the American Dream. “It is estimated that child protective services throughout the United States receive more than 50,000 reports of child abuse or neglect, per week” (Meado...

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... work for everyone, but giving up is not an option. Domestic violence is a terrible thing. People get hurt or even killed. There has to be hope in these situations. Once you find help, the American Dream becomes possible again.

References

Edleson, J.L. (2003). How children are involved in adult domestic violence: results from a

Four-city telephone survey. Journal of Interpersonal Violence

Kappeler, V. & Potter, G. (2005). The mythology of crime and criminal justice. Long Grove, IL:

Waveland Press.

Krugman, P. (2007). Confronting inequality. New York: W. W. Norton

Meadows, R. (2014). Understanding violence and victimization). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Sroufe. L. A., Egeland, B. E., Carlson, E. A., & Collins, W. A. (2005). The development of the person: The Minnesota study of risk and adaptation from birth to adulthood. New York: Guilford Press.

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