Argumentative Essay SAMPLE

Domestic Violence

 

Introduction

In 2014, a graphic CCTV footage of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his wife Janay Rice in an elevator was in public view (MSNBC, 2014). It not only caused the athletes’ career but also involved Mrs. Rice publicly apologizing for contributing to the violence. This opened up an emotive discussion of domestic violence in America. Both men and women can be abusive in their relationships. It occurs regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, or education (Feder et al., 2013). According to Firestone (2012), women and children are more likely to be victims of abusive relationships than men are. This form of abuse is a learned behavior. Firestone (2012), observed that children raised in abusive families are more likely to become abusive or tolerate abusive relationships during their adulthood. More so, drug and substance abuse, poverty, and family issues augment it. Abuse can be physical or emotional (Icheku & Graham, 2016). It is imperative to state that regardless of the cause and form of violence, domestic abuse should not be tolerated. While people use domestic violence to express themselves, it should be discourage because it contributes to social, psychological, physical, and economic problems.

Argument

Domestic violence should be discouraged because it breaks the social fabric. Icheku & Graham (2016) conducted a systematic review of literature to assess the social impact of exposure to domestic violence on young men. The study revealed that boys exposed to abuse in their families developed conduct disorder that led to crime. In addition, Icheku & Graham (2016), established that parental violence destroyed the relationship between the boys and their fathers. As a result, these boys developed gender identity issues, subsequently influencing their sexual orientations (Icheku & Graham, 2016). What is more, Feder et al. (2013), pointed that girls who grew in abusive families were more likely to take part in teen sex, and highly likely to experience teenage pregnancies than girls who in stable families.

Domestic violence should not be tolerated because of its psychological (emotive and behavioral) impacts. Studies have shown that domestic violence leads to psychological and emotional distress among the victims of abuse. Icheku & Graham (2016) reviewed literature that assessed the relationship between physical and emotional abuse and depression. The study revealed that nearly all the participants (90%) had experienced some form of emotional and physical abuse. They reported undergoing significant depression and psychological distress (Icheku & Graham, 2016). In another study, Campbell (2002) conducted a study to assess the impact of abuse on children’s behavior. The study revealed that children who were abused in their families reported high school dropouts, antisocial behavior, self-harming, somatic complaints, and suicidal gestures (Campbell, 2002). To have a healthy society, it is imperative to discourage domestic violence.

Domestic violence should not be tolerated because it leads to physical injuries and death. A study by Feder et al. (2013) revealed that the majority of domestic violence victims suffered both mild and severe injuries in their upper bodies. These include head injuries, arm mutilations, disfigured faces, broken bones, scars, and heart conditions (Feder et al., 2013). Furthermore, Davey (2018) reported that four out of five incidences of domestic violence homicides involve men killing women. The study conducted in Australia revealed that at least 80 percent of women were killed in domestic violence between 2010 and 2014 (Davey, 2018). This was compared to 24 percent of men killed by their current or former female partners. These studies cement the fatal consequences of domestic violence.

Domestic violence should be discouraged because it is costly for both households and the economy. According to the Center for Domestic Peace (2018), the cost of domestic violence in Marin is more than 80 million US dollars. For an individual female victim in the US, the cost of domestic violence assault is more than 27000 US dollars (Center for Domestic Peace, 2018). In 2015, Domestic Shelters (2015)compiled a shocking report highlighting the economic impact of domestic violence:

The costs associated with healthcare spending ($11,000), criminal behavior ($14,000) and loss of labor market productivity ($26,000) is $50,000 per person from the ages of 20-64 as a result of being exposed to domestic violence as child is $50,000. Applied to the entire U.S., the economic burden is over $55 billion (Domestic Shelters, 2015).

Violence within families is also costly. When individuals are injured because of physical and emotional abuse, their economic productivity reduces (Feder et al., 2013). As a result, waged parents are not able to go to work. Others spend significant resources (time and money) in hospital nursing their wounds (Feder et al., 2013).

Counterargument and Refutation

Nevertheless, some studies have shown that perpetrators of domestic violence use it to assert their authority and control. According to Feder et al. (2013), people who engage in domestic violence assert (both men and women) their authority in the family. Abusive people consider that they have the right to control their partners (subjects) and enjoy the feeling they derive from exerting that power (Feder et al., 2013). Furthermore, Firestone (2012) pointed that individuals who perpetrate violence believe that their feelings should be prioritized, and thus, device abusive tactics to bring down anyone who attempts to make them feel less valuable. In the wild, this is a common phenomenon. Lions fight to exert their authority and control over their prides. It is a form of instilling fear in other subjects so as to maintain the leadership role, and discourage any species that would consider challenging that authority.

However, human being are rational being. While bartering can be used to instill fear and demand respect, a better way to exert authority is through dialogue. Dialogue has been used in different facets of human social institutions to establish authority and bring harmony. Materu (2014) explains that Kenya in 2007 experienced post-election violence. Two factions – the incumbent government and the opposition – maintained they won the election. The aftermath was intense ethnic violence in which at least 1000 lives were lost. However, a truce was arrived at mediated by the late Kofi Annan. Both the government and the opposition entered into a power sharing agreement. This ended the violence in the country. Thus, negotiations can be used in place of violence to assert authority.

Conclusion

Domestic violence should not be a channel of self-expression because leads to socioeconomic and health issues among the victims of violence. It causes family relationships to break down, leads to distress, instils pain, and requires a lot of money to manage. Perpetrators of domestic violence use this approach to exert authority and control over their subjects. However, considering the significant consequences of domestic abuse, dialogue can be used as an alternative to resolve power issues.

References

Campbell, J. (2002). Health Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence. Lancet, 359, 1331-1336.

Center for Domestic Peace (2018). Economic impact of domestic violence. Retrieved from: http://www.centerfordomesticpeace.org/cost-domestic-violence

Davey, M. (2018). Men kill women in four of five domestic violence homicides. Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/31/men-kill-women-in-four-of-five-domestic-violence-homicides

Domestic Shelters. (2015). Economic impact of domestic violence. Retrieved from: https://www.domesticshelters.org/domestic-violence-statistics/economic-impact-of-domestic-violence

Feder, G., Howard, L., & Agnew-Davies, R. (2013). Domestic violence and mental health. London Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Firestone, L. (2012). How domestic violence occurs and how to stop it. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/201210/why-domestic-violence-occurs-and-how-stop-it

Icheku, V., & Graham, R. M. (2016). What Social Impact Does Exposure to Domestic Violence Have on Adolescent Males? A Systemic Review of Literature. J Healthc Commun, 2(1). DOI: 10.4172/2472-1654.100045

Materu, S. F. (2015). The post-election violence in Kenya: Domestic and international legal responses. The Hague, The Netherlands : Asser Press.

MSNBC. (2014). Janay Rice Tells Her Story. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8L-VoZH_wc