Popular Article #2

Philadelphia Inquirer 

So what is Domestic Violence? Domestic Violence is the act of violence or abuse causing physical harm to another in the same household. In a graph of statistics taken by the NCAVP (National Coalition for Anti-Violence Program) on reported domestic violence cases taken throughout 1998-2002, it showed the steady rise of violence. The largest percentage of reported domestic violence were of white decent, the second largest being Latino, and thirdly African-American.  More recent statistics show that women are the more common victims of domestic violence. Studies show that men who witnessed their parents’ domestic disputes or violence are twice as likely to abuse their own families. These incidents leave the victims and children of the victims brutally scared mentally if not physically as well. In this article out of the Philadelphia Inquirer, an anonymous poll was taken by Philadelphia Educators, showing how many in our society are affected by this violence and how they were able to make a better outcome of life by escaping and overcoming it.

                As noted, this investigation of domestic violence was taken by an anonymous poll. This poll that was taken showed that 1/3 of them, as children, had been victims of a type of abuse at home. This information was taken to make them aware of what they had come through and how many of their students were coming into the building carrying the same baggage that they once held. The speaker encouraged them to use their past experiences to teach the kids how to develop their Resilience and self-confidence. The encouragement to share their knowledge, experience, and methods of overcoming life’s uphill battle was to hopefully breed a stronger, wiser generation.  The seven-day study brought to light numerous unreported violent acts across the district. Reporting brought news of how over 30,000 serious incidents in the past 5 years were barely addressed if at all. This large number of unaddressed violent incidents is alarming and a step in the wrong direction if the district wants to decrease the violence and provide students with a safe and reliable place or person to turn to. All too commonly, violence that takes place in the home with domestic disputes of family members, are witnessed by the children who learn the violence and act out in other environments.

                In conclusion, the main point being, witnessed domestic violence does leave scars. The physical scars of the victim may heal but the mental scars stick with you. It is something that can positively affect someone or negatively. A Positive affect  being building the person up to be an even stronger individual and coming to the aid of another. Domestic violence can of course have its more negative effects than just the act itself. It leaves way to breed another generation of a domestically violent person and continue the vicious cycle that has already begun. Domestic violence ends with the speaking out about it, research in finding the main causes of this epidemic, and an easier, healthier way for the victim to get out and get help. 

Bibliogrphy (Website URL's)

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/domestic%20violence

http://www.buddybuddy.com/abuse-02.html

http://domesticviolencestatistics.org/domestic-violence-statistics/