Domestic Abuse occurs when a family member, partner or ex partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate another. Domestic abuse often refers to violence between spouses, or spousal abuse but can also include cohabitants and non-married intimate partners. Domestic abuse occurs in all cultures; people of all races, ethnicities, religions, sexes and classes, and it can happen to both men and women.
The different signs of domestic abuse are: Intimidation, depression, stalking, absences from work, economic deprivation, bruises, broken extremities, lack of confidence, bullying, pessimistic, sadness, loneliness, paranoia and much more.
There are many types of abuse, there's physical, psychological, sexual, social, economic or financial and emotional.
As part of our curriculum we have read a lot of stories regarding abuse. But two of them highlight really clearly different types of abuse. One of them is the movie "The Secret Life of Bees". In this movie there's physical, psychological and mental abuse. There's physical abuse towards Lily, her mother and Rosaleen. Before having physical abuse there has to be psychological abuse, and in this movie we can observe the way the dad treats his daughter, with such indifference and anger. The action of the movie was in the 60's and that was a time of a lot of changes in the world. There was a constantly abuse toward the colored people and we can see that clearly in this movie.
Another reading that we did, was from Miguel Street, "George and the Pink House". There's a lot of abuse in this story but the main abuse was from George to his wife and kids. It was their daily bread, physically and emotionally this man abused his family. His wife even died of one of the beating he gave her. His son didn't want to live with him and his daughter felt disgust toward him.
Everyone is in charge of their own life and no one should want to take possession or control of the life of anyone else. It doesn't matter if it is our spouse or kids we should respect the freedom of everyone. We can take a role of guidance in our children's life and we should even teach them what is right and what is wrong. But once we teach them values we should trust that what we have done will flourish and they will live a life of truth.
No one should be afraid of talking about any sort of abuse they have been suffering. Nowadays there are a lot of organizations that help everyone in need of counseling or an exit from a life of abuse. Anyone can pass through a situation like that but not everyone has the courage to speak out, and those are the ones that survive.
Excellent comments, Zuleica. Remember the possessive use 's (for children's)and instead of "talking of" use "talking about." Also instead of hitting he gave her use "beating he gave her". Question, what do you think Dolly's behavior? Why was she laughing when she was injured? Do you think it was because of a "simple" mind or do you think it was power? What did the narrator think about the behavior? Interesting response and nicely done!
ReplyDeleteThe only way George demonstrates affection is beating Dolly, so I think that in a way she didn't saw him beating her as a bad thing but as another way of showing her that he cared about her. I know she knew that his abuse was wrong but it was the only way she knew affection. I have heard of many women that don't mind, after a long time, the beatings of their husband's, because that way they feel love and it's the only time they got their husband's full attention. Professor those questions are for me to add them in the final essay or in here ??? Thanks
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