Domestic Violence: A Societal Issue? by Sara NIles

By Sara Niles author of Torn From the Inside Out

Is Domestic Dysfunction and Domestic Violence a Societal Issue? In other words, does the societal beliefs and attitudes fostered within a culture, affect how domestic violence is treated as a social and legal issue, and does it affect how domestic dysfunction is  cyclically perpetuated from generation to generation? Attitudes help form beliefs and beliefs perpetuate atttitudes.

People tend to examine the world from their own points of reference, which limits their understanding of some issues-that is-if they did not experience it to the same degree then they many not understand it-that in turn, limits the empathetic response and encourages apathy.

Another societal problem with abuse is that many former victims of childhood abuse think they need not think about it again-just move on, stuff it, and pretend it did not happen.This does not fix the problem with the individual, and it does not improve the collective health of society-instead it fosters the 'sweep-it-under-the rug' societal state of denial.

In addition to societal denial,there is societal 'projection' in which the victim is blamed for being 'stupid'....and of course if you can believe that what happened to 'the victim' happened only because they were stupid, then you only have to be 'smart' to not be victimized. The illusion of invulnerability is created and it helps people feel they have control when they say "I would never let that happen to me", not understanding the total dynamic involved. Just as individuals use such tactics to avoid feeling vulnerable-so do collective groups; and eventually, group attitudes become cultural 'norms'...that is what we have now.

In both cases,societal denial and victim blaming- the real issue gets ignored, which is the need to do something to change the cycle of abuse, 
that affects huge numbers of children growing up who will have issues as adults. Changing cultural norms is part of what needs to be done (much like in the situation when slavery existed, and when gay people were considered outcasts).

Domestic abuse is extremely widespread and includes all forms of family dysfunction from emotional and psychological abuse by caretakers of both genders, to sexual and physical abuse.As you both stated-many children are affected and this is a BIG issue in our society.When you consider most people addicted to substances and negative behaviors, were childhood abuse victims-and most people in the prisons were childhood abuse victims-this is an issue of pandemic proportions. It is a societal issue, not just an individual one, and will have to be consistently addressed on a societal level in order to change things.

Public awareness and education is essential to changing public perception. The children absorb societal attitudes-and then the children grow up and become the 'new' society.

Domestic Homicide stories are in the news every day of the year, in fact when you consider the statistics such as  38% of females murdered were killed by intimate partners (2010), and roughly out of every four females murdered by intimates, a male intimate partner is also killed, it is not surprising that tragic Domestic Violence stories are easy to find. These figures do not include the murdered children who become collateral damage, not to even mention the life-long psychological murder that often takes place when childhoods are stolen by the unnatural presence of violence in the home.

For example, on February 3^rd, 2014, in Robbins Chicago, a man shot and killed his wife and two kids, although he was attempting to kill all four-a brave 14 year-old boy managed to save his own life and the life of a 5 year-old nephew by running away. One 17 year-old daughter was shot in the back as she tried to escape: http: Man Murders wife and Two kids, Two Escape

This type of behavior constitutes War and Terrorism in the home, the domicile, or-in other words, this is the working definition of domestic violence at its worst.

In 2010, violent crimes by intimate partners (both male and female) totaled 509,230 and accounted for 13 percent of violent crimes.[1]

Victims of Crime Statistics

Neil on Goodreads has started a group on Domestic Violence and the Law and he is using my book: Torn From the Inside Out as the reading material to be discussed. Please join the discussion:

New Abuse and the Law Group on Goodreads by Neil

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The Law and Domestic Murder: How State Mandated Fatality Review Boards use data by Sara Niles

Love, Marriage and Murder, are words that are normally not closely associated in the average mind, although those words become the sad reality of many relationships in which there is serious domestic violence, or violence with the threat of permanent physical harm or death. The patterns that are present in domestic homicides have been used in the past, and are currently still used to provide research data that is useful in the construction of legal protections geared toward preventing future domestic homicides.  

The most serious consequences stemming from domestic violence against partners and children is the murder of victims, domestic homicide, which, in many cases involve the murder of children as well, often with the abuser committing suicide either by cop, or at their own hand immediately after the murders.

The National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative http://www.ndvfri.org/reports.php

South Carolina had the most domestic homicides, with male partners killing female victims in 2013, with more than double the national average:

double the national average:read here

Fatality Review Boards were established for most states in the year 2004.

The data uses information leading up to the homicide to identify gaps in governmental programs that is examined by a state appointed review team such as the following:

“The review teams are comprised of representatives from government agencies, including prosecutors, public defenders, judges, police, medical examiners, emergency room doctors, court psychologists, corrections or probation officers, child protection workers, school social workers, etc. The teams also include strong representation from domestic violence advocates and from the community.”

From Stop Violence Against Women

http://www.stopvaw.org/domestic_fatality_review_boards

Arizona Fatality Review suggests the uses patterns to aid in the cross-coordination of agency efforts between law enforcement and supporting agencies:

 Arizona Fatality Review

  FBI Child Fatality Review

Presently the biggest gap is implementing the valuable data into useful law.

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