VICTIMIZATION IN THE HOME - AN OVERVIEW OF CURRENT RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS ON FILLING UNMET NEEDS (FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 1978 - SEE NCJ-57922)

• NCJ Number: 57933
• Author(s): M D PAGELOW
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: US Congress
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: MARCH 16, 1978

Annotation

FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE SHOULD BE CHANNELED TO THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS ATTEMPTING TO ESTABLISH SHELTERS AND NOT TO TRADITIONAL GROUPS THAT LONG IGNORED THE NEEDS OF BATTERED WOMEN.

Abstract

CURRENT FEDERALLY-FUNDED RESEARCH HAS INVESTIGATED ALL ASPECTS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE. THIS TYPE OF APPROACH DILUTES ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM OF BATTERED WIVES. THE BATTERING OF WOMEN IS MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO RAPE THAN IT IS TO SIBLING VIOLENCE OR OTHER FORMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE CURRENT FOCUS ON 'BATTERED SPOUSES' AND 'BATTERED HUSBANDS' ALSO DILUTES RESEARCH EFFORTS. SHELTERS FOR BATTERED PERSONS FIND THAT FEW MEN SEEK HELP. THE OVERWHELMING NEED IS FOR SAFETY FOR THE ABUSED WOMEN AND HER CHILDREN. SUCH SHELTERS LITERALLY SAVE LIVES. THEY ALSO ENABLE A WOMAN TO TAKE POSITIVE ACTION TO SOLVE HER SITUATION. MORE INDEPENDENT SHELTERS ARE NEEDED BECAUSE THEY AVOID THE LEGAL AND PHYSICAL DANGERS WHICH OFTEN OCCUR WHEN A FAMILY SHELTERS A BATTERED WOMAN. (IN SOME INSTANCES BATTERING HUSBANDS HAVE KILLED MEMBERS OF THE SHELTERING FAMILY.) TRADITIONAL SOCIAL AGENCIES AND RESEARCH GROUPS WHO LONG IGNORED THE PROBLEM OF THE BATTERED WIFE ARE NOW MOBILIZING TO SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING. GRASSROOTS GROUPS WHICH PIONEEERED SOLUTIONS MAY BE LEFT OUT. FEDERAL MONEY FIRST SHOULD GO TO LOCAL GROUPS TO ESTABLISH MORE SHELTERS. THESE SHELTERS THEN CAN FORM A RESEARCH POPULATION FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO STUDY THE PROBLEM. FOR RELATED ARTICLES, SEE NCJ 57922-57932 AND NCJ 57934-57941. (GLR)