Running head: Domestic violence

Community Problem Report: Domestic Violence

Sofia Ramirez
The University of Texas at El Paso

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Community Problem Report: Domestic Violence

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), domestic
violence in the U.S results in one thousand plus deaths and nearly two million injuries annually.
Domestic violence is a problem that can happen to anybody, doesnt matter the ethnic group,
economic classes or even sexual orientation, CDC says. Many believe domestic violence only
happens or usually happens within married couples, but truth is it can be found in married,
unmarried and dating heterosexual and homosexual couples. Domestic violence doesnt always
involve physical contact, domestic violence can be emotional, sexual, physical and psychological
forms.
Types of Domestic Violence
There are many different types of Domestic violence which are, Physical violence,
Sexual Violence, Psychological and emotional violence. Physical violence involves the
intentional use of physical force to cause bodily harm. Some examples of this type of violence
includes chocking, hitting, punching, burning, or using weapons against another person. This
also includes forcing the partner to commit alcohol or drug abuse, Physical abuse also includes
homicide. Sexual violence involves unwanted or forcing partner to perform sexual acts,
including marital rape. Sexual violence also includes using physical force or intimidation to
compel a person to perform unwanted sexual acts, and abusive sexual acts against a person
rendered unable to provide consent because of drugs, sex or injury. Psychological and emotional
violence include acts such as criticizing or humiliating the victim, or making them do something
that makes the victim feel embarrassed. This also includes forcing your partner to isolate from
friends and family, and limiting the victims mobility. All of these four types of violence have a
common denominator and that is the quest of one partner to dominate or control the other.

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Intimate homicide victims, by gender, 1976-2005

Domestic Violence against men.

Many believe that it is always women getting abused by their partner or that they are the
only ones who experience domestic violence. Research indicates that women can be as violent as
their partners (Frieze, 2015). Differences were observed in the rates of male and female partner
violence, with female violence occurring more frequently (Journal of family psychology, 2006).

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According to John Archer, men suffer 38% of all injuries arising from partner aggression. Many
men stay quiet when they are victims of Domestic violence because of fear of not being taken
serious. Men in our society have been taught to be the strong gender and to not cry, so being
victims of domestic violence is a hard thing to believe as it is not rare, but you dont hear of it
often, reason why this is a problem. According to a survey sponsored by the U.S Centers for
Disease Control of young adults found 71% of the instigators in nonreciprocal partner violence
were women. Women are as likely to abuse their partners as are men (Mahnkey, 2015). Also
according to Mahnkey, misleading statistic only makes the problem worse, because people
believe the statistics and men are sometimes refused the services they need.
Intimate Partner Violence
Intimate partner violence is almost the same as Domestic violence. Intimate partner
violence according to the CDC occurs between two people in a close relationship. Also the term
intimate partner includes former, and/or current spouses and dating partners. IPV is a very
serious and growing problem in the U.S. According to the CDC nearly 3 in 10 women have
experiences rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by a partner with IPV-related impact, as well
as 1 in 10 men in the U.S. In 2007, IPV resulted in 2,340 deaths, 70% of those were females and
30% males. It is said that victims of IPV often have low self-esteem and may have a hard time
trusting other people and being in relationships. IPV affects the victims health in many several
ways, such as physical injuries, emotional harm, and harmful health behaviors. Physical injuries
include cuts, scratches, bruises, welts, or even death or disabilities such as broke bones, internal
bleeding and head trauma. Emotional harm includes trauma symptoms, such as flashbacks, panic
attacks, and trouble sleeping. Also low self-esteem and trust issues. Some victims even think

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about or eventually commit suicide. As for harmful health behaviors include smoking, drinking,
drugs or having unprotected or risky sex.

Conclusion and recommendations

Domestic violence and IPV is not only a common problem but it is also growing. Many
may not look at this as a serious problem by the fact that it hasnt happened to them, or to anyone
they know. Although domestic violence and IPV commonly happens to women, it also happens
to men therefore we should raise awareness against domestic violence against men, and provide
them with the proper resources to escape the problem. Domestic violence and IPV should be take
serious as it takes the lives of many people every year around the world.

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References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Understanding Intimate Partner Violence." 2012.
Rpt. In Family Violence. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Current
Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 5 Nov. 2015.

"Domestic Violence." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2015. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 5 Nov. 2015.

Hambrook, Elsie. "Domestic Violence Against Women Is More Common than Domestic
Violence Against Men." Domestic Violence. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven
Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "The Real Facts and Politics of Intimate
Partner Violence." Times & Transcript13 Jan. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Web. 5 Nov. 2015.

"Women who were raped by a former intimate partner by point in relationship when rape(s)
occurred, 1995-96." Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. Melissa J. Doak. 2009 ed.
Detroit: Gale, 2009. Information plus Reference Series. Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Web. 5 Nov. 2015.