The ultimate goal in the fight against domestic violence should be to provide the ground work to stop the abuse before it begins.
by
jenniferma3 (student)
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Domestic Violence: No More Band-Aid Solutions
Since the dawn of time, physical force has been the means to keep smaller weaker groups in constant fear of the dominant people in society. Men have always been physically larger than women and since most societies are male dominated, to no one’s surprise the woman has almost always been the common victim. Many times when a woman seeks, help the problem of interest is given a band-aid solution such as a restraining order. Only giving the victim false hope that the problem will stop, other times women are too afraid for their lives to admit that they have been physically abused and therefore no charges are pressed. As time goes by the abuse escalates and it becomes harder and harder for the victim to leave. Until the inevitable happens; the beating goes too far and a life is lost. Therefore I propose that equal and harsher punishment, better rehabilitation as well as outreach programs for victims, and teaching children that violence is inappropriate as well as providing better methods of problem solving without using physical means to reach a verdict, will ultimately prevent domestic violence. Educating society as a whole also is a very important key to ending domestic violence this is accomplished through changes in public policy and practices
Only recently, within the past twenty-five years, has been the issue of domestic violence been “brought into the open as a field of concern and study” (Violence against Women in the Family) The Domestic Violence Movements main focus is to improve the treatment of victims and make laws accountable for the act. Much tougher laws are needed since most abusers are given a slap on the wrist, it gives them and other people like them, the message that domestic violence is not a major crime and abusers can simply get away with it if they have the right amount of money. When communities establish mandatory arrest and prosecution policies, a message is sent from the police and the courts that domestic violence is a crime that society will not tolerate. When they join with counseling programs for abusers, the message will also be that those who want to change will be given a chance. It has been agreed upon by all those trying to end domestic violence that not only the individual abusers, but society itself needs help. One of the many ways to enforce putting a stop to domestic violence is by setting a good example.
