Compare and Contrast Two Articles on Domestic Violence Laws
- Kaur, R., & Garg, S. (2008). Addressing domestic violence against women: An unfinished agenda. Indian Journal of Community Medicine: Official Publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine, 33(2), 73.
The above article describes domestic violence as a misused power by one partner in a relationship with the aim of controlling the other partner. In other words, it is the establishment of control over the other partner through violence. This kind of power is meant to create fear and silence the other partner. Domestic violence, as described in the above article, can take various shapes and forms, such as physical assault, social abuse, psychological abuse, financial abuse, or sexual abuse. According to these two authors, the violence frequency can be on and off or chronic if it is done repeatedly. Domestic violence is not just a matter of argument but a pattern of coercive control that threatens the life of another partner. This is contrary to what takes place in the US because there are stringent laws that prevent individuals from physical assaults. Therefore, most domestic violence in American society takes the form of argument and parting ways if the differences become irreconcilable. The individuals that perpetuate domestic violence uses a lot of force to dominate their victims and get their way.
According to Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, any conduct of commission or omission that injures or harms or that leads to potential injury to the other party is considered domestic violence, and individuals that found guilty of the offense must be ready to face the law. Unfortunately, the law is not effective in some societies due to social-economic factors that have placed a lot of pressure on one gender (women) to make their marriages work. This article recognizes that the reason why most women stay in an abusive marriage is to ensure their marriage work and not to feel guilty of a failed marriage. Others consider a father figure as key to the upbringing of the kids and the main reason why many women would prefer to stay in an abusive marriage.
The two authors also looked at some factors that lead to domestic violence. In order to understand the factors that lead to domestic violence, the two authors recognized women as weak and vulnerable people with a higher probability of being assaulted. The social-cultural practices of most societies have set precedence for initiating and perpetuating domestic violence. Although an individual cannot underestimate the role these factors play in holding families together, these factors have placed a lot of pressure on women more than men. Gender imbalance in most domestic violence is partly related to differences in physical strength and size, and this makes women more vulnerable. The assaulted women are also more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections due to fear of violent male reactions. Studies conducted in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh also indicate high cases of unplanned pregnancies in abusive marriages. This article concludes by stating that society has a greater role to play in stopping domestic violence because those who perpetrate violence are known, and actions can be taken against them if the cases are reported to the authorities.
- Snyder, R. L. (2019). “The Particular Cruelty of Domestic Violence
This second article looks at domestic violence from a different perspective. The article looks at America’s broken legal system and cultural beliefs that have continued to place a lot of pressure on women to stay in violent and dangerous marriages. According to Snyder, domestic violence is like any other crime because it does not happen in a vacuum. It is perpetuated by an individual, and it does happen because an individual is wrong. The article also recognizes that most domestic violence took place in homes and carried out by people well known and those who claim to love the other partner. In most cases, physical violence has far much effect and more damaging than emotional or verbal violence. This explains why necessary measures must be taken to discourage domestic violence in families because the vulnerable individuals will stay hoping the people who claim to love them will change, but this is not the case.
American culture that dictates that children must have a father-figure in their behalf is to be blamed for repeated violence as most women prefer to remain in their marriages to ensure both parents play a role in the upbringing of the children. Since most women consider as the bedrock of society, walking out of marriages is a disgrace to women who fear to raise kids as single mothers. Despite rising concern about the conduct of discord in marriages, the majority prefer to die in their marriages rather than walk out due to fear of society looking down upon them. Most onlookers are quick to make judgments based on what they see and are more likely to judge the women who leave their marriages, hence the reason why most victims would prefer to remain in abusive marriages.