Introduction
Assessing the problem of domestic violence described in the book No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us by Snyder may allow defining the challenges faced by victims. Also, the review of this source provides an opportunity to consider the background of the issue from different perspectives. In academic literature, this problem is described as critical since a large number of people are involved in it, and implications can be unpredictable. The analysis based on the proposed source allows determining the author’s position regarding the factors influencing domestic violence in modern society, as well as evaluating the existing examples of the issue manifestation.
Book Review
This book describes various cases of domestic violence in modern families. The presented cases characterize the problem from different angles and serve as a justification base, confirming that the background of the issue may be different, and it is not always easy to determine specific prerequisites. For instance, Snyder describes the case of the woman protecting her children from a tyrant spouse and notes that there are females that are characterized by steadfastness and an unwillingness to leave their husbands (8). The following examples also focus on victims’ stamina and their desire to hide the existence of the problem from others.
Snyder divides the book into three key parts and presents the main phases of the conflict – initial, secondary, and final, and for each of them, specific behaviors are given. The evidence that the author cites is one of the strengths of the work done since real cases from professional practice are presented. Snyder mentions various home conflict scenarios that are not alike and thus create a comprehensive picture of the problem. At the same time, a single storyline that includes Rocky, Michelle, and other characters allows readers to perceive the problem more clearly. By the proposed context, various manifestations of aggression are possible, including anger, increased control, and other problems (Snyder 32). Therefore, the practical significance of the book lies in the ability to assess the problem directly from the affected persons, although the topic is quite limited and has not been studied deeply and comprehensively in academic literature.
In addition to specific cases of domestic violence, the author also describes the measures taken by law to control this problem and punish offenders. For instance, Snyder refers to the Lethality Assessment Program as one of the policies aimed at detecting and preventing human rights violations in family relationships (292). Initially, when approaching the review of this book, I had a slightly different idea of the manifestations of domestic violence and believed that all reported cases were few and could be resolved locally. Nevertheless, after getting acquainted with Snyder’s work, I managed to understand that this problem was serious and was to be considered at the national level. In particular, the part of the book where the involvement of the SWAT team is carried out with murders and threats has made the greatest impression on me (Snyder 131). Therefore, this work is valuable and important and may be used in modern family law as a guide with possible consequences for couples with unstable relationships.
When reviewing the content of the book, one can note that it covers various aspects of the problem under consideration, including social, political, and legal perspectives. The issues of interaction between responsible authorities and dysfunctional families are considered, and examples of political decisions aimed at strengthening the institution of the family are mentioned. In general, the evidence presented by Snyder is compelling and can be used as justification for developing additional assistance programs and help to the victims of domestic violence.
Personal Reasons for Evaluating the Topic
The selected resource for review is valuable due to the complexity of solving the problem of domestic violence. As Berk et al. argue, the timely identification of premises may allow potential victims to avoid risks and receive support from the competent authorities (95). However, based on Snyder’s findings, the situation is not always unambiguous, for instance, the case of Rocky who initially behaved as a calm and balanced young man before becoming a tyrant (6). Therefore, the field of family relationships and, in particular, conflicts requires more in-depth studying, and the book examined allows assessing the possible backgrounds of the issue.
Based on the review of the source, one can remark that the problem of domestic violence is widespread, and even from the title of the book, it is clear that almost no one is safe from the implications of this phenomenon. Snyder argues that the criminal prosecution of this offense is different from standard cases because many precedents are hidden (203). As a result, beatings are the outcomes of the concealment of violence. The choice of this topic for review is due to my concern about the situation in families where, as a rule, women and children become the targets of violence by fathers and husbands. This behavior is unacceptable from ethical, legislative, and other positions, and a comprehensive solution to the problem should be promoted at the national level.
Personal Ideas and Ambiguous Contexts
Regarding my vision of the problem presented, my attitude towards offenders maintaining domestic violence is sharply negative. The humiliation of loved ones and the manifestations of strength due to the weakness of others is unacceptable actions not only from a legislative but also an ethical standpoint. Therefore, I support the position of Goodman et al. concerning the promotion of special programs aimed at combating domestic violence and helping the victims of this phenomenon (164). The involvement of special responsible boards to monitor the cases of such offenses is also mentioned by Snyder who assesses the activities of social services as insufficiently active (248). Thus, I advocate for the resolution of this issue by radical measures and support the tightening of the law about cases of domestic violence and criminal liability for it.
In the process of analyzing the topic of domestic violence and, in particular, reviewing Snyder’s book, I came across some ambiguous nuances and challenges. This problem is reflected in the legislative perspective, but about the healthcare sector and the role of medical providers in helping the population, there is not enough evidence. At the same time, according to Macy et al., the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault require the involvement of healthcare specialists to address the issue more effectively (426). In case medical providers provide sufficient support to social boards, this will be an additional incentive for offenders to fear the consequences of their behavior. Thus, the issue of engaging health employees is the topic that deserves closer examination in the context of domestic violence and its manifestations today.
Conclusion
A review of the book by Snyder provides an opportunity to assess the diverse nature of the manifestations of domestic violence in families. Also, based on the analysis of this source, one can find some existing solutions aimed at identifying cases of these offenses timely and counteracting to them at the federal level. My evaluation of the problem is extremely negative, and I believe that as many interested parties as possible should be involved in the solution. Engaging medical providers should may one of the valuable steps because a comprehensive intervention can help prevent cases of domestic violence.
Works Cited
Berk, Richard A., et al. “Forecasting Domestic Violence: A Machine Learning Approach to Help Inform Arraignment Decisions.” Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, vol. 13, no. 1, 2016, pp. 94-115.
Goodman, Lisa A., et al. “Survivor-Defined Practice in Domestic Violence Work: Measure Development and Preliminary Evidence of Link to Empowerment.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence, vol. 31, no. 1, 2016, pp. 163-185.
Macy, Rebecca J., et al. “Providers’ Perspectives About Helpful Information for Evaluating Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services: A Practice Note.” Violence Against Women, vol. 21, no. 3, 2015, pp. 416-429.
Snyder, Rachel L. No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019.