Of course, it seems self-evident that a woman should quickly escape an abusive partner and seek help for herself. On the other hand, we all know that things don't work out like that. A battered woman has lost her self-confidence and feels worthless. Often that, and not social pressure, is the primary reason she chooces to stay with the abuser whether he be husband or boy-friend.
If there are children involved, this is extremely dangerous. As reported in the quality Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz, 50-80% of children of battered wives also suffer abuse. This abuse can take many forms but is mainly physical or sexual. New research, contrary to what was previously thought, shows that children do not suffer only from the emotional trauma of witnessing the adult violence but often end up as victims too.
Women's organizations have already reacted to the news. According to them, women should take any violence as a warning that their children are facing a dangerous situation. It is no longer a situation of battered wives but of battered children as well. Women must seek help as soon as the violence starts or else not only the destructive the behavioural model but also the trauma and shame will be transmitted across generations.
Unfortunately the research doesn't talk about the perpetrators at all. If a real change is to happen, it is them who need help and urgently too.
posted by Emilia.kk @ 2:02 PM
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