Domestic Violence Isn't Always What You Think ? The Garnet Spy

Although it probably doesn?t always show, I conduct a good bit of research before I write my pieces.? I want to make sure my statements are correct (I KNOW my opinions are) and I want to give readers verification to legitimize my points.? Sometimes, my research cements my thoughts or it can take me in a completely different and unintended direction.? The latter has resulted in this post.

When I learned that one of my favorite politicians (an extremely short list), Rep. Trey Gowdy (R. SC), was assigned to the House conference committee for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), I wanted to weigh in.? Violence directed towards women and children is something about which I am fanatically passionate.? I started writing this piece in my head, working out creative words and phrases to punctuate that passion and to emphasize the monstrosity that is the sadistic behavior to which women and children are subjected.

I knew that women were victimized not just by husbands, boyfriends and other men in their lives, but those in lesbian relationships were also targeted ? and to a greater degree than is generally known.

Dr. Suzana Rose of the National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center
at the University of Missouri at St. Louis notes: ?About 17-45% of lesbians report having been the victim of a least one act of physical violence perpetrated by a lesbian partner.?? Compare that with one in four (25%) for all women.

An interesting and disturbing fact as is the figure of 30% of LGBT couples that experience domestic violence.? All showing that despite sexual orientation, violence against women is omnipresent.? So much so in the United States that the Department of Justice has an ?Office on Violence Against Women.?

Then, my research kicked in.

Domestic Violence Statistics notes:

? it is true that male victims of domestic violence often have less access to support groups and resources like shelters ? and, considering that the standard definition of domestic violence may not include them, may be less likely to report.

Domestic violence is considered one of the most pressing issues in American society. Everyone quotes the statistics given by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 1 in 4 women will be victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives, 1.3 million women are assaulted by their partner every year, 85% of domestic violence reported is against women. However, in a conflicting survey taken by the CDC in 2010, it was found that 40% of the victims of severe, physical domestic violence are men.

What is worse than the statistics, however, is the fact that there has been little research in the area of domestic abuse against men because neither the Justice Department nor any other agencies will fund such research. Because they refuse to do the research, people are able to perpetuate such myths as women are only violent when defending themselves, or that men could more easily leave a violent relationship.

Because of lack of funding, there are also few shelters that cater to men. Most shelters available will only take women and children, and some even have an age limit on the boys that they will take in (13 years old).

The notion that men can?t be victims of abuse is as laughable as black leaders contending that African-Americans can?t be racist.

And the Justice Department has no Office of Violence Against Men.

What of violence against the aged, infirm or handicapped,in-home employees or immigrants?

I don?t intend to question my friend Trey Gowdy on the precision of the VAWA text or intentions nor am I interested in getting involved in the political scrum over the bill.? I?m not trying to belittle the severity of violence against women or marginalize efforts to reduce or otherwise mitigate it.? My passion on this subject is unabated.

?Domestic violence? is disturbing and has no place in a civilized society and we are fooling ourselves if we limit our focus of this behavior to actions against women of any sexual orientation.? Preferred is a ?Victims Act? that incorporates all victims of all crimes that makes it easier on sufferers to report their assaults and overcome the effects.? Tighten sentencing and make punishment more of a certainty than a veiled threat.

There should be an exception, though.? I would very much like to see a Violence Against Children Act; one in which the rape or murder of a child would be a capital offense and other crimes against children prosecuted and penalized to the extreme.? As much as I loathe those ?men? who impose themselves on women, ANYONE who does so to a child should, themselves, be treated with unbridled brutality.

I suppose the point of all this is that VAWA is a good idea as far as it goes, but we should not bind ourselves or our legal system when it comes to addressing cruelty against the weaker among us.

Facts About Domestic Violence

• Domestic violence can occur in any relationship, regardless of sexual orientation.
• Domestic Violence occurs when one person is clearly the victim. Mutual fighting is not domestic violence.
• Even though the perpetrator may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol when violence occurs, drugs and alcohol do not ?cause? the domestic violence
• 1 in 3 women will be assaulted by an intimate partner in her lifetime (30-50% of all women)
• 30% of LGBT couples experience domestic violence
• 3 out of 4 women murdered are killed by their partners
• Acts of domestic violence occur every 15 to 18 seconds in the United States
• 30% of all hospital emergency room admissions are female victims of domestic violence
• Six million American women are beaten each year. Four thousand of them are killed.
• 11 women die every day as a result of domestic violence

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Source: http://garnetspy.com/2012/08/13/domestic-violence-isnt-always-what-you-think/

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