Violence can be defined as actions or even words which are intended to hurt people on purpose. Violence and abuse against women have become a major problem in today’s world; it is a global injustice with alarming proportions. Violence against women is not only a global problem that needs to be addressed but it is also a common burden among many people who think it is a typically accepted behavior.
“The United Nations defines violence against women as ‘any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life” (Violence against Women, n.d.). I have chosen this topic because violence against women is one of the most widespread violations of the human rights which include physical, sexual, economic and even psychological abuse.
Violence against women cuts across geographical boundaries, age, culture, economy and race. The forms of violence are various and it is difficult to address the nature of violence against women.
It can take place at the comforts of home, workplace, and warfare. Violence against women has many manifestations and the most prevalent forms are domestic violence, abuse during pregnancy, psychological abuse, honor killing and female feticides. Across the world, a staggering amount of up to six out of every ten women experience physical and sexual violence during their lifetime.
“A World Health Organization study of 24,000 women in 10 countries found that the prevalence of physical and/or sexual violence by a partner varied from 15 percent in urban Japan to 71 percent in rural Ethiopia, with most areas being in the 30–60 percent range” (Violence against Women, n.d.). This clearly signifies that women are vulnerable and the violence caused to women is a universal problem.
It is alarming to note that “A WHO multi-country study found that between 15–71% of women reported experiencing physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives” (Violence against Women, 2011, para. 2). Domestic violence is caused specifically by the choice to degrade women or to engage in violent behavior.
A number of factors can be responsible for domestic abuse and one of the major factors is abuse of substance. Domestic violence can take the form of physical and sexual abuse, economic abuse, verbal abuse and economic abuse. In the case of violence, it is recorded that more than half of the incidents took place due to substance abuse.
Alcohol or drugs are often make the consumer easily irritated or unstable which often leads to torturing women. In many cases, it is also noted that most men abuse their wives as they feel that it is their right to do so. This stems from the belief that women are inferior to men and that men have the right to treat their wife or kids the way they want to. The influence of patriarchal rule also affects the way women are treated in the society.
Domestic violence needs to be addressed as this is the most common form of abusing women. Abused women often have a lasting psychological problem apart from the physical damage. The physical health effects of domestic violence can have a lasting impact and victims are known to suffer both physical and mental problems as a result of domestic violence. Apart from the victim, children who are living in families where women are abused can have serious effects such as Behavior problems, Depression and mental problems.
Violence against women needs to be addressed and the society needs to be aware of the evils as well as the consequences. As violence against women is a global problem, measures need to be taken to stop it; unless something is done against it, it will continue to be one of the major issues worldwide.
Reference List
Violence against Women, (n.d.). Web.
Violence against Women, (2011). World Health Organization. Web.
Violence against Women, (n.d.). UN Women. Web.