Caribbean Nations need to deal with Poverty Eradication as their “top priority” in supporting the laws against Domestic Violence
April 12, 2008
Domestic violence may include men, women, and children and usually involves a detrimental situation or circumstances at home; however, women and children are most often the victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence is universal; it does not discriminate with age, color, social standing, size, educational level and so on.
That being said, it is also true that a female is who dependent on a male economically, is more likely to be a victim of violence than a female who is more capable of walking away and possesses the ability to survive on her own.
Caribbean nations needs to deal with poverty eradication as their “top priority” in supporting the laws against domestic violence. All parts of the world, countries are failing to protect women in their homes. One in every three women have been beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused during her life. In many Caribbean countries, women are “stay at home” wives, and the man is usually the breadwinner. A situation such as this increases the potential for abuse, both physical and non physical. Women tend to be submissive for various reasons. These include economic dependence, cultural stigma, and in general, lack of an acceptable alternative. In Western developed countries, the same reasons may hold true. Even though there are more alternatives available for a woman who decides to walk away from an abusive situation, there are still many women who remain for various reasons.
Teenagers who do not receive love at home from their families may succumb to the first offer and they remain in abusive relationships because they have never experienced a good relationship. In most cases in Caribbean countries, women are reluctant to make a complaint to the police because they find policemen are unwilling to get involved in “domestic issues”. Very often the law will side with the man. The mentality is “ a couple a licks wouldn’t hurt. After all he work an mine yu” There needs to be more laws and sanctions against domestic violence. No woman or child deserves to be a victim.
Many households below the poverty line are female-headed households whereby women with little or no income are responsible for their children and all other household expenses. These women will be dependent on men for the next meal, money to send their children to school or the next bus fare. Unfortunately when they can no longer acquire money from their spouse, ex spouse and boyfriends; they turn to prostitution as the easy way out.
Domestic violence will continue to be an issue, if the social structure of the society we live in remains the same, especially in Caribbean countries. While not all women may have the ability to bring an income into the home, the role of wife, mother, and homemaker should not be devalued as it today. Society should also offer more options to women that will allow them to connect with the outside world and teach them useful skills and them to more importantly feel good about themselves. When a woman feels confident about herself and feels like she is a useful member of society, she is less likely to allow herself to become a victim. The same goes for our young teenagers. Many don’t realize their own self worth and allow themselves to be drawn into abusive situations.
Domestic violence against women for the most part is a result of male dominance allowable by society and limited options available for women. Addressing these issues will go a long way in making society a better place to live in.
Diana Ramoutar
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How can we stop domestic violence,when our President Bharrat Jagdeo cannot set a good example for his nation to follow?He displayed his martial problems in public, degrading the First Lady at the National Stadium infront all of her friends at the ICC World Cup Match.The Nation does not condone this behaviour from a president.Do you think a president should behave in such manner?
[...] by wiig on April 17, 2008 Here is a great post from Baiganchoka on using poverty reduction to curb domestic violence. [...]