Domestic Violence And Its Effects On Society - 2773 Words

Domestic violence can be described as authority misused by one person in a relationship to control the other. It is the establishment of fear and control in one’s relationship through violence and other forms of abuse. Domestic violence can be in a form of physical assault, sexual assault, social abuse, psychological abuse, and financial abuse. The occurrence of the violence can be sometimes on and off, occasional or long-lasting. Many may confuse the term domestic violence as a simple argument, but that is not true. Domestic violence is a pattern of using threats and force to make someone do something. Many abusers use threats, physical and sexual violence, emotional insults and economic deprivation as a way to dominate their†¦show more content†¦Wife beating was similar to rape or abortion back then, it was viewed as a private and shameful act, that’s why only a few women discussed their issue. Men hit women with immunity until feminist activists’ renamed wife beating as domestic violence, and described its victims as â€Å"battered women.† Many women searched for help all around, they needed protection. Activists created a system of shelters for women who tried to escape, often with their children, because the violence threatened by their spouse. Congressional passage of violence against women act was ultimately spurred on by decades of growing unease over the rising violent crime rate and a focus on women as crime victims. Beginning in the 1960s, the violent crime rate rose steadily, igniting concern from both the public and the federal government. Supplementing the concern for the nation’s rising violent crime rate was the concern for violence against women. In the 1970s, grassroots organizations began to stress the need for attitudinal change regarding violence against women. These organizations sought a change in attitude among both the public as well as the law enforcement community. During the 1970’s, feminists tried to reach out and teach women that violence was wrong and that they had the right to be free from it. â€Å"We will not be beaten† became the slogan of the