Domestic Violence - The history of domestic violence

Domestic Violence

The history of domestic violence

Domestic violence is persistent and intentional abuse of any kind, whether

physical, sexual or mental. Violence is carried out by children on their

parents, particularly when the parents are elderly, and by parents on their

children: This is described as child abuse.

Domestic violence has been found in many different cultures in history, but

attitudes have changed. For many centuries women had a shortage of legal

rights in most parts of the world, but husbands, who were responsible for

their wives, were allowed to chastise them physically.

Men had always been the dominating partner in a relationship, but then the

women realized that all persons are equal no matter which sex. This was the

first step to equality between men and women. But not everywhere the

situation is the same at the moment. Even in our technified world human

rights are violated. Not in wars or in prisons,but in the sleeping rooms of

normal houses. Human rights researchers found out that domestic violence is

tolerated in Brazil, Russia, and Ghana, although it is illegal. However,

sociologists have shown that men have continued to use violence to put their

families under pressure.

The situation today - some facts

In nine cases out of ten, the violence is carried out by a man - often a

husband or partner, but it can also come from a son, father, or other family

members. An incident in which you feel threatened by someone you know, can

also be classified as domestic violence. It happens everywhere, from large

cities to rural communities, and to all kinds of women. The majority of

cases are when a man abuses a woman within a relationship.

There are different forms of domestic violence. For example women were

forced to have sex without their consent. 20 % of the men hit their partners

und 60 % of these saw violence against their partner as an option for a

better partnership. It is a fact that one-third of the children want to

protect their mother from their father. Another fact is that in 90 % of

incidents of domestic violence the children are in the same or in the next

room. Anyway, only 20 % of all incidents are reported to the police.

Why women don´t leave their home?

There are a combination of reasons why women don´t leave, or return to

violent relationships. The alternatives for women wanting to escape violence

and live without fear are still limited by many factors that are outside

their control. These factors are:

? Homelessness

? Isolation and loneliness

? responsibility for their child

? Economic dependency

? Immigration laws

But there are also some important reasons why women stand years of violence

and fear:

? They want to provide a home with two parents until the children have grown

up.

? They do not have enough money to support themselves.

? They worry about the society.

? They are afraid of losing their home.

? They still love their partner.

In which households does domestic violence occur?

There are some prejudice about the families in which such cases happen.

Domestic violence happen in every family, no matter how much money this

family have. There isn´t one type of man who abuses - they come from every

profession and every class.

Another prejudice is that only men who drink or have chauvinist attitudes

hit their wives. Alcohol can´t be made responsible for the brutality in some

households. Maybe alcohol reduces the inhibitions in of some men, but not

always and in every case.

Domestic violence is a violation of human rights

Domestic violence is a serious crime and a violation of the human rights.

Nobody has the right to abuse somebody physically, sexually or emotionally.

Everyone has the right to live his life free of violence. Women have the

right to be free of fear and abuse.

Women from Asian and Afro-Carribean countries are often not allowed to marry

the man they love because the families select the husband for their

daughter. This sounds strange but also in our society the cultural tradition

of keeping the family together puts enormous pressure on women who want to

leave their husbands. They do not have the courage to leave their husbands.

Places of refuge

Women who use refuges often have less access to money or places to go. Some

women contact Women´s Aid for support and legal information.

Up to 45,000 women a year flee to the safety of a refuge to escape violence

at home. A further 100,000 seek the advice and counselling services many

refuges provide. These facts which have been researched by Women´s Aid and

show the urgent need for refuge services for women and their children. But

the latest findings suggest that few local authorities agreed to finance

these services, or even have a police for dealing with domestic violence.

Two sentences for conclusion

? Domestic violence is a serious crime.

? Everyone has the right to live their life free of fear, threats and abuse.

Some words:

persistent - fortdauernd

chastise - züchtigen

endure - ertragen, dulden

refuge - Zuflucht

trigger - auslösen

sober - nüchtern

intentional - absichtlich

incident - Ereignis

inhibitions in - Hemmungen

latest findings - neueste Erkenntnisse

consent - Einwilligung

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

History of domestic violence

? often carried out by parents on their children

? found in many different cultures

? tolerated in Brazil, Russia

The situation today

? in nine cases out of ten, the violence is carried out by a man

? option for a better partnerschip

Why women don´t leave?

? Homelessness

? Isolation and loneliness

? responsibility for their child

? Economic dependency

? Immigration laws

? not enough money

? still love their partner

In which households does domestic violence occur?

Domestic violence is a violation of human rights

Places of refuge

? Women´s Aid