In a recent news article, Lauren Derrett shares her personal experience as a victim of domestic violence. She starts off with a detailed account of “coming back from a state of unconscious, with my [her] husband standing over me [her]” (Derrett, 2017). She expresses that that particular incident would be the last time, after so many similar incidents in which she forgave her husband. She goes on to describe several past domestic violence encounters with her husband, and explains how he would use her own insecurities against her to convince her that she could not find a better relationship. Derrett justifies her quiet acceptance of the abuse as a means to save her kids the pain of another divorce. From an outsider’s perspective, Derrett was …show more content…
Derrett’s husband has a large amount of power over her, because she is dependent on him for a variety of factors. Derrett “would have taken all the abuse if it meant not having to put my [her] kids through another divorce” (Derrett, 2017). This gave her husband the power to do as he pleased, because he knew she would not leave him. Social exchange theory also claims that the comparison level of alternatives, the anticipated outcome from another attainable relationship, dictates whether someone leaves a relationship. In Derrett’s case, her husband made her feel as if she could not find another relationship, let alone a better one. He verbally abused her by telling her that no one would want her and her children and that even her own mother didn’t love her. This likely made Derrett believe that she had no possible alternative, making her relationship with her husband above the comparison level of alternatives. It took a near-death experience for Derrett to recognize that no relationship was better than her existing one, but once she came to that realization, she was quick to leave. Her closing message to the audience urges victims of domestic violence to take action and stand up for themselves, rather than remaining dependent on their
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in four women and one in nine men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking. The tragic death of Jennifer Smith underscores the need for increased awareness and resources to combat this issue. The trial of David Smith began in January of 2023, nearly five months after the murder. The prosecution presented a compelling case, including testimony from Ms. Smith's friends and family, as well as evidence of Mr. Smith's history of violence towards her.
I still was too embarrassing to be seen with,” Melanie admitted fidgeting. She pulled her thick, curly, brown hair out of her bun and fiddled with the messy strands. She then continued as if astonished and disappointed by her past actions, “and I believed I wasn 't good enough.” Her lips formed a straight line after that sentence, and she tilted her head with a movement that can be described as a weak shrug. “Domestic violence affects one’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors and can significantly impact one’s mental stability.
Although Cherie’s volatile relationship has not erupted into physical violence, Tyrone’s threatening behavior could easily escalate from controlling and intimidating behavior to outright domestic violence, which adds another crisis component to this case. As previously mentioned, Cherie revealed that Tyrone belittles and controls her. She also said Tyrone acts excessively jealous, limits her telephone usage and access to money and credit cards. These characteristics are often mentioned when women in domestic violence shelters describe their mate (James & Gilliland, 2013, p.302).
The presentation of the information Hamill uses brings clarity to the situation for readers who don’t know all of the truths that lie behind domestic violence. Facts are used moderately and appropriately throughout his piece to shed light on these truths. Domestic violence “kills more cops than dope-dealers and bank robbers combined,” (Hamill 467), and “our indifference permits… the death of 2500 women per year at the hands of their ‘lovers,’ one every three-and-a-half hours, and just as we permit a woman to be battered senseless every eighteen seconds of every day in this country” (Hamill 469). Most readers do not know this information. Facts quickly draw attention, and further establish the author’s credibility – because he knows the details of the subject of his writing, he is able to strengthen the overall effectiveness of the piece.
III. Preview Statement: Today I am going to discuss the prevalence and reality of domestic violence against single women and mothers in our society, how The Shade Tree helps scared victims become strong survivors, and what we can do in order to help these women and their children during their first steps to freedom. [First,
In “The Victims”, a poem by Sharon Olds, the narrator gives a recount of their feelings when their parents got divorced, but the main victim in the story is the narrator. Spousal abuse is common in this poem, since her mother “took it and took it in silence, all those years and then kicked you out, suddenly, and her kids loved it” (1-4). It is implied that the father beat his wife and kids, so it makes sense for them to be happy once they are freed of abuse by their parent’s divorce. That event, the divorce, is an action taken by the mother that saves her and her kids’ lives, while acting as a form of revenge, as “[they] were tickled to think of [the father’s] office taken away, [ his] secretaries taken away, [his] lunches with three double
The abuser forces the victim to feel dependent on them in every aspect financially, emotionally, physically, and mentally. Typically the victim will endure everything in fear of it continuing or going to far, breaking the family apart, or reporting it to the police and they do nothing about it. In addition, there are a few instances where the abuser is wealthy and the victim was not as fortunate before they met, so they are faced with an ultimatum of staying or leaving with nothing. This was partly the case in the play. Helen McCarter was a very caring wife of 20 years to Charles McCarter.
The strengths that I saw in the video, Domestic Violence: Role-Play of a Therapy Session, were strength, conviction, determination, hard worker, devoted wife and mother. If Mrs. Caldwell were my client, I would express empathy and compassion towards her situations. I believe that because I have been a victim of domestic violence I could provide some additional insight and possibly be more relatable for the client. I believe that one of the things a domestic violence individual wants the most is to feel safe and heard.
“Sexual, racial, gender violence and other forms of discrimination and violence in a culture cannot be eliminated without changing culture.” - Charlotte Bunch. Domestic abuse is a hostile dispute involving the use of violence among household or family members. It is a universal phenomenon that occurs in all races, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, occupations, and genders (“What is Domestic Violence?”).
One example of power difference within a relationship is when Sykes gets home to see Delia doing the laundry, “Don't gimme no lip neither, else Ah’ll throw ‘em out and put mah fist up side yo’ head to boot” (1). This quote shows how women, like Delia, were expected to do all of the housework and were expected to obey their husbands. Even with Sykes being abusive, Delia never genuinley stood up for herself within the 15 years of being married to him because men had the power in relationships and this type of behavior was normalized. After Sykes stormed out and Delia layed awake in bed she remembered, “Two months after the wedding, he had given her the first brutal beating” (2). This is important insight into their relationship because it proves to the reader that Sykes has been abusive for 15 years and Delia is still with him.
Universally, domestic violence is referred to abusive behavior that is used by the intimate partner to control or power over the other intimate power. This can be in the forms of psychological, sexual, economic or emotional threats or actions that will influence your partner (Kindschi,2013).Domestic violence studies provides that psychopathology, which happens when in violent environment in child development can make the argument of domestic violence progress of being a generational legacy (Kindschi,2013).I chose to write about the Feminist Theory to explain why people commit domestic violence. It believes that the root causes of domestic violence is the outcome of living in a society that condones aggressive behavior by men, while women
The Good and the Bad Victims of domestic violence are not at fault for the abuse that is inflicted upon them. A lot of people ask why the victim stayed in the first place, but in some cases the answer is not always so simple. According to Why Do Abuse Victims Stay, “We often put ourselves in the place of the victims and imagine ourselves leaving at the first signs of abuse. But breaking free of abuse is not simply a matter of walking out the door. Leaving is a process.”
What would you do if you had a gun pointed at your head by your spouse several times? Or beaten twice a week? Leslie Morgan Steiner, has been though domestic abuse and creates a speech to answer a question most people ask, “Why does she stay?” (Steiner). In the speech logos, pathos and ethos are used to make her point proven on how domestic abuse is an important issue and why it need to be spoken about.
Sundberg argues that one of the reasons domestic violence is so misunderstood is because we tend to view it as a sudden and violent act, rather than a slow and gradual process. She writes, "We think of domestic violence
hat have been developing to understand and explain the origins and causes of child abuse. Psychological Theories This theory focuses on the impulsive and psychological traits of the offenders. According to Corby (2000), often the individual abuser may have been abuse in childhood, thus causing abnormalities are responsible for abuse. i. Attachment Theory Bowlby (1951) talks about this theory whereby he explains that the separation of a child from the mother in the first five years may lead to psychological and social difficulties in later life.