Abstract This paper examines batteredwomensyndrome (BWS), women who serve indeterminate life sentences for killing a spouse or intimate partner that was abusing them. It provides a history of BWS, looks at the 'types' of batterings that lead to this syndrome such as physical and sexual and evaluates parole in the state of California by reviewing recent events. It analyzes various cases of women who are eligible for parole, but are not paroled. The paper leans toward the side of batteredwomen who have served their sentences and should be granted parole.
From the Paper "There are many elements to Battered Women's Syndrome, which makes the definition of this phenomenon broad and complex. The predominant types of battering that lead to this syndrome are physical, sexual, and psychological battering (NVADV). Battering may include emotional abuse, economic abuse, sexual abuse, using children, threats, using male privilege, intimidation, isolation, and a variety of other behaviors used to maintain fear, intimidation and power. The California Board of Prison Terms defines BWS as a series of common characteristics that appear in women who are physically and/or psychologically abused, over an extended period of time, by a dominant male figure in their lives (BPT). In all cultures, the perpetrators are most commonly the men of the family."
Abstract This paper presents information regarding the nature of aggressive relationships, as well as the psychological consequences ensuing from recurring abuse. Specifically, studies and laws relating to the battered woman syndrome are highlighted in order to elucidate the occurrence of repeated abuse that form a battered woman's insights, making her believe that she is in danger of impending death or physical injury.
From the Paper "Domestic assault is frequently fraction of a much bigger system of controlling, forcing, threatening, as well as violent behaviors employed by a batterer to restrain the victim. The violence reasons"or probably will reason"a considerable gap in authority and sovereignty amid the batterer and the victim, as well as it harshly compromises the victim's sovereignty."
A research paper which proves that criminal law in America has failed to provide a defense that adequately protects women suffering from BatteredWomen's Syndrome.
2,900 words (approx. 11.6 pages), 5 sources, 2002, $ 106.95
Abstract BatteredWomen's Syndrome, or BWS, is a very complex psychological problem facing criminal courts today and has caused great debate on whether or not it should even be allowed in the courtroom. United States courtrooms, instead of protecting batteredwomen, have put these women on trial and found them guilty of murder.
Abstract This paper provides an overview of the case study by Fraser and Crittendon and the problem facing batteredwomen in the United States today. It then provides a SWOT analysis of the organization, BatteredWomen Fighting Back! Relevant recommendations and a summary of the research are provided in the conclusion.
From the Paper "While there has been some progress made in recent years to help battered women in the United States deal with their problem, the issue remains at the forefront of the public's attention thanks to the efforts of authors such as Jennifer Fraser and Victoria L. Crittendon. In their case study, "Battered Women Fighting Back!," Fraser and Crittendon provide an overview of how the organization was started as a prison-based support group in 1992 by Stacey Kabat. Over the years, the group's focus expanded to include providing educational materials and services designed to increase public awareness of the problems facing battered women and what could be done to ameliorate the situation."
An analysis of a qualitative research report on batteredwomen, welfare and the family violence option entitled, ''In Their Own Words: BatteredWomen, Welfare and the Family Violence Option" written by J.L. Postmus".
Abstract The paper comments on a research document in which the writer was to record and highlight the needs that mentally and physically abused women required, with regard to the family violence option (FVO) and welfare. The paper stresses that the research is necessary to nursing to indicate that the system did not recognize the requirements of the victims who wished to be freed from their previous spouses. The paper also highlights the inefficiency of this method of attending to the victim's requirements. The paper continues in detail with the manner in which information was collected. The paper summarizes the outcome of the study in which an outlook is presented on the participation of FVO, welfare and domestic violence shelters in assisting women.
Outline:
Statement of the phenomenon of interest
Purpose
Methodology
Sampling
Data collection
Data analysis
Findings
Conclusions, implications and recommendations
From the Paper "Furthermore, the researcher made clear the strategies to analyze the data, which could be reproduced in similar studies. Yes; the study participants recognize the experiences as their own. Their experiences and insights are documented. In addition, these experiences reflected the women's views, whether or not they were congruent with the researcher's expectations. The research was presented in a logical manner and in a way that the researcher's thoughts are conveyed clearly even if the reader is not familiar with qualitative research."
Abstract This paper discusses the development of the concept of the battered wife and the use of the battered wife syndrome defense in a court of law. It then goes on to discuss the equality of this law and the emergence of the battered husband defense. The paper argues that the courts need to look at each case on its own merits with the same criteria for both men and women.
From the Paper "Many individuals are upset about this decision. Given the unequal treatment of women over the history of the United States and that there still exist questions of equality of the two genders in many aspects of society, it is understandable that those who support women's rights are not pleased about this ruling. Also, much of this concern rightly comes from the fact that many battered women have been left unprotected by a society that refused to protect them. When many of these women chose life over death, they were prosecuted and had to spend many years improperly imprisoned. Those in the legal profession did not know or care enough or were too biased to defend these women based on their abusive situations."
Tags: rights PTSD trauma rational, domestic violence
Abstract A look at the legal response to domestic violence as well as the law enforcements attitude to this problems. It examines possible solutions that may improve the way these agencies handle domestic violence cases. Part II provides legal definitions of domestic violence, Part III explains the usual dynamics of this form of violence. Part IV attempts to understand the battered woman and Part V looks at the criminal justice system's response to batteredwomen. Part VI examines police officer's attitude to domestic violence and Part VII looks at the criminal justice system and domestic violence. The paper concludes with suggestions for improvement in this dealing with this crime.
From the Paper "Domestic violence is one of the most serious, yet least understood problems facing our nation today. This issue is especially troubling because of the unusual dynamics associated with domestic violence; unlike other crimes such as carjacking, random violence, and robbery where the offender and victim are usually strangers, battered women are often highly dependent on their partners for economic support and may be reluctant to leave out of fear or love. Another reason why domestic violence is so troubling is the lack of effective intervention and knowledge that exists among members of the criminal justice system, law enforcement, and public. The attitude that "domestic violence is a family matter, not a crime" which has long existed in society has contributed to this lack of knowledge and is one of the reasons why domestic violence still remains a largely "hidden" problem. Finally, the limited number of economic resources and shelters which are available to battered women also contributes to this problem; women who finally gather the courage and strength needed to leave their batterer may be forced to remain in the abusive situation or to return because the shelters are full or because they may be unable to find a job."
This paper discusses the failure to consider a history of abuse as a defense in spousal murder cases: "BatteredWomenSyndrome" and gubernatorial pardons.
2,025 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 5 sources, 1991, $ 71.95
From the Paper People are generally shocked whenever they hear of a case in which a woman has committed murder. This is because society sees men as being aggressive and women as being passive. Because men are aggressive, it is understood that they are capable of violence and murder. By contrast, biological differences as well as differences in cultural conditioning seem to indicate that women are incapable of killing. In actuality, there are numerous cases of women who kill. Of course, there are far fewer killers among women than there are among men. In the United States, for example, it is estimated that there are less than half as many female murderers as there are male murderers. In recent years, however, there has been a rising incidence of murders by women. Women who kill rarely do so in cold blood. In this regard, there are a variety of motivations for a woman resorting to the act of ... "
Abstract 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."
Abstract This six-page paper deals with BatteredWomen's Syndrome and how the Law has had trouble recognizing the issue. However it also discusses and illustrates how the US senate has recognized this problem of Violent Acts against women.
Abstract This paper analyzes violence against women, explores its historical origins, the failure of the legal system to deal with it effectively, the dynamics of BatteredWomenSyndrome and the role of sexism in domestic violence.
This paper analyzes the problem of batteredwomen using a Problem-Policy-Provision-Feedback analysis: Incidence, social and personal effects, childhood causes, social services, stressors, family issues and education and assessment. Tables.
2,700 words (approx. 10.8 pages), 17 sources, 1994, $ 95.95
From the Paper "The purpose of this paper is to analyze a social problem using a Problem-Policy-Provision-Feedback analysis. The social problem selected for this analysis is the problem of battered women, defined as women who are physically and/or emotionally abused by their spouses and boyfriends.
The Problem
At least two million women are yearly battered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States.
There is no place so violent as home. About half of all rapes occur there. It is in the privacy of the home, both in cramped flats and in grand neocolonials ... "
Abstract This paper examines the medical condition called HELLP syndrome, which stands for hemolysis elevated liver enzymes and low platelets. Closely related to pre-eclampsia, HELLP is a multi-system disease of pregnancy. The paper explains that women suffering from HELLP -- which occurs in approximately 1-5 percent of all pregnancies -- is associated with symptoms like high blood pressure, protein in the urine, swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches, vision problem, and increased perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The paper offers a thorough overview of the pathology of HELLP, explores prevention and treatment options, and discusses medical outcomes for pregnant women suffering from the syndrome. The paper also provides some case studies in order to personalize and dramatize its thesis.
From the Paper "Pregnant women with HELLP usually complain of fatigue, general malaise, pain in the upper right part of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, headaches and water retention with weight gain (Chen 2001). Some have convulsions. The HELLP syndrome's symptoms mimic those of ailments, which make HELLP hard to diagnose. These ailments include the flu, systemic lupus erythemetous or SLE, acute fatty liver of pregnancy AFL, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura or TTP and other collagen vascular diseases."
Abstract This article discusses the issue of violence within a family. The writer suggests that attention should also be paid to the to the problems and needs of the abusive men in question. In this paper the writer acts as a hypothetical budget director with complete control over a family and social welfare budget that two important groups organizations representing the needs of batteredwomen and organizations trying to treat abusive men would like to use for their own perfectly understandable and laudable purposes.
From the Paper "It is often difficult to feel much sympathy for men who abuse women. However, while sympathy may be impossible in some instances, failing to treat them as human beings with serious problems may prove to be as bad - or almost as bad - as over-indulgence."
Abstract The paper identifies the purpose, research questions, study design and subjects and settings of J.L. Postmus' report,"In Their Own Words: BatteredWomen, Welfare and the Family Violence Option". The paper also examines the data collection methods, data analysis procedures and the strengths and limitations of this study. The paper concludes that the study findings were valid and the research of high quality.
Outline:
Problem
Study Purpose
Research Questions
Study Design
Subjects and Settings
Data Collection Methods
Data Analysis Procedures
Strengths and Limitations
From the Paper "The problem the study was conducted to resolve was the apparent ineffectiveness of the Family Violence Option program as an option in helping battered women leave abusive relationships and eventually become economically independent (Postmus, 2002)."
"The problem is significant to nursing because of the impact of the recipients' experiences, attitudes and actions on their lives when faced with a system (which could be extended to the social services of a hospital) that is not receptive to their individual needs as victims and as person who wishes to establish themselves as emotionally and financially independent of their former partners. The significance of this research to nursing is also seen in the apparent danger that adapting a "catch-all" group of solutions for common problems (e.g. prioritizing rehabilitation over gaining economic independence) and one-sidedness with which each individual was assessed in order to achieve bureaucratic efficiency."
