Battered Women

Term Paper # 103837

Women Studies

Battered Women

A paper dealing with the global problem of battered women.

792 words () | 4 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper deals with the global phenomenon of violence against women, explaining it is the result of gender conflicts and inequality in socio-cultural interactions between men and women. The paper provides various sources of information and statistics of women who have suffered physical, psychological and emotional abuse.

From the Paper:

"According to Duffy, "historically and cross-culturally, there is considerable evidence that, particularly in the family women have been targeted for victimization" (128). Furthermore, all women are subject to violence regardless of their age, color, race, religion, class or social status. In particular women experience violence at home from their partners and other family members. According to Nelson, "Intimate violence is actual or threatened acts of violence committed against persons by their current or former spouses, common-law partners, girlfriends or boyfriends" (306). Battered women experience physical and psychological abuse directed at them by men as a means of control and intimidation. Duffy cites a Statistics Canada information "that more than one quarter (29&) of ever-married women experience violence at the hands of a current or part marital partner" (132) and that "more than one third of the victims of wife abuse were subjected to such serious abuse that they feared for their lives" (132). Many women experience constant or frequent abuse. Battering "typically progresses from a relatively low level of violence to a level that is more frequent and severe" (Sorenson & Wiebe, 1416). According to Sorenson and Wiebe, "more than 1.5 million physical or sexual assaults are committed by current or former intimate partners each year in the USA" (1412). However, abuse can take many forms, including physical, sexual, physiological and emotional."

Sample of Sources Used:

Sorenson, S.B. & Wiebe, D.J. "Weapons in the Lives of Battered Women". American Journal of Public Health. 94 8 (2004): 1412-1419
Nelson, A. Gender in Canada, 3ed. edition. Toronto: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006
Duffy, A. "Violence against Women". Feminist issues. Rd. N. Mandell. Toronto: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. 127-159
Statistics Canada, Canadian Violence against Women Survey. Ottawa: Ministry of Industry, 1993