PHYSICAL VIOLENCE IN DATING RELATIONSHIPS

Physical Violence in Dating Relationships

Physical Violence in Dating Relationships

Introduction

As we moved into the new Millennium, Domestic Violence has not become what our society thought it would. In fact, the mere mention of it today as an ongoing crisis should really make our society embarrassed. It has only been in the past decade that our society has begun to realize that we are overlooking the severity of domestic violence. We have viewed domestic violence as merely a moral and ethical dilemma, not an obligation. We've convinced ourselves that it was a "private family matter" and not a criminal act. We told ourselves that some women deserve it, or that they provoked it to happen. We have excused ourselves from the problem, into an uncomfortable but yet acceptable, part of our culture and convinced ourselves it was acceptable to look the other way. Therefore, while we were looking the other way, this is what developed; battering became the single major cause of injury to women...more than injuries caused by muggings, rape, and car accidents combined. Domestic Violence is the second leading cause of death to women age twenty to forty-five (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence).

Literature Review: Physical Violence in Dating Relationships

Research shows that 36 to 50 percent of American women will be abused in their lifetime. Abuse can be considered any attempt to control, manipulate, or demean another individual using physical, emotional, or sexual tactics. The terms abuse, battering, and domestic violence will be used interchangeably in this paper. Women and girls sometimes abuse men and boys, but nine out of ten victims of abuse are female (Commonwealth Fund). Domestic Violence is not limited to adult women, it has been leaking into middle schools, high schools, and college relationships. "It is now estimated that at least one out of three high school and college-aged youth experience abuse at some points in their relationships. It can range from a single episode to chronic abuse" (Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey). Even more teens will face verbal or emotional abuse during a relationship in 2004. (Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey)

Domestic Violence encompasses all races, ethnic groups, educational levels, social and economic classes, sexual orientations, religions, and physical and mental abilities (Texas Council on Family Violence). Domestic Violence occurs in all classes, regardless of socio economic and educational level. It happens in major metropolitan areas and in small rural communities. There is no population that is immune from this atrocity.

Females who are subjected to abuse need to understand that they are not at fault and have not done something to cause the battering. The reality is no one is responsible for the abuser behavior, the abuser chooses to abuse his partner regardless of the female's behavior (Wilson). Males who are abusive have serious issues. The behavior is either learned or brought on by their own insecurities. Many batters exhibit a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality. Batters can be quite charming and delightful when they want to be ...