Domestic Violence in American Society

In American society, domestic violence is an issue that tends to go unnoticed especially when it concerns acts towards women. Two to four million women are beaten by their partners each year mine (Hetling & Zhang, 2010, para.2). Statistics show that exposure to domestic violence can have adverse effects on individuals, families, and society in general. According to Webster's dictionary, violence can be defined as physical force employed so as to damage or inflict injury or an instance of violent action. Combined with the term domestic, violence is used to control or inflict injury and fear amongst those whom are supposed to be closest to us.

In the summer months of 2005, I became a victim of domestic violence hurrying to the phone in the attempt to reach law enforcement hoping someone would come to my aid. I was not alone. In 2005, over 12,390 calls were received by 911 operators just like mine (Hetling & Zhang, 2010, para.2). Of these calls, 9,272 involved weapons that could result in imminent danger to the victims and their children mine (Hetling & Zhang, 2010, para.2). Yet, still this is an issue that continues to plague American society even today. This essay will analyze the statistical data surrounding domestic violence while attempting to answer the question of how society can lessen the problem and bring peace back to American households.

In 2005, acts of domestic violence accounted for 50 percent of the women killed in the United States (Devine, 2008, para.8). Oftentimes, these women are considered small, passive, and fragile lacking the necessary life skills needed to escape their abusers. These women are considered to be economically dependent on their spouses while being saddled with numerous children preventing them from leaving their tragic situation. It is frequently assumed that they are from a minority group which has accustomed them to a life of violence. Although some victims may fall into these categories, research has proven this stereotype to be widely false (Devine, 2008, para.8). Battering women occurs at all levels of society. In fact, the vast majorities of women who fall victim to abuse hold high ranking positions in their field of employment and come from a vast variety of racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds and vary in age and educational levels.

Although domestic violence is a subject that has been widely researched, statistical data is difficult to find because most records are sealed in medical files, domestic disturbance calls to the police or the records of social service agencies. Studies on the prevalence of domestic violence suggest that from one-fifth to one-third of all women will be physically assaulted by a partner or ex-partner during their lifetime (Devine, 2008, para.5). These studies show that common thread between both the batterer and the victim is the similar characteristics they share which holds their tedious relationship together. It is believed that both the batterer and their victims suffer from low self- esteem and each have traditionalist views concerning