Why domestic violence hasn’t disappeared

Domestic violence is still a reoccurring crisis. After all the awareness campaigns and all the articles written on this topic, it still continues to happen today. We are aware of this issue and we know that it’s morally wrong, so why is it still happening? Why is domestic violence so common in our culture? Every 15 seconds a women is beaten by her partner but not every case is reported. “Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States, more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes”.

In order to understand we first need to look at why men behave violently towards their significant other. In patriarchal society men are typically taught that they are the dominant ones and have power over women. Men justify their actions by saying something like “she was misbehaving” or “she needs to know her place”. For example, the Lissette Ochoa case, in 2006 she was beaten by her husband, Rafael Dangond after she danced with a group of her friends. As soon as she returned to her table, her husband demanded she go outside where he began to physically abuse her. The beating continued until two in the morning. Her case shows how men use violence to control their spouse and to punish them when they do something they don’t agree with. They will also try to use women as a means to relieve their stress.

A study done by Dr. Barnett among 30 batterers regarding the motivations behind their domestic violence showed that the reason why they attack is due to “suffering low self-esteem, and are vulnerable to stress and hostile” and he explains “they use battering to control their partners, and it seems to work, so they continue.”

There is another problem, many women who suffer from domestic violence do not say anything. It is one of the most underreported crimes. It is because many feel that it is their fault. They will also find ways to deny it and try to convince themselves that it was not on purpose. Women should not feel discouraged to stand up for themselves. Domestic violence should not stay private. “The crux of the problem of reducing domestic violence is its categorization as a ‘private matter,’ in which all participants are equally responsible.” Women are never the blame to their husband’s violent behavior. Talking and writing about it is not enough, action needs to be done.