Introduction
Domestic violence can be in various forms and occurs in different countries, regardless of the society and the type of government. Domestic violence is a catastrophe that needs unified methods of victim assistance and government support. Despite the growing awareness of this issue, many aspects of domestic abuse have not yet been fully realized. Domestic violence, also known as “domestic abuse”, is a behaviour that establishes control and power over an intimate partner in any given relationship.
Domestic Violence as a Public Health and Social Crisis
According to the United Nations (2022), violence is defined as psychological, sexual, emotional, physical, financial, or economic threats against another individual. Any behaviour that humiliates, manipulates, intimidates, terrorizes, hurts, frightens, wounds, or injures someone is violence. A person of any sexual orientation, race, gender, age, or religion can be a victim of domestic abuse. It can occur in various unions, including cohabiting, married, and dating couples.
Individuals from all statuses in life and all levels of education can be affected by domestic abuse. Children, other household members, or even relatives could fall victim to domestic abuse. In other words, domestic violence can be referred to as abusive behaviour directed toward a spouse or intimate partner in a family or dating relationship.
Additionally, the tormentor maintains control and power over the victim. Domestic abuse can take the form of physical, mental, sexual, or economic abuse. Incidents of this kind of violence are hardly isolated and tend to grow in abundance over time. It is important to note that domestic abuse can lead to significant physical harm or even death, with either partner involved in serious injuries resulting from the violence.
Research indicates that domestic violence cases have been increasingly reported to the authorities over the years. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, more violent cases were reported, considering spouses had a significant time together due to the lockdown restrictions imposed worldwide. The issue’s prevalence is considered a threat to the well-being of many people today. For instance, many cases related to domestic violence have been reported in the U.S. Amanda Taub (2020) from The New York Times reports that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic violence has been increasing rapidly into one of the significant issues facing the United States. She stated that the movement restrictions imposed by the authorities to curb the spread of coronavirus increased the rate of domestic violence in many American homes. Therefore, according to her, domestic violence has become a public health crisis as it acts as an opportunistic infection, thriving in the pandemic.
Conclusion
Therefore, the study’s main issue is the ongoing increase in domestic violence in the United States, which impacts women and children who lack access to the tools they need to flee the situation. The study aims to discover preventative strategies and the necessary services accessible to women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Hence, the goals of this study are to determine if women subject to domestic abuse may leave or choose to endure it and to determine the resources available to assist women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Although the incidence and effects of male violence against women in intimate relationships have been widely documented, there has been far less study on violent women in intimate relationships. The highly intense and usually heated argument over whether “husband battering” genuinely occurs is the leading cause of this condition.
References
Amanda, T. (2020). A new COVID-19 crisis: Domestic abuse rises worldwide. The New York Times – Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos. Web.
United Nations. (2022). What is domestic abuse? Web.