SOCIAL SCIENCES

Domestic Violence



Abstract

Interpersonal crime is a major and widespread crime in the United Kingdom. Most women suffer from violence without raising their voice against it or ever reporting it. Sexual assault, dating, and violence are costly problems. Not only the victims themselves but the bystanders too have to go through severe pain and loss. The paper discusses the young women's experience of domestic violence and sexual assault and the social aspects of it.



Introduction3

Prevalence of violence and sexual assault in Young Women3

Violence and sexual assault in Teens5

Impact on employment and career6

Social Impact of violence in witness children7

Other social effects7

Prevalence of crime and marital status9

Emerging social issues10

Conclusion10

References12

Domestic Violence

Introduction

Sexual Assault, domestic violence and any other use of violence such as stalking is commonly termed as interpersonal violence. The government in United Kingdom is giving due importance to address this issue as it is a major crime. The major difficulty faced by government in eliminating the problem is that the disclosure rate of such misfortunate events is very low. Most women suffer from violence without raising their voice against it or ever reporting it (Percy & Mayhew, 2007, p. 125).

Sexual assault, dating, and violence are costly problems. Not only the victims themselves but the bystanders too have to go through severe pain and loss as one man's suffering is another's loss of innocence. The sense of well being, which is the basic innate right of every woman, is shattered when she experiences any event of violence. Aside from the emotional trauma, violence has been found to be accompanied with health problems. Some of which can last over a lifetime.

The paper discusses the young women's experience of domestic violence and sexual assault and the social aspects of it.

Prevalence of violence and sexual assault in Young Women

In response to the difficulties associated with research on domestic violence and assault; a survey conducted by government in England and Wales, called the British Crime Survey, allowed for women to fill up the questionnaires themselves. This gave them a certain degree of comfort. The survey results revealed that one- third of women in the UK suffer from one or another form of violence in their life. Some endure it as a child, some are subjected to it as a young woman and some even suffer from violence in their old age (Myhill & Allen, 2002, p. 237).

Although women of all ages are at risk, it is young women who have been found to be most vulnerable. These women aged between 20 and 24, in most cases, are subjected to violence by their nonfatal intimate partners. Hence, they are at highest risk. The crime rate of rape and sexual assault is also the highest among women of the age bracket 20 to 24. These are followed closely by rape in women aged between 16 and 19. Stalking is another major crime whereby women aged 18 and 19 are stalked the most. This is illustrated hereunder (Johnson, 2005, ...