Vous êtes sur la page 1sur 9

Chisholm

Alex Chisholm
Dr. Henderson
SOCY 698

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Chisholm

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT


Domestic violence and sexual assault are crimes of power and control one
individual commits over another. Domestic Violence is defined as a pattern of
behavior, which involves violence or other abuse by one person in a domestic
context against another, such as in marriage or cohabitation. Domestic Violence
can be physical, emotional, verbal, economic, and/or sexual abuse. Domestic
Violence can range from subtle coercive forms, to marital rape to violent physical
abuse that can result in death. The National Domestic Violence Hotline identifies
Domestic Violence as a repetitive pattern of behavior used to maintain power and
control over an intimate partner (SCCADVASA). Nationally 1 in 2 women and 1
in 5 men experience sexual violence victimization in their lives (CDC). 79% of
women report sexual violence before they are 25 years old, and 28% of men
report sexual trauma before age ten (CDC).
Sexual Assault is defined as any type of sexual contact or behavior that
occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of
sexual assault are sexual activities as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy,
child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape (justive.gov).
WHY IS THIS A SOCIAL PROBLEM, DEFINING THE PROBLEM
Domestic violence and sexual assault is a social problem because it is a
health concern it is a primary cause of injury to women in the United States. The
National Institute of Justice, states that 37% of women admitted to an emergency
room for violence-related injuries were abused by an intimate partner (University
of Michigan). This problem further exacerbates un-egalitarian roles within

Chisholm

relationships. It further normalizes violence within our society. Within children it


presents how violence is normal within relationship. Introduces trust issues
within children that can fester into adulthood. Domestic violence and sexual
assault creates unhealthy ideas about sexuality. Women are more likely to have
unintended pregnancies, STIs. Many men hide in the shadows in dealing with
this issue. Both of sexes deal with greater instances of drugs, alcohol,
depression and suicide.
WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF SOUTH CAROLINA scope of the problem
Relation to other states in the South Carolina ranks second for the number
of women killed by men according to the Violence Policy Center. Of the homicide
victims who knew their offender 68% were murdered by a husband, common-law
husband, ex-husband, or boyfriend (Sistercare). In South Carolina one in five
high school female students report being abused by their boyfriend. In 2014,
South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
(SCCADVASA) reported providing shelter to approximately 2,729 individuals.
They also provided non-shelter services-including counseling, court advocacy,
and support services to about 15,786 individuals and answered over 20,993
hotline calls.
Within the context of South Carolina ranks second in the nation for women
killed by men according to the Violence Policy Center, of homicide victims who
knew their offender 68% were murdered by a husband, common-law husband,
ex-husband, or boyfriend (Sistercare). One in five high school female students
reports being abused by their boyfriend. In 2014, South Carolina against

Chisholm

domestic Violence and Sexualt Assault (SCCADVASA) reported providing shelter


to approximately 2,729 individuals. They also provided non-shelter servicesincluding counseling, court advocacy, and support services to about 15,786
individuals and answered over 20,993 hotline calls. The Attorney General of
South Carolina has noted that more than 36,000 victims report a domestic
violence incident to law enforcement statewide. Many victims do not report to
law enforcement or even make a hotline call (SCCADVASA). Domestic violence
and sexual assault cannot be separated these two forms abuse intersect when
throughout victims experiences. Within South Carolina 643 case involved both
domestic violence and sexual assault. More than half (51.1%) of female victims
of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner. 60 % of domestically abused
women have been sexually assaulted by their batterers.
Laws that have affected domestic violence within South Carolina have just
recently been implemented within the last twenty years, which is very recent
considering the delicate nature of this topic. The first implementation was is
1994 with the federal domestic violence law which made South Carolina finally
act on the issues of domestic violence, so in 1996 with grant money from the
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) the state finally instituted the S.T.O.P.
program which finally trained judges, police officers and victim advocates about
sexual assault and domestic violence and how to handle those situations (Post
Courier). The big piece of legislation that has come about dealing with domestic
violence and sexual assault has was signed into law in 2015 and it mostly deals
with gun regulation in domestic violence cases and legislation. Even with these

Chisholm

regulation offenders can still receive many of their gun rights back after serving
probation for their crime.
CAUSES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT Littlegirlsare
beinggroomedintopassivelyacceptingtheirplaceasobjectsin ourpornifiedculture,
andboysarebeingtaughtexploitiveandabusivesexual scripts.CordeliaAnderson,Founder,SensibilitiesPreventionServices
This addresses the normalization of sexual violence and harm by our
society and how we are inundated with images sexualizing minors and children
at younger and younger ages, and Portraying sexual exploitation and sexual
violence as normal (Norm of sexual harm). The constant pushing of boundaries
and what is acceptable within our society. The new normal for younger
generation is the mantra of Sexual exploitation is just part of life. If you are a
woman, you should strive to be seen as sexual object and treated as such. If
you are a man, you are to act as if a womans only worth to you is the sexual
encounter she can provide, or you can take (Norm of sexual harm). This
normalization of sex has desensitized youth to objectionable material and seeing
it as the new normal. The normalization of sexual images instill unhealthy ideas
about sexuality and also promotes gender stereotypes within our culture that are
detrimental to the idea of health relationships and sexuality.
THEORIES
Viewing domestic violence and sexual assault through sociological theory,
you can clearly see many theories come to light when addressing these topic

Chisholm

CULTURE OF VIOLENCE THEORY


Culture of Violence theory is an important theory in understanding
domestic violence and sexual assault. The culture of violence is the idea that in
large multicultural societies minor subcultures develop norms that permit the use
of physical violence to a greater degree than the dominant culture. Family
violence occurs more frequently in violent societies than peaceful ones. The idea
of the patriarchal dominance is ingrained within the society. This theory goes
parallels how our society views violence and how we have become desensitized
to acts of violence among people. When one looks at how the Culture of
Violence has infiltrated our society one can clearly see how we have become so
use to violence that domestic violence and sexual assault seem unhealthy
normal (Theories of Causation).
FEMINIST THEORY
Feminist theory presents many aspects of how domestic violence is
unfortunately an ingrained part of our society. M. Bogard in Feminist
Perspectives on Wife Abuse addresses four strains that are common with
domestic violence 1) that as the dominant class, men have differential access to
material and symbolic resources and women are devalued as secondary and
inferior 2) intimate partner abuse is a predictable and common dimension of
normal family life 3) women's experiences are often defined as inferior because
male domination influences all aspects of life 4) the feminist perspective is
dedicated to advocacy for women (Theories of Causation). These theories
present how our society is inundated with sexualized images that promote

Chisholm

aspects of domestic violence and sexual assault. As a society we have to be


more cognizant of how we view sex and how that promotes a culture of
dominance and violence.
IMPLICATIONS AND SOLUTIONS
In a society where we glorify sexual images we have to change the
mindset to critically effect change. On a macro level we need to change federal
laws to provide greater protection for victims. Mandatory sexual education
starting in elementary school allows for greater understanding of the issue
starting at young ages. We have to change the mindset of our society and be
more affirmative in fighting these issues. We have to stop making jokes on these
subjects and provide a better understanding of the issues. We have to realize
this is a national issue and not just a local issue. This is a huge issue that we
must tackle head on to truly eliminate this social problem.

Chisholm

References:
1. Loue, S. (2001). Domestic Violence: Theories of Causation. Retrieved
August 1, 2015, from
http://wost201h_domviol.tripod.com/groupactionproject/id4.html
2. Borden, J. (2015, May 28). Domestic violence reform finalized by S.C.
House. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
3. South Carolina. (2012). Retrieved August 1, 2015, from
http://www.jrsa.org/dvsa-drc/south_carolina/index.shtml
4. NISVS Infographic. (2014, September 8). Retrieved August 1, 2015, from
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs/infographic.html
5. Domestic Violence. (2014, September 26). Retrieved August 1, 2015, from
http://www.sccadvasa.org/sc-says-no-more/statistics/domestic-violence/
6. The Facts - Sistercare. (n.d.). Retrieved August 1, 2015, from
http://sistercare.org/education/the-facts/
7. The Normalization of Sexual Harm and the Sexualization of Children.
(2011). Retrieved August 1, 2015, from
http://www.health.state.mn.us/injury/docs/Normalization_of_Sexual_Harm
_Fact_Sheet.pdf
8. StatisticsonDomesticViolence.(n.d.).RetrievedAugust1,

9.

2015,from
https://dss.sc.gov/content/customers/protection/dv/index.aspx
Noonan,R.,&Charles,D.(2014).DevelopingTeenDating
ViolencePreventionStrategies.RetrievedAugust1,2015.
Child Protective Services and Domestic Violence

10. Janet E. Findlater and Susan Kelly


The Future of Children
Vol. 9, No. 3, Domestic Violence and Children (Winter, 1999) , pp. 84-96
Published by: Princeton University
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1602783
11. Domestic Violence
Mark S. Horner, Chris Carlsten, Ccile Morvant, Jacques Lebas, Pierre
Chauvin, Joan Webster and Debra K. Creedy
BMJ: British Medical Journal
Vol. 325, No. 7354 (Jul. 6, 2002) , pp. 44-45
Published by: BMJ
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25451764
12. The End of Domestic Violence
Helen Reece
The Modern Law Review
Vol. 69, No. 5 (Sep., 2006) , pp. 770-791
Published by: Wiley on behalf of the Modern Law Review
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3877243
13.
Prosecuting Domestic Violence without Victim Participation

Chisholm
Louise Ellison
The Modern Law Review
Vol. 65, No. 6 (Nov., 2002) , pp. 834-858
Published by: Wiley on behalf of the Modern Law Review
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1097532

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi