Julie St John

Composition 105
Domestic Violence Research Paper
He did not want to hurt me, his actions are going to change. These words are often said
by a victim of domestic violence who believes that if even if she does nothing, her situation will
get better. However, statistics show this is most likely not true. In the last few years the number
of domestic violence incidents in America has risen. Majority of Americans have no clue that this
is happening or that domestic violence is such a serious issue in todays society. Domestic
violence is slowly increasing and it is affecting everyone. On average three women a day are
killed in America, which averages to over one thousand women a year who are killed due to their
partners anger and rage. This single fact alone shows a solution to domestic violence needs to be
found immediately. The increase in domestic violence incidents is due to the decline in the
economy, and the increase in the number of victims who report their abuse. Although the
incidents are increasing, there are many ways Americans can help end the violence.
There are many different ideas of what domestic violence is but we need to have an exact
definition of what it is. Domestic violence is the violent and domestic behavior used by a person
to control his or her spouse. It does not just have to be between married couples. The abuse can
happen between married and unmarried couples, people who living together or just dating.
Domestic violence can range anywhere from physical, sexual, or mental abuse, stalking,
aggression, and threatening. There are many different names for these actions, but all fall under
the classification of domestic violence.

Despite popular belief, women are not the only victims of domestic violence or abuse.
Men can also be abused by their wives or significant others. However, the majority of abuse
cases have female victims. About three fourths are victims are in fact females, but that means one
fourth or twenty-five percent of victims are male. The average age of women are abused range
from the ages of sixteen to twenty-four. Women who are most likely to be in abusive
relationships are teenagers or young women. (3)
In America, depending on the severity of the violence, domestic violence is considered
either a misdemeanor or a felony, and punishment for this crime can include; fines, community
service, or jail time. However domestic violence was not always looked at by the criminal justice
system as a severe crime. (6) It has only been since about the 1970s that domestic violence was
considered important by the police and authorities. (1) Before the 1970s when a domestic
violence incident occurred, the police would look the other way. It was a common belief that it
was a mans right to make their woman behave. It was considered a normal part of the
relationship, and that women should tolerate the abuse. Authorities had the belief that it was a
private matter, that should be deal with inside the home. Women who did report the abuse to
the police were often neglected. The police would refuse to look into the incidents or take their
time getting to the scene of abuse. No one in power had sympathy for the women or believed that
they were actually victims. This horrendous viewpoint however started to change for the better.
As the demand for womens rights increased, so did the recognition of the seriousness of
domestic violence. (1)
The recognition of domestic violence was brought on by strong womens rights groups.
These groups knew domestic violence was wrong, brought the topic into the spotlight and
changed it from a private matter to one that had to be dealt with by the public. The actions of

these groups eventually influenced the criminal justice system to create laws and enforce them.
(1)
The most terrifying part of domestic violence is the sheer numbers of cases and how
many Americans are affected every single day by abusive partners. Often the victims are scared
to report their abusers. Many claim that he hits out of love. Or the victims are convinced that
it will never happen again, although it has already happened multiple times. Or the majority of
victims refuse to report their abuser, because they think that the police will not be able to help,
and the abuse will only get worse. Therefore the numbers of reported abuse, are not nearly large
enough to illustrate how many people actually suffer from domestic violence.
Although not all cases are reported there are many statistics that are reported to
authorities. A startling fact is that abusers contribute to twenty-five percent of incarcerations in
local jails, and seven percent of incarcerations in state prisons. (2) One in four women in
America admit to the fact that they are or once have had an abusive partner. (3) The majority of
victims who do report abuse, admit that they have been in an abusive situation before. (3)
Although the justice has taken steps to prevent abuse, the numbers of incidents are still
steadily increasing. The facts about domestic violence in America are petrifying. For example,
the percentage of domestic violence incidents increased ten percent from 2010 to 2011. (4) There
were 190,600 reported cases of rape or sexual assault in America in 2006. In just one year that
number jumped up to 248,300 reported cases (3) Aggravated assault incidents, which are
classified under acts of domestic violence were increased from one hundred and eighty cases in
2010 to two hundred and thirty-four reported cases in 2011. (4) Data collected in 2005 by the
Center for Disease Control and Prevention Center, and published in 2008 discovered that women
suffer about two million injuries from their abusive partners every year.(3)

Domestic violence has serious consequences. It is not just the evident danger that come
with physical abuse such as; bruises, scratches, broken bones, or concussions. Victims of
domestic violence suffer much greater health risks. Women who are abused are eighty percent
more likely to suffer from a stroke and seventy percent more likely to drink heavily, than women
who are not in abusive situations. (3) Domestic and sexual violence can lead reproduction issues,
and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV. (3) In extreme situations, abuse can lead to death
or suicide. (3) As stated; on average, three women per day are killed by domestic violence, this
equals to one thousand women every year are murdered due to someones anger.
Besides the physical effects of abuse, there are also serious emotional consequences.
Victims of domestic violence often struggle with trusting again or being in a committed
relationship. (3) Majority of victims spend time in a counselors office after their abuse is over to
get the help they need.
Researchers have spent a good amount of time and money trying to figure out exactly
why domestic violence is increasing. There are a few different theories. One is that more women
are now willing to face their abuser and report to the police. Another is that since domestic
violence is a relatively newer crime that the reported cases started out small, but continued to
grow as the years went on and domestic violence was recognized as a crime. These would be
positive reasons for the increase, and could lead to ways to get the victims the help that they
need. However there are also negative reasons for why domestic abuse could be increasing. One
of these theories is that since the economic numbers of America has dropped, the abuse numbers
have risen. Experts believe that since the economy has been down, peoples frustration and anger
has risen causing more incidents. (4) Statistics support this theory. Women who are from lower
income households are five times more likely to be victims of abuse. (2) This particular fact

shows that often the violence is from the stress of not having enough money or not being able to
provide for the household.
The facts prove that domestic violence is increasing. Now the question is what can
Americans do to prevent it? The best way to end domestic violence is simply to report it. That
way the victims can be safe and get the support they need. . If you or someone you know is a
victim of domestic violence, the best way to help is to report the abuse. The abuser will go to jail
and be out of the victims lives. There are other ways for victims to get help. Some ways include;
abuse hotlines, the authorities, counseling, and therapy. If victims get the help they need they can
build a better life for themselves
A single person can only do so much to end domestic violence, however there is serious
strength in numbers. Domestic violence is a serious issue which needs to be recognized in order
to put a stop to it. If Americans come together, we can prevent abuse. If the incidents of
domestic violence is slowed down or stopped, thousands of victims could be saved each year. It
would make America a safer place to live and allow those living in fear to feel safe and live their
lives again.