Domestic Violence - Essay Help

Today's society is rife with the phenomenon of gender inequality. When this problem occurs in the family, it becomes a more severe problem: domestic violence. Domestic violence is a severe problem that is already widespread; it refers to members, typically where the perpetrator exercises power and control over another person. The most common and pervasive instances occur in intimate partner relationships (AIHW 2018, p.4). When it comes to domestic violence, women and children are the most vulnerable. The 2018 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that men are more likely to experience violence from strangers and in a public place, however, women are most likely to know the perpetrator (often their current or a previous partner) and the violence usually takes place in their home (AIHW 2018, p.4). According to the data, more than half (54%) of the women who had experienced current partner violence, and they experienced more than one violent incident in Australia (AIHW 2018, p.4). When these women and children are exposed to domestic violence, they suffer not only physically, but also mentally and psychologically. Mental health conditions were the largest contributor to the burden due to physical/sexual intimate partner violence (AIHW 2018, p.4). Domestic violence has a huge and indelible impact on people who suffer from it. Therefore, it is imperative to have a campaign calling for resistance to domestic violence, so that people can pay attention to this matter and understand the consequences it brings. The aim of this report is to investigate the severity of domestic violence and the effects of domestic violence on women and children, both physically and mentally. This report will focus on and critically evaluate the 'Stop It At The Start' campaign from The Australian Government.

Many articles reveal that the prevalence of domestic violence is higher than expected. According to the survey by AIHW in 2018, one in six women in Australia has suffered physical or sexual harm from their current or previous partner since the age of 15 (AIHW 2018, p.4). Apart from physical or sexual abuse, emotional abuse is even more prevalent. AIHW (2018)'s data show that one in four women has suffered emotional abuse from their current or previous partner. Meanwhile, a woman is killed every week because of domestic violence, according to data from 2012-2014 (AIHW 2018, p.4). These data reveal that the universality of women's experience of domestic violence, and the seriousness of this problem should be taken seriously. 

According to surveys of articles in recent years, some groups of people are higher risk of family, domestic and sexual violence, particularly young women who are pregnant, and women experiencing financial hardship. Young women between the age of 18-24 during pregnancy are more likely to experience domestic violence (Campo, 2015). According to a survey by Campo (2015), 22% of these women have experienced physical violence during pregnancy by current partner, and 25% have experienced violence during pregnancy from the previous partner. Of those who experienced violence during pregnancy by the previous partner, 25% indicated that the violence first occurred during pregnancy. Also, Campo (2015) illustrates that the reason might be women put their attention to their babies,  meanwhile their reduced physical and emotional availability during pregnancy may limit their ability to perform expected homemaker roles, that could be leading to an increase in violence. Research by Slabbert (2017) also showed that low-income family are significantly more likely to have to content with domestic violence. According to surveys, most men in low-income families are problem drinker, and currently unemployed. These men are more likely inclined to abuse their partners than do man a higher income (Slabbert, 2017). For women, poverty prevents them from leaving their homes easily, even if they are experiencing domestic violence. They need to take responsibility for raising their children, and there are no institutions that can provide for them when they leave home. Some women fear that they will find it challenging to find a new job in a new place, and material losses are extremely difficult and stressful after a divorce, together with the loss of trust and intimacy also prevents them from taking this step (Slabbert, 2017). At the same time, the low-level education leads to their poverty, and this causal relationship leads to their lack of enough knowledge to protect themselves, what they can do is to endure (Slabbert, 2017). However, the scary reality is that it is not just a matter of getting a higher education that women can avoid domestic violence. In the research conducted by Timothy (2018), it is shown that in Turkey, women with higher income who have higher level education cannot avoid domestic violence, the incidence of domestic violence may increase because their partner may simply appropriate this higher income or force her to use it for the household.