Research Paper Review and Update

This is final paper that professor has not seen.

Domestic Violence and Divorce

Student’s name

University

Abstract

Domestic violence and divorce affects millions of people in the US every year. Women and children are the main victims of domestic violence. In majority of cases, domestic violence has led to divorce. The highest rates of domestic violence and divorce were recorded between 1970 and 1980 before the trend started to decline from 1990 mainly because of increased access to legal services, emergence of strong movements to advocate against domestic violence and divorce and enactment of stronger laws to curb these problems. However, the prevalence of these social problems remain very high than any other time in history. As a result, there is need for the government and non-governmental organizations to step up their fight to end these problems that bruise lives of millions of people every year. The findings of this paper are that it is still possible to combat these problems and free millions of people suffering from the consequences of domestic violence and divorce. This paper is going to examine the prevalence of domestic violence and divorce, the relationship between them and hence suggest possible ways to combat these problems.

Introduction

Divorce has become a major social problem that threatens millions of families in America today. Over the past half a century, the rates of divorce in America have increased rapidly leading to formation of many governmental and non-governmental organizations to help in curbing the problem. The major cause of divorce in American families is domestic violence (Robertson & Murachver, 2009). Thus, examining the major causes of domestic violence can help in curbing the problem and hence reduce the rates of divorce in American families by more than 70% leading to the formation of strong families (Pardue & Rector, 2004). There are various definitions of domestic violence. However, many people perceive domestic violence as physical abuse leaving many subjected to various other forms of domestic violence without their knowledge.

Definition of domestic violence and divorce

Domestic violence refers to different kinds of abuse that includes emotional, physical and psychological abuses committed by an intimate partner against the other intimate partner (WomansDivorce.com, 2014). It is a marital discord goes beyond the normal difficulties of any form of marriage. Usually, one partner exhibits behavior that is intended to subjugate and control the other spouse through humiliation, fear, physical and verbal assaults. Divorce refers to the legal process through which an authority such as a judge dissolves marriage thus breaking the previously existing bonds of matrimony between two spouses (Schindler et al. 2012). Their single status is restored and then they are permitted to marry other people.

Available statistics on prevalence of domestic violence and divorce rates in the US

Researchers in the US estimate that about 40 percent to 50 percent of all the first marriages and about 60 percent of all the second marriages ends up in divorce (Scott, Berger & Weinberg, 2011). In addition, beneath the blankets of silence, domestic violence is estimated to bruise the lives of about four million people annually where the majority of them are women and children hence leading to increase in the number of shattered families across the country (Scott, Berger & Weinberg, 2011).

According to the recent study, one partner or children in about two thirds of all marriages experience domestic violence where about 95% of the victims are women (Day-Sclater, 2007). In addition, about 40% of the children who have been physically abused have also witnessed violence between their own parents and many of these children grown to become abuse or violent in their own relationships (Day-Sclater, 2007). In addition, many children are brought up in single parent families.

Current opinions about domestic violence and divorce rates in the US

The issue of domestic violence and divorce has become widespread with public awareness campaigns dating as far as 1970s. The number of children brought up by single parents has doubled over the past three decades (Day-Sclater, 2007). Due to widespread of violence among families, many people have adopted the opinion of separation with their abusive spouses instead of looking for alternatives to prevent divorce. This has been widely contributed by laws passed by state governments relating to issues of spousal support, child support and custody, division of family debt and distribution of property (Robertson & Murachver, 2009). Since these laws take into consideration the support of children and financial support of the spouses, many people especially women who are the majority victims of domestic violence have opted to divorce.

Domestic violence trends

Past trends

Both domestic violence and divorce have been present among the American families. They reached peak between 1970s and 1980s before starting to decline since 1990s (Bjs.gov, 2014). The highest divorce rates were recorded between 1970s and 1980s. This was because of high prevalence of domestic violence within the same period. Before women movements gained momentum, domestic violence had become widespread and few laws were enacted to ensure the abusive partners suffered significant consequences. After more than 20 years of efforts, the rates of domestic violence began to decline. The department of justice published a report that indicated violence against women perpetrated by their intimate partners had declined by 21 percent between the years 1993 and 1998 showing the reported incidents to be 876340 down, from 1.1 million that had been reported in 1993 (Bjs.gov, 2014). Consequently, the rates of divorce caused by domestic violence declined within the same period.

Current trends

Currently, the rates of domestic violence and divorce have been declining. This is mainly attributed to increased provision of legal services among women who are the major victims of domestic violence, enhancement of women’s economic status and the changes in demographic trends notably increased old ager population. The recent records from the department of justice show that the decline of domestic violence among families between 1994 and 2010 was 64 percent (Bjs.gov, 2014). However, historically, the rates of prevalence of these social problems remain high and hence the need for implementation of effective policies and programs to reduce domestic violence and reduce the rates of divorce among families.

Government and non-government responses

Between 1970 and 1980, more than one million of marriages broke up due to increase in incidents of domestic violence (Scott, Berger & Weinberg, 2011). The alarming trends drew the attention of the government and non-governmental organizations leading to formation of many organizations to advocate against battering of partners in marriage in addition to advocating for enactment of strong laws to curb violence and reduce divorces (Sandler et al. 2008). Due to increased public awareness, enactment of several legislations to protect the victims as well as training of the law enforcement officers and prosecutors to regard intimate partner violence as a form of crime rather than private affair, there was a road shift in attitude between 1980s and 1990s (Bjs.gov, 2014). The shift in attitude led to decline of intimate partner violence and reduction in the rates of divorce from 1990s. Currently, there are many organizations advocating against domestic violence and divorce that include religious organizations, US department of justice, and American coalition for fathers and children, United States domestic violence organization, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Women's Aid Organization and fathers for equal rights organization among others.

Forms of domestic violence

Domestic violence leading to divorce is perpetrated to the victims in different forms. These are:

Physical abuse

Physical abuse against a partner includes actions perpetrated against the victims whose aim is to inflict physical injury (Pardue & Rector, 2004). Examples of physical abuses includes grabbing, biting punching, kicking, shoving, arm-twisting stabbing, hitting a partner with a blunt objects, pinching, hitting or even shooting. In addition, withholding access to critical resources that facilitates health maintenance such as medication, sleep, medical care, food and fluids, wheel chair, hygienic assistance, or forcing a person to abuse drugs constitutes a form of physical abuse (Sandler et al. 2008).

Psychological abuse

These include engaging in actions or activities aimed at instilling fear on the other partner. Examples of these activities includes threating physical harm to oneself or the other partner, harassment, kidnapping children, threatening harm on children, menacing, intimidation or even destruction of property (Pardue & Rector, 2004). In addition, isolation or an attempt to isolate a victim against his family, friends, workplace or school constitutes to psychological abuse. For instance, a person undermining the personal relationship of another, use of false accusations, withholding access to personal items such as mobile phones or forced imprisonment constitutes to psychological form of domestic violence.

Emotional form of abuse

This includes undertaking actions or activities aimed at undermining the sense of worth of the victim (Pardue & Rector, 2004). For instant, belittling the ability and competency of the victim, insults, manipulation of the emotions and feelings of the victim to induce feeling of guiltiness, name-calling, constant criticism, or even subverting the relationship of a partner with the children constitutes to emotional abuse.

Sexual abuse

This includes attempts by the abusive partner to coerce or attempt to coerce sexual contacts without willful consent of the other partner. This includes acquaintance rape, sodomy, attacks on the sexual parts of the body, forced sex usually after physical beating, marital rape, fondling or sex with others. In addition, any actions intended to undermine the sexuality of the victim such as treating the victim in manner considered sexually derogatory, withholding of sex without any valid reasons or even criticism on sexual performance constitutes to sexual abuse on the victim (Pardue & Rector, 2004).

Economic abuse

These includes actions aimed at undermining the financial independence of the victim such as maintenance of absolute control over the financial resources of the family including the earned income of the victim, forbidding employment or attendance to school or withholding access to money (Kelm, Olguin & Strauser, 2009) . In addition, stalking that includes close following of a former partner such as calling and stopping the partner in the work place, harassing phone calls or confiscating letters of the partner constitutes to intimate domestic violence.

Relationship between divorce and violence

Studies have shown a very close relationship between domestic violence and divorce. Despite the existence of other factors such infidelity and lack of commitment in marriage, the highest percentage of divorces are caused by either emotional, psychological, physical, economic, stalking or sexual abuses (Manchikanti & Anu, 2011). Increased prevalence of domestic violence between 1970 and late 1980s was closely associated with the highest prevalence of divorces that were experienced during the same period. Hence, formulation of policies, enactment of several legislations such as Violence Against Women Act in 1994, emergence of strong movements to advocate for the rights of the victims as well as increased access to legal services that were aimed at curbing the spread of domestic violence led to decrease in the rates of divorce within the same period. Thus, formulation of policies aimed at stopping domestic violence has led to reduced instances of the rates of divorce among families.

Causes of domestic violence and divorce

Infidelity by one partner

Infidelity in relationship is regarded as the major cause of intimate domestic violence that leads to break of marriages. In many instances, men who accuse their wives of infidelity result into use of physical abuse as a form of revenge (Scott, Berger & Weinberg, 2011). Abused wives file for divorce. In addition, women results into filling divorce to end the relationship and hence in both instances, the results of infidelity become divorce.

Insecurity in marriage

When one partner in marriage feels insecure, he/she engages in vengeful actions aimed a humiliating the other partner by instilling fear or a sense of insecurity. As a result, this leads to unstable marriages that often break after short period. Insecurity is attributed to existence of close relationship between the partners and their former close friends of opposite gender even after marriage.

Poverty

Poverty has been the major cause of domestic violence among families for almost two centuries. In early 19th century, men who were unable to support their families financially abandoned them hence causing their partners to file for divorce (Multon & Heather, 2012). In addition, men who are unable to support their families who solely depend on them have resulted top the use of physical violence in many instances as a scapegoat to seek divorce from their wives.

Cohabitation before marriage

Many partners who cohabit before marriage often have higher chances of breaking up after their marriage. According to recent research, partners cohabiting together develop low commitment towards marriage especially people living with more than one partner before marriage (Scott, Berger & Weinberg, 2011). This is despite the fact that chances of abuse among partners who cohabit are usually very low.

Marrying at young age

Age is also a major determinant of the prevalence of divorce among families. On average, couples marrying at their late 20s have been found to have low chances of divorce compared to couples who marry at tender age (Scott, Berger & Weinberg, 2011). This is because young couples are usually unable to make mature decisions and hence lack commitment in marriage. In addition, the rate of domestic violence is usually highly prevalent among young couples compared to older couples.

Parent’s divorce

Many children who brought up by single parents or who experience divorce between their parents are often at a higher risk of divorce. In addition, children brought up in abusive marriages tends to penetrate the same abuses to their partners, hence the higher chances of divorce (WomansDivorce.com, 2014). Thus, the increase in number of unstable marriages will lead to increase in the rates of divorce among future marriages in the country.

Lack of religious affiliation

Lack of religious affiliation is also another factor that has increased the number of incidents reported on domestic violence and hence divorce. Researchers have shown that partners with some religious affiliation are unlikely to get divorced because of the religious moral values that discourage violence and divorce (Manchikanti & Anu, 2011). The chances of divorce reduce further when the partners share common religious affiliation.

Less education

Individuals attaining college education before marriage reduces their chances of divorce. Research has shown that partners marrying with their highest level of education being high school usually experience high rates of divorce. Apparently, the number of people attaining college education in the US has gone up over the recent past hence contributing significantly to reduction of rates of divorce among the American families (Scott, Berger & Weinberg, 2011).

Premarital pregnancy and childbearing

The rates of pregnancy and childbearing before marriage increase the likelihood of divorce among partners in future marriages. Unfortunately, 37 percent of children born in US are born by unmarried parents and few of them eventually marry in future (Manchikanti & Anu, 2011). The relationship between the parents breaks before the child begins the preliminary education and in many instances, they never get together hence the increase in the number of children brought up by single parents.

Effects of domestic violence and divorce

Psychological effects on the partners

Domestic violence and divorce have profound effects on the partners. The different forms of violence are correlated and thus, wherever there is physical violence, domestic violence on one partner is present (Davis, 2010). Psychological effects of intimate domestic violence and divorce have long lasting consequences on the partners. It may lead to depression, anxiety, loess of hope, low self-esteem, and loss of trust, sleep disturbances and in extreme cases, it leads to suicidal behavior (Newton, 2009).

Physical effects of domestic violence and divorce

Recent studies found that about 20 percent of men and 42 percent of women have sustained minor injuries because of domestic violence (Bowland, Edmond & Fallot, 2012). In addition, constant abuses lead to severe consequences that have adverse effects on the economy. For instance, intimidate domestic violence is estimated to cost the economy more than $5.8 billion annually where about $4.1 billion is a direct expenditure towards access to mental and medical health services (Bjs.gov, 2014). The most common effects of physical abuses includes lesions and cuts, headaches, gynecological injuries, complications of pregnancy, bruises pelvic pain, back pain, sexually transmitted diseases and broken limbs (Davis, 2010).

Effects on children

Domestic violence and divorce affects children by greater percentage. Children who witness physical abuses between their parents tend to leads unstable life with many of them dropping out of schools and engaging on abuse of drugs. In addition, these children exhibit violent behavior and may result in perpetrating different forms of crime (Portnoy, 2008). Divorce separates children from their parents and hence they lose financial support in addition to emotional support previously enjoyed from both parents.

Effects on subsequent marriages by the partners

Many divorcees do not end in subsequent marriages. However, the few who result into second marriage suffer psychological and emotional. In addition to their effects on their personal lives, divorced partners lose trust on marriage and hence their subsequent marriages do not last for long and hence lead unhappy lives for the rest of their lives. As a result, the number of children brought up by single parents remains very high (Portnoy, 2008).

Curbing domestic violence and divorce among families

Several strategies need to be implemented to accelerate the negative growth of domestic violence and divorce among the American families. These are:

Enacting additional legislations to protect the victims of domestic violence and divorcees. Implementation of supportive legislations to support the Violence Against women Act will ensure perpetrators of domestic violence are brought to justice to face the full harm of law thus serving as a lesson to many other potential perpetrators.

There should be continued advocacy for economic empowerment of both partners in a relationship to support strong families. This includes ensuring all partners have access to employment and other financial resources to ensure each partner is financially independent (Kelm, Olguin & Strauser, 2009). This will help in reduction of domestic violence and divorce usually associated with poverty (Pardue & Rector, 2004).

Establishment of several marriage resource centers in each state to ensure they can provide full information on marriage and mentorship to couples on importance of commitment to averse marriage breakups

In addition, there should be increased public awareness campaigns in all the states to encourage partners living in abusive families to speak up and receive assistance from anti-domestic violence organizations. In addition, the awareness campaigns should educate partners on the consequences of domestic violence and divorce on themselves and their children thus encouraging partners to seek other alternatives to dissolve their marriage problems instead of resulting to divorce (Pardue & Rector, 2004).

Enhancement of outreach programs in all the states by both governments and non-governmental organizations to help in averting the attitudes of the young people about marriages and help in building strong marriages.

Establishment of guidance and counselling centers to help people who have experienced divorce in their life time as well as counselling children raised by single parents or those who have witnessed their parents separate. This will ensure that these children do not become violent in future in addition to ensuring they are able to sustain their own relationship sin the future (Pardue & Rector, 2004).

In addition, the state governments should encourage their own partnerships with faith based and the charity based organizations whose mandate is to promote string families among the families.

Establishment of children support and custody acts that spells the person responsible for taking care of children after divorce (Portnoy, 2008)

The future trends of domestic violence and divorce rates among the American families

There is wide change of demographic trends leading to increased life expectancy among the American families that is widely attributed to improved standards of living. The number of people willing to engage in marriage is also declining. Many people, especially men are declining to engage in marriage because of the subsequent costs of taking care of their spouses and children after divorce (Schindler et al. 2008). Thus, the future of American families will be characterized by high number of people living and raising children as single parents having never married once in their lifetimes. In addition, there will be low number of incidents of domestic violence and divorce reported (Schindler et al. 2008). However, implementation of the above policies that discourage intimate domestic violence and encourage marriage is likely to reduce the number of single parents as well as the incidents of domestic violence and divorce that have been reported.

Conclusion

Domestic violence and divorce is a major social problem that affects millions of people including children. Increased prevalence of this social problem will create existence of unstable families hence causing a lot of uncertainty among the families in the future. As a result, there is need to implement strong policies aimed at curbing the problem before it reaches uncontrollable levels. This will include implementation of the proposed policies and programs among other factors. In addition, personal commitment towards marriage will ensure reduced rates of intimate domestic violence and divorce. All stakeholders are thus, required to take their position and help in combating this problem to restore stability of marriages.

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