Prevalence and Impact of Domestic Violence on Women in Australia

This assignment focuses on the prevalence of domestic violence among women in Australia and sheds light on its causes and effects. It discusses the statistics, social and economic determinants, and theories related to domestic violence. The data highlights the need for comprehensive research and effective interventions.

Running head: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN AUSTRALIA
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN AUSTRALIA
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Introduction:
Domestic violence is also referred to as domestic abuse, intimate partner violence as well
as abuse. It is usually seen to occur when one partner feels the need for controlling and
dominating the other. The domination of a person might take place in the form of physical,
emotional or that of sexual abuse. Studies believe that violent behavior may be caused due to
interaction of different types of individual and situational factors. They are of the opinion that
abusers might learn the violent behaviors from their families or from the people from their
community and many other cultural influences as they grow up (1). Other studies have
supported this fact stating that the perpetrators of domestic violence might have seen violence
often or that they may have been victims themselves. These studies have witnessed many of the
participants who were perpetrators to acknowledge the fact that they have grown in having being
abused as a child, which might have impact on their psychology development (2). This
assignment would be mainly focused on the prevalence of such abuse among women in Australia
and shed more light on causes and effects of domestic violence on women in the nation of
Australia.
Question 1: Learning outcome 1: assessing the changing burden of women’s global health
in a global context
According to Australian bureau of statistics (2017), one in every five women in the
nation had been reported to have experienced sexual abuse and violence since the age of 15.
Reports have also shown that almost 40% of the women had continued to experience violence
from their partners even when they were temporarily separated. Statistics had also indicated that
domestic violence rates are quite higher in the rural as well as regional areas of the New South
Wales (3). Data is also of the opinion that intimate partner violence had become one of the

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leading contributors towards illness as well as disability and premature death for women in the
nation belonging to the age cohort of 18-44. Important information obtained from the data had
shown that one in six women had experienced abuse even before the age of fifteen. It has also
been found that children of mothers who are experiencing domestic violence have higher rates of
social and even emotional problems than other children (4). One in four young people in the
nation believe on the fact that it is quite normal for the males to pressurize into sex. Even
different surveys and interviews conducted have showed that one in three young people do not
think controlling someone is the form of violence. Even one in four young people do not think it
to be serious when males insult or they verbally harass girls on the street. This form of thoughts
and beliefs pave the way where the women accept domestic violence as a part of their life rather
than opposing strictly against it. One important survey had even seen that one in three young
people who present alone to homelessness services that have experienced domestic violence.
Violence against women is seen to be having an estimated cost around the Australian
economy of around $22 billion in one year. Again, it is seen that Aboriginals as well as Torres
Islands women experiences high levels of violence as well as abuse (5). Family violence among
the Aboriginals and the Torres Islanders people are also seen to be quite common and have
several impacts on the health and social outcomes of women and children. Studies suggest that
indigenous women are 32 times more likely to be hospitalized because of the family violence
than non-indigenous women are (6).

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Figure: domestic violence homicides and its increase over the years (source ABC news)
Figure: domestic violence-related assaults and its increase over the years (source ABC news)

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Figure: reported cases of domestic violence and its increase over the years (source ABC news)
From the above data points that had been put forward by the different governmental sites
of the healthcare department, it can be well understood that extensive research had been done in
the nation. It also shows that the government is trying their best to gather more information about
the increasing prevalence of domestic violence on women in the nation and thereby develop
effective policies and intervention. However, still several data gaps are present that needs to be
filled to present a more comprehensive picture of its extent and impact in Australia (7). Limited
data is found about the specific at risk population groups like the women with disabilities,
transgender and intersex people, lesbian, gay and transgender. Moreover, not enough researches
and links are found between the effect of risk factors like socioeconomic status, income,
employment and geographical location are present in the data present in the nation. Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare 2019 have themselves admitted in their report that they have
limited data about the services and the responses that the victims as well as the perpetrators
receive. This includes the specialist services as well as mainstream services and police and

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justice responses. Very few initiatives have been taken that include the pathways, impacts, and
outcomes for victims and perpetrators along with evaluation of programs and interventions.
Therefore, it can be seen that the nation is not completely unaware of the increasing prevalence
of domestic violence on women (8). The amount of statistical data present shows that substantial
research is being conducted. It is indeed astonishing to find out that although present rate of
women living independent lives, working, and earning independently are increasing; the
prevalence of domestic violence had not reduced as all. It had still been present as “a hidden
evil” in the developed nation of Australia with many cases still being not reported to media due
to shame and guilt. Hence, it is important to understand the environmental, social, and economic
determinants of health leading to suffering of women due to domestic violence.
Question 2: Learning outcome 2: understanding of environmental, social and economic
determinants of health to women’s global health issues
Studies have found out that most of the domestic violence perpetrators mainly grow up
witnessing domestic violence as well as violence in their own homes (9). They had learned to
view that emotional as well as physical violence as valid ways for venting out anger and thereby
coping with their own self-perception issues and their own internal fears. Therefore, researchers
are of the opinion that the modeling that the abusers saw while growing up is reinforced in
certain particular ways (10). The first one is that using of violence and abuse tactics have helped
them in solving problems for them in the past. The second one is that the perpetrators might have
established tremendous control over the female counterparts through their abusive tactics. Third,
it might be also because no responsible person had stopped them or reported them to the
authorities (11). This is the social culture instilled among them and acts as the social determinant
of health that causes men to become perpetrators abusing women to large extent.

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Another paper had talked about the common triggers that set up an abuser to undertake
conduct abuse and violence on women in the nation of Australia. It has found that disagreements
with their intimate partner as well as protracted period of the unemployment are some of the
triggers of intimate partner violence against women. It had also talked about different financial
issues that also act as triggers for the occurrence of different domestic violence cases of women
(12). Desperation that results when partner threatens to leave also makes the abusers become
more abusive on the women counterpart. Cases of anger escalations, humiliations stemming from
the problems at work as well as other perceived failures, jealousy and envy are some of the
causes that can trigger incidents among the perpetrators against their women counterpart (13).
Often unemployment and low income act as socio-economic determinants of domestic
violence. When males lack employment, they tend to develop stress and tensions regarding
financial securities. Often they cannot control their anxiety and frustrations of economic
constraints and release out their anger in the form of violence on women (14). Moreover,
increased addiction to drugs and alcohol due to emotional turmoil result them in losing their
sense and balance of their actions. Hence, they are seen to abuse women of their families when
they are highly intoxicated. Therefore, socio-economic determinants in Australia become one of
the governing factor that evokes domestic violence on women.
Several theories had been put forward by different studies in order to understand
the incidences of domestic violence on women. One of them is the systems theory, which states
that abuse mainly results from the dysfunction within the relationships of couples (15). This
model is seen to suggest that both partners contribute to the escalation of anger. The researchers
of the study had also argued that the systems theory approach often tend out to be dangerous as it
ignores the power imbalance in the relationship abuse. It is also implied that the victim is also to

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some extent responsible for the abuse (16). Researchers had argued that is indeed common for
the couples to become frustrated with each other but becoming physically or verbally abusive is
always a matter of choice. Therefore, systems theory might be applied for common problems in
relationship but should never be used in case of relationship abuses on women (17).
Australian police are seen to deal with cases of domestic violence every two and this
shows the high level of prevalence of the domestic violence in the nation. 1 in every 6 Australian
women has experienced physical as well as sexual violence by current or that of the former
partners. 1 in every 4 Australian women has experienced emotional abuse by current or that of
former partners. Australian women are three times more likely than the men to experience
violence from their intimate partners are. Australian women are almost four times more likely
than that of the men to be hospitalized after being assaulted by the partners or their spouses (18).
Australian women are more than twice likely that of the men to have experienced fear and
anxiety because of violence from their intimate partners. It has also been found that Australian
women who belong to the younger age cohorts are subjected to more rates of physical and sexual
abuse than women who are in the older age groups. Growing evidence of women with
disabilities being more exposed to partner violence had been noticed. The combined health
administration and social welfare costs of violence against women have been estimated to be
around $21.7 billion a year. Data had also shown that of no further action is taken for prevention
of domestic violence on women, costs will accumulate to $323.4 billion from 2014-2015 to
2044-45 over thirty years period (19).
Another theory that had been also established is the learned helplessness theory. In one
of the study, researchers have utilized this theory to explain the incidences of abuse on women
by their partners. This theory suggests that victims of abuse are seen to stay in the abusive

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relationships as prolonged periods of abuse strips them from their will to leave. This is the
gender issues that women in the nation are still facing even when modern concept of feminism
and equality of rights have become some of the principle agendas of the women leaders. In the
nation of Australia, it is indeed seen that some percentage of abuse women do take actions for
protecting themselves (20). However, many women tend to remain silent due to societal
pressures and societal blames where abused victims are often subjected to societal judgments.
Therefore, such women are seen to conceal the incidences thereby tolerating abuses throughout
their lives. Fear of homelessness, negative impacts on children and similar other factors prevent
the women from taking steps against their spouses.
Another important theory that is found to be most supported by most of the studies is the
social leaning theory. According to this theory, men are seen to become more abusive as they
have grown up seeing their mothers as well as other female members being abused. On a similar
aspect, women are seen to “sought out” abusive men as they had seen their mothers being abused
by their father and tend to take it as a norm that needs to be accepted by women. Hence, such
social learning theory often prevents women in even considering domestic violence to be a crime
that need to be reported (21). However, most of the cases show that children of abusive fathers
and brothers of violent men carry on the trend in their own personal relationships in the nation.
However, this theory cannot be applied to all children of such parents in a generalized manner as
many of the children tend to learn it as a negative behavior and does not exhibit similar abusive
behavior.
One of another important theory that has been applied to the many of the reported cases
of domestic violence in women in Australia is the feminist theory. This theory mainly sees
violence against women because of the patriarchal structure. This is another social determinant

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of health. According to such theory, domestic violence by the male perpetrators does not take
place until patriarchal control over the women is threatened. This shows gender inequality to be
still engrained in the nation within their social culture. This might take place when women denies
accepting decisions or advises of their male counterparts (22). It is also seen to take place when
individual women are seen to leave as well as threaten the male powers by leaving the
relationships. Therefore, women are seen to remain in submissive positions, especially those who
have low financial security or have the fear of becoming homeless. Fear of lacking shelter,
support and financial security often makes women accept the patriarchal behaviors of the male
dominated society in the nation. Although, being developed country where women are trying to
curb out their own niches and trying to reach new heights of success in the nation, patriarchal
nature still seems to remain deeply ingrained in societal perspectives and hence domestic abuse
becomes one of the most common incidences among women from all backgrounds (23).
Recommendations for overcoming the disorder burden:
 The governmental authorities along with different charitable organizations, social care
organizations as well as not-for profit organizations should work collaboratively to find
out effective ways to tackle the situation. Health promotion programs and prevention
programs should be developed to educate women about how to recognize that the
perpetrators abuse them. As many of the women, fail to realize that they are abused or
that they tend to accept it as a part of life and hence take no actions (24). Health
promotion programs and prevention programs need to have health educators and social
workers who would develop proper interventions and accordingly plan, implement and
evaluate the ways they work and their success rates.

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 Another important intervention would be to introduce policies that would act as
guidelines to women of the nation about the actions they need to take and the authorities
they need to reach and report the abuses. These policies would be also having ways to
identify whether they are abused and hence develop an understanding of the safety
precautions they can take (25). The concerned authorities, lawmakers, and policy makers
also need to impose strong penalties for perpetrators and rewards for whistle blowers and
those who report such incidences on behalf of victims. This would reduce domestic
violence cases in the nation.
 Funding for support services should be increased so that social care programs, health
promotion programs, prevention programs, social media clubs and similar other programs
can be conducted with ease. More the population is being aware of domestic violence, its
negative impacts, more cases can be reported, and hence more control over the issue can
be made (26).
 Changes should be made about the ways by which family courts handle such cases. They
need to be stricter and instruct the judicial system to have full protection of the women
who report their abuses. Often victims face prolonged turmoil when going through
lengthy legal procedures, several court hearing dates and similar other customs of courts.
More specialized training to court members regarding the actual cause of perpetrators –
whether he is lying, whether he is really mental health patient., whether perpetrator is
making excuses and many others need to be identified and no chances should be given.
 Helping women to become financially independent is another important aspect to reduce
domestic violence. Developing enough women shelters, giving them job opportunities,
increasing their safety, subsidies, and many others would make them more confident

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about their life and decisions and hence domestic violence by mental-emotional tortures
can be controlled (27).
Conclusion:
From the above discussion, it can be seen that the prevalence of domestic violence on
women in Australia is quite high. Although some of them are reported, others are not reported
due to feelings of shame and guilt among the women. Some of the causes of domestic violence
are the patriarchal society and negative dominant behaviors of males, males growing up in
households where abusing women are common, financial constraints and unemployment issues
faced by males and many others. Government should develop plans and implement them to
prevent the increasing prevalence of domestic violence on women of the nation and give them
safe future.

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