The Truth about Domestic Violence in the American Society

A pinch of reality is enough to understand that no society is utopian in this world however we may expect them to be such. While the violence perpetrated on women is frequent in many parts of the world, even the American society is not free from this malaise as well. Domestic violence constitutes a significant part of crime against women in the United States.

As per the recent data released by UNICEF, one out of every four American women has experienced violence by her partner at least once during her lifetime. The majority of domestic violence against women is carried out by their current or former boyfriends or girlfriends. This is, however, not to suggest that the husbands are not involved in these acts.



Many thinkers believe, and rightly so, that domestic violence is an abomination in our society that needs to be addressed and curbed. It is an age-old phenomenon where male abusers consider women as weak, vulnerable and something that can be easily exploited.


What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence refers to the willful intimidation, physical/sexual assault or other abusive behavior used or perpetrated by one inmate against the other. The underlying component of domestic violence is the continuity of efforts by one partner to maintain power and control over the other. Domestic violence has a wide range of consequences such as physical and mental injury, psychological trauma and in some cases, death.

The difficult and concerning part of an ongoing relationship is that it is not easy to determine when a person will become abusive. Once the abuse begins, the perpetrator becomes more and more aggressive over time. In many instances, the abuser may apologize or convince the victim not to repeat such behavior ever again. But the fact is such behavior only gets intensified as the time passes on.

Sometimes the circumstances are quite opposite as women become more aggressive and turn out extremely violent. They are more likely to use weapons, ostensibly to defend themselves.
Dave Wetzel of Bail Central Bail Bonds quoted “Domestic violence accounts for probably 30% of our total bail bonds. We also see the same couples over and over again it’s a big problem”.



In What Ways Domestic Violence Impacts your Life

Domestic violence has severe implications on the overall well-being of its victim; especially women suffer heavily in the immediate or long-term basis. They continue to suffer even after the relationship was long over. Domestic violence makes the victim suffer from depression, suicidal instincts and highly disenchanted for life. Even in less severe cases, the domestic violence negatively impacts the victim’s performance at the workplace. The situation becomes worse when the victim doesn’t have enough financial resources and therefore finds herself/himself trapped into the unwanted relationship.

Immediate health impacts of domestic violence:
· Physical injuries
· Hearing or vision loss or both
· Miscarriage
· Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)
· Homicide
Long-term impacts of domestic violence:
· Anxiety
· Depression
· Suicidal instincts
· Post-traumatic stress
· Alcohol or substance abuse
· Sleep disorders
· Deterioration of health

What are U.S. Federal Domestic Violence Laws?

The US Federal Domestic Violence Law is a statute that lays down the rules in aiming to punish the persons who cause emotional or physical harm to those with whom they share the close relationship. In 1994, the US Congress enacted a law named Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which makes domestic violence a crime.

In almost all the states in the US, it is required that the conduct and relationship of an accused meet certain criteria. However, the interpretation of statutory provisions of different aspects of this crime varies state to state. For instance, in a particular state, the statute may prohibit any conduct that causes harm or threat of harm to the victim. While it will depend upon the nature and severity of the harm done, the conduct of the perpetrator will be considered as misdemeanor or felony.

What are Civil Remedies for Victims of Domestic Violence?

Legally speaking, any state is responsible for the personal safety of its citizens. The victims of domestic violence are conferred with the rights to pursue civil remedies that are created to keep them and their family members safe. So in light of this, the law has provided a well-known protection known as “Restraining Order.” Victims can avail these orders in all the states with the assistance of the courts. The main purpose of the restraining orders is to prevent the abuser within a specified distance from the victim. Depending on the severity of the abuse, the judges may include more provisions along with the restraining order.

After issuing the restraining order, the criminal case against the perpetrator can be resolved in two ways – either the defendant can face the trial and fight the allegations leveled against him/her or can enter the no contest plea for more lenient penalties than would be imposed otherwise.

Final Thoughts

Notwithstanding the progressive societies that we live in today, domestic violence is still a deep rooted and regressive tradition everywhere. It is important to discuss because it need not necessarily results in a physical abuse, but its emotional and psychological implications on the victims can be much more serious. This aspect is generally overlooked by many people where the victim of domestic violence lives in a constant fear and intimidation. Therefore our progressiveness means nothing unless these ailments of our society are addressed and effectively curbed.