APA module assigment- Phyllis Young

Running head: SUMMARY ASSIGNMENT 1

Summary Prewriting

Theme: Health and Wellness

Topic: Domestic Violence

Title: Addressing Domestic Violence Against Women: An Unfinished Agenda

Intended audience: The intended audience is primarily women. However, the article is not solely focused on effects of domestic violence for women. It is aimed at family members, leaders in the community as well as young women.

Writer’s background: Ravneet Kaur is a Dr. at the Department of Community Medicine in New Delhi, India.

Writer’s angle: The author is writing this to inform the community about what exactly domestic violence is. The author explains health implications that come along with domestic violence and answer the all important question, why do women stay?

Part 1: The one-sentence summary

Domestic violence is a wide spread, deeply ingrained and has serious impacts on women’s health and well-being.

Part 2: The one-paragraph summary

Domestic violence against women is an age old phenomenon. Women were always considered weak, vulnerable and in a position to be exploited. Violence has long been accepted as something that happens to women. Cultural norms, religious practices, economic and political conditions may set the precedence for initiating and perpetuating domestic violence, but ultimately committing an act of violence is a choice that the individual makes out of a range of options. The physical health consequences of domestic violence are often obscure, indirect and emerge over the long term.

Part 3: The multiple-paragraph summary

“Many forms of verbal and psychological abuse appear relatively harmless at first, but expand and grow more menacing over time, sometimes gradually and subtly. As victims adapt to abusive behavior, the verbal or psychological tactics can gain a strong ‘foothold’ in victims’ minds, making it difficult for them to recognize the severity of the abuse over time.” (Witness Justice, MA, USA) Violence against women is a violation of basic human rights. The impact of domestic violence is far reaching. Children who witness domestic violence may develop serious emotional, behavioral, developmental or academic problems. As they develop, children and teens who grow up with domestic violence in the household are more likely to use drugs. More importantly they are more likely to use violence to enhance their reputation and self-esteem

Economic dependence has been found to be the central reason why women stay in an abusive relationship. Without the ability to sustain themselves economically, women are forced to stay in abusive relationships and are not able to free themselves from the violence. Many times it may be a value or because of cultural norms that women stay in abusive relationships. For instance many women may feel that divorce is wrong and against Gods will.

Part 4: Your reaction

Domestic violence is wrong. It is something weak and insecure men do to try to intimidate their partner and impose their will through the use of violence. The author made excellent points, which I agree with. The author was very persuasive and was able to relay his message by using more than one example. The article touched on several points of domestic violence such as why women stay, the impact domestic violence has on children, as well as health implications from domestic violence. I feel that the author was able to connect with the intended audience by looking at domestic violence as a whole and not just as a physical act. The document was designed to use headings, which make the paper very easy to follow and read. I do not see how anyone could argue any points made by the author. The use of examples and global statistics was impactful to say the least.

Part 5: Reference

National center on elder abuse. Washington DC: 2005. Fact Sheet: Domestic violence: Older women can be victims too.

R. Kaur Addressing Domestic Violence Against Women: An Unfinished Agenda (2007) Indian Journal of Community Medicine.