When Domestic Violence Laws Don't Work

Introduction

This paper presents a rhetorical analysis of an article called, “When Domestic violence Laws Don't Work”. This article was published on Oprah Winfrey's official website. In this particular article, the author has used the case study approach, presenting the story of Ellerby and Cockerham.

Rhetorical Analysis

By sharing their collective stories, women began viewing partner violence as more than just a personal issue and as both social and political issues as well. The philosophy emerged that domestic violence was in large part a consequence of society's systematic subordination of women (such as Cockerham). Lack of economic and social opportunities made women vulnerable to abuse. Advocates tied domestic violence prevention directly to the eradication of women's subordination and the increase of women's social and economic empowerment (www.oprah.com).

Now that domestic violence was no longer dismissed as a private matter but instead commanded attention as an issue requiring significant societal reform, advocates created an action plan focusing on three urgent tasks: securing resources and shelters for battered women, raising public awareness of the issue, and creating legal protections for protecting women's safety (Sherman, 26). As a result, the next few decades brought about an explosion of resources and awareness surrounding domestic violence.

Although the general laws prohibiting violent crimes did not include any exception based on the relationship of the parties, the empirical evidence pointed to a lack of enforcement of these laws in domestic situations and highlighted the need for specific legislation to address the problem. Since the 1970s, a wide range of programs has been implemented that affects the police, prosecutors, and the judiciary (Gover, 10).

There are immediate, short-term, and long-term effects of being battered and there are many studies connecting a wide variety of physical, psychological, social, and existential problems with domestic violence. A woman who is battered may live with constant terror and anxiety with fears of imminent doom. To others she may appear passive and lacking in energy, seemingly helpless to take charge of her own life.

She may suffer from chronic depression, exhibit suicidal behavior, and develop overt posttraumatic stress disorder. She may turn to the use of drugs and alcohol to afford herself some relief, thus compounding existing problems. Many battered women display resilience and agency and take a variety of steps to protect themselves and their children from further abuse.

The manner in which a woman will be affected by the battering will be ...