Domestic Violence - A Threat to Civilization
By Sara Adams
Domestic Violence is physical or psychological assault with an intention to do harm or impose superiority over your partner or ex-partner. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), wife beating, wife battering are other such terms that are often used to represent domestic violence.
If we believe on the statistics presented by American Institute on Domestic Violence then the health-related costs of rape, physical assault, stalking, and homicide by intimate partners exceed $5.8 billion each year. 94% of corporate security directors rank domestic violence as a high security risk. 68% of senior executives surveyed agreed that their company's financial performance would benefit from addressing the issue of domestic violence among its employees. Isn't a dismal picture reflecting the uncivilized behavior of one of the world's most civilized states?
Close review of one of the major search engines on net shows that more than 3.5 lakh people searched for attorneys dealing with domestic violence in a particular month of July 06 itself. Imagine the total number of victims through out the United States. Domestic violence is causing severe problem for working people too. The stats reveal that 54% miss entire days of work and 28% leave work early because of the constant abuse.
Strange yet true, statistical report made us think do we live in civilized society? Is the domestic violence just another crime or reflecting the fact that we still need to be civilized in our behavior towards women? If you are a victim of domestic violence talk it openly. Domestic violence is not confined only to any passive or secluded women. It can happen to any one. In fact the women who belong to upper economic strata equally suffer from such problems but they often conceal the facts because of their social reputation. Honestly speaking, if you are silently suffering any of such violence you are actually promoting a crime against civilization.
Most of the victims who suffer from such violence are still not aware of the legal regulations formed in order to curb such crimes. Just surf the net and you will find plenty of information on domestic violence. Many organization and law firms provide cheap assistance to fight and curb domestic violence crimes. Seek help immediately and fear not abusers.
Sara Adams is a contributor to Get Affordable Lawyers in USA for Legal Help, a website providing Legal help at Very Less Price
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Domestic Violence - Fact and Fiction
By Joseph Devine
Domestic violence, spousal abuse, family violence - these are topics that our society has trouble dealing with even today. Deep rooted stereotypes, misogynist cultural norms, and sense of privacy all contribute to making domestic violence one of the most misunderstood and pointedly ignored topics in family relationships, family law, and criminal justice. As a matter of fact, domestic abuse is a problem which has serious ramifications for many legal, psychological, and social fields.
Unfortunately, domestic violence is hardly a well-documented phenomena; because many victims are reluctant or unable to report their abusers, a large portion of cases never come to light, making any study of this problem difficult. As a result, the public consciousness is awash with a confusing tangle of fact and fiction about domestic abuse.
FACT: Most Abusers Are Men. The information we do have overwhelmingly indicates that men in heterosexual relationships are the most likely abusers. However, it is important to realize domestic abuse is defined as more than just the act of physically hitting or injuring a spouse or family member - the reactions of both abuser and victim are important in determining the actual presence of an abusive relationship.
FICTION: All Abusers Are Heterosexual Men. While men are more likely to be abusive than women, the truth is that women can be the aggressor in an abusive relationship as well. Though rarer, due to society norms and physical disparity, women have been known to both physically and emotionally abuse men in their relationships. Furthermore, recent years have seen an increase in domestic violence reports in homosexual couples, both gay and lesbian, indicating that heterosexuality is not by any means the only factor in family violence.
FACT: Abuse Is Physical, Emotional, And Psychological. Although the emotional and psychological effects of domestic abuse are more difficult to quantify than its physical effects, they are nonetheless very important to a true understanding of the issue. If abuse were only physical, victims would almost always report their abusers - something we know is not the case. In an abusive relationship, physical violence is rationalized and supported by a deeply ingrained system of emotional and psychological dominance and control.
FICTION: Victims Will Report Their Abusers If The Situation Gets Bad Enough. This is probably the single most damaging misconception about domestic abuse. The public attitude is that victims are partially at fault for allowing the abuse to continue and failing to stand up for themselves, go to the police, or take legal action. The truth is that the emotional and psychological framework of an abusive relationship makes it very difficult for victims to act on their own. What looks like illogical, stupid behavior by a victim is actually the result of years of put-downs, controlling actions, and conflicting messages of violence and affection. As a result, a victim of domestic violence is often unable to him or herself without the aid of friends, family, or other support groups.
More information about the effects of domestic violence has been made available by the family law attorneys of Slater & Kennon, LLP at their website http://www.slaterkennon.com
Joseph Devine
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