Researching, Representing and Evidencing: Domestic Violence Research

This research report, prepared as a portfolio for the unit ASS081-2, delves into the critical issue of domestic violence and its profound impact on women's lives, specifically focusing on the United Kingdom. The report begins with an introduction that defines domestic violence, its prevalence, and the research rationale. It then poses the research question: "How Domestic Violence Impacts the social and health care of Women?" The study aims to discuss the concept of domestic violence and identify its impact on women's social and healthcare. The literature review explores various forms of abuse, the Family System Theory, and the devastating consequences on women's social skills and healthcare, including suicide, mental and behavioral health, and limited social interaction. Data analysis incorporates recent findings from the Guardian, highlighting the increasing cases of domestic violence and its correlation with mental health issues. The report also presents data from various sources, including the World Health Organization, which details the impact of domestic violence on women's health and social care, including suicide, mental health disorders, and social isolation. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizing the need for increased awareness and support for victims of domestic violence.

Running head: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic Violence on Women
Research Proposal
1-7-2020

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Research Topic.......................................................................................................................2
Research Question..................................................................................................................2
Aim and Objective..................................................................................................................2
Literature Review...................................................................................................................2
Domestic Violence..............................................................................................................2
Impact of Domestic Violence on Social and Health care of Women.................................3
Data Analysis..........................................................................................................................6
Analysis of Policy...................................................................................................................7
Policies against Domestic Abuse........................................................................................7
Legislation against Domestic Violence..............................................................................8
Law against Domestic Violence.........................................................................................8
Reflection Statement..............................................................................................................9
Research Question and Outline Proposal.............................................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................11
References................................................................................................................................13

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Introduction
Research Topic
Domestic Violence on Women
Research Background
When people talk about domestic abuse, most of the time concentrate on domestic violence.
However, domestic abuse comprises any type of effort by an individual in a marriage or
relationship to control another person. Both the terms that are domestic violence and abuse
are used for one purpose is to get complete control over an individual or partner in an
intimate relationship (Abani and Pourmehdi, 2017). Domestic violence can take place at any
time with anyone it does not discriminate. However, it is important to highlight this issue in
society such that people can get aware of it and can take a proper step if it is happening any
close one, friend, relative, or neighbor. The motive of this research is to make people
understand how domestic violence is impacting women and their life. This research is
presently providing the details related to Domestic Violence in the United Kingdom, which
highlights that the cases of domestic violence are increasing in number in the country.
Research Question
How Domestic Violence Impacts the social and health care of Women?
Aim and Objective
The aim of this study is to discuss about domestic violence on women and its impact on their
health and social care. In order to meet this aim, the research has prepared some of the
objectives that need to be met for getting better results of this study. Two objectives of this
research are discussed below.
Objective 1: To discuss the concept of domestic violence
Objective 2: To identify the impact of domestic violence on the social and healthcare of
women.

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Literature Review
Domestic Violence
According to Alejo, (2014), Domestic violence also referred to as family violence or
domestic abuse which is a kind of violence or abuse done by an individual against another
person or individual in a family or domestic setting, like cohabitation or marriage. This can
also be named intimate partner violence that is done by a partner in the relationship like a
marriage or any other intimate relationship against another partner. It can also take place in
same-sex or heterosexual relationships. As per the statement of Aziz, Idris and Ishak, (2018),
Domestic violence is comprised of abuse or violence against parents, elderly, or children. It is
of different forms such as religious, sexual abuse, economic, physical, reproductive, and
emotional abuse that can series from understated, forced forms to marital rape and fierce
abuse in physical form like acid attacks, choking, murder, beating, and female genital
mutilation. The list of Domestic murders comprises bride burning, dowry deaths, stoning, and
honor killings, etc. (Jura and Bukaliya, 2015). The main cause of domestic violence has been
explained in the theory of Family System Theory that has been explained below.
Family System Theory
The first institution that defines the behavior of an individual is his or her family. According
to Wilke, Wilke and Viglione, (2015), the family is the one that gives that individual social
contact across the world that is with other members of the family. Besides this, they also
define the behavior of the individual towards society. The insight of the environment by an
individual as a child is influenced by the family. As per the concept of family system theory,
the social circumstances and the family perform an essential part in defining violent behavior.
Besides this, the major reason of the violence is classified under the biological factors
comprising hormonal aspects; intra-psychic elements that comprises personality features of
the batterer as well as victim; behaviouristic site that considered social acclimatizing; and

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cognitive procedures that emphasis on the factors like tolerating the anger of others, faulty
dispensation of social information, etc. (Haefner, 2014)
Impact of Domestic Violence on Social and Health care of Women
According to the World Health Organization (2002), no community or country is untouched
by violence. Accounts and images of violence permeate the media, in the streets, workplaces,
institutions, homes, and Violence is considered to be a worldwide blight that tears at the
fabric of societies and impends the life, happiness, and health of everybody. Every year,
around 1.6 million people globally lose their life due to violence. All those who die due to
violence, have a deal or experienced sexual, mental health, and sexual issues. Violence is
called to be the main reason for death for those lie under the age group of 15–44 years
globally, which is comprised of around 14% of male deaths and 7% of female deaths
(Starfield, 2010).
In the view presented by the World Health Organization, women are particularly susceptible
to violence or abuse by their intimate partners in the community in which there are
inequalities between both the genders that are men and women, in terms of unbending gender
roles, norms of culture that provide support to the rights of men to sex irrespective of the
feelings of a women, and there are weak sanctions against these types of behavior. These
aspects can make it tough or even hazardous for women to live in a violent or abusive
relationship. It has been believed that coming out of such a relationship or leaving an abusive
relationship does not provide any kind of safety guarantee this is because there are chances
that violence sometimes continues, and can intensify when a woman leaves her partner. This
pattern is identified in every nation. According to a survey conducted by the World Health
Organization, it has been identified that across the world, 10–69% of women reported getting
physically assailed by their intimate male partner at some level of their life.

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Impact on Social Care of Women
According to Semahegn and Mengistie, (2015), domestic violence has a major devastating
effect on the women and other people that experience this situation such as physical, health,
economic, and emotional impact. Apart from this, women who deal with domestic violence
also deals with the social effects on their lives due to which their motivation and morale
decrease. Some of the social effects are discussed below.
Limited Social skills – There are many cases where women who deal with domestic violence
lose their confidence level and moral to live in a society. They feel hesitation or anxiety to get
involve with other people in society and share their feelings (Usta, Antoun and Ambuel,
2012). These women due to this restrict themselves to interact with other people and even
loose their socializing skills. The main reasons for this may be fear, hesitation, or getting
insulted or denigrate in society.
Impact on Health care of women
Most of the people believe that domestic violence victims are the ones who sustain injuries,
but their batterers do as well. Violence against females results in increasing the risk of poor
health. There is an increased number of studies that have explored that violence and health
reliably report adverse effects (Chhabra, 2018). The true degree of the significances is hard to
determine, but, due to the medical records generally lack in main details related to any of the
violent causes of injury or poor health. Some of the common health impacts of domestic
violence are discussed below:
Suicide – For women who are physically or sexually assailed, the physical, as well as
emotional stress, can result in suicide. These deaths are considered to be a dramatic testament
to the scarcity of options for women to leave or reject violent relationships. The research
conducted in the United States revealed that assaulted women, in comparison to those women
who do not live with violent men, are five times more passable to get involved in things like

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committing suicide. Women commit suicide after getting involved in a stressful marriage or
any other intimate relationship. In addition to this, as per the report presented by the
Guardian, it has been identified that one out of eight suicide cases is committed by women
due to domestic abuse in the United Kingdom (World Health Organization, 2019).
Mental and behavioral health – Sexual and physical violence are considered to be
associated with a higher risk of negative mental health results among women. The main
health outcomes comprise depression, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress, eating and
sleeping disorder, and psychosomatic disorder (Kaur and Garg, 2008). Further, according to
reports of the Guardian, it has been identified that in the United Kingdom, women that deal
with domestic violence are three times more likely to deal with anxiety, depression or serious
situations like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia disorder in comparison to other women.
Data Analysis
According to the recent research conducted by the health editor of the Guardian that is Sarah
Boseley, it has been identified that in the United Kingdom it was two-directional. Women
who visited GP related to the issues of mental health were three times reported about the
domestic violence against them at a later date and half of those women were abused that
already had problems related to mental health. The study also revealed that women do not
always reveal the abuse to their GP. There are only 0.25% of the women were involved in
reporting about domestic violence to GP, whereas according to the records of policy there are
one out of four women who lifetime experiences this assault (Boseley, 2019). As per the
views of co-chairperson at Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr. Beena Rajkumar it has been
identified that women experience domestic violence are experiencing a devastating impact on
their mental health. This research also revealed that domestic violence results in social
consequences such as isolation, separation from family and friends, and homelessness
(Boseley, 2019).

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Furthermore, the research conducted by the Warren (2019), it has been revealed that there is
estimation of around 2 million adults that lie under the age group of 16 to 59 years who have
experienced the domestic violence in the Wales and England in last 12 months, which
represents 695000 men and one million women (Warren, 2019). Moreover, it is said that the
true number of violence is even higher because domestic violence is most of the time is
under-reported. Culprits of domestic violence most of the time undergo the humiliation and
insult of the victim or drag them to gaslighting which is a kind of psychological manipulation
(Warren, 2019).
In addition to this, the data presented by Marsh (2019), it has been identified that Domestic
Violence has increased at a higher level in the last seven years in London which increases the
problem in the capital of widespread sexual violence. The data reveals that there is an
increase of around 63% in the domestic violence between 2011 and 2018 (Marsh, 2019). As
per the data, there were around 48,422 cases recorded for domestic violence which increased
to 78,814 in the year 2018. Due to this issue, the mayor of London that is Sadiq Khan
proclaims extra funding of around £15m for providing support services to the victims of
domestic violence, by claiming that records had been devastating for them. Besides this, the
reports that were released from the Mayor's Office represented that three-quarters of the
female victims and the ones who experienced this devastating crime were mostly living in
deprived areas. Besides this, in February of 2018, it was identified that many of the killings
or murders in London were due to domestic violence increased from 9 to 29. Further, the
funding that is released for the service of women fell 50% in the year 2017 because the
demand increased by 83%. Whereas, 15% of sexual offenses mostly happen in London and it
only receives government funding's 6%, which makes the women services at crisis and
helpless to support (Marsh, 2019). For this, Mayer required the home secretary to provide
huge cuts for this sector by increasing the funding.

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Analysis of Policy
Policies against Domestic Abuse
The ministry of the United Kingdom was introduced a cross-government "Violence against
women and girl strategy” in the year 2016 under this the vision is to tackle abuse of all the
forms. Under this, a helpline has been introduced for women and girls that is 08082000247,
which is available for 24 hours (Ministry of Defence, 2018). Under this, the government
promised to provide the funding of £80 million for supporting the domestic violence services,
comprising a particular provision for Minority and Black Ethnic Women under the attempt to
confirm that more susceptible women are accordingly braced by the system.
Legislation against Domestic Violence
The Domestic Violence, Crime, and Victims Act 2004 are presented by the parliament of the
UK. It takes into account the criminal justice and focuses on providing legal guidance as well
as protection for the crime victims, mostly domestic violence. It also expands the provision
for tracks deprived of a jury, provides new regulations for the trials for instigating the death
of an adult, or child and allow bailiffs to make use of force for taking entry into homes.
According to the 2017 reports, it was revealed that the Office for National Statistics’ research
suggests that around 10% of the women that lie under the age group of 16-19-year are
influenced by the issue every year (The Guardian, 2009). This legislation was framed by
making numerous alterations to the civil law and the DVCVA, does not provide major
influence on decreasing the crimes in the country as the claim would indicate and for years
the universal necessities of this criminal law remained to be the only recourse to discuss or
address the domestic violence. The application of this law in domestic violence cases are not
straightforward. For instance, courts are inclined to link the conduct predicted by the crimes
that result in physical injuries and not considering the behavior that will be understood as
intimidating and controlling (Graca, 2017).

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Law against Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is considered to be a complex as well as the cruel crime that affects
everyone who is experiencing this, leaving emotional and physical scars that last for a
lifetime. Therefore, the government of the United Kingdom is focusing on altering the
response to this awful crime, by presenting the Domestic Abuse Bill (Gov. UK., 2019). The
protection of the victims against abuse deceits at the center of this bill. The key measures of
the bill seen to:
 Increase awareness in order to put the abuse at a higher level on the agenda of every
citizen.
 Supporting as well as protecting the victims.
 Allowing and supporting the victim to provide their evidence in front of the criminal
court jury.
 Enhancing the performance against domestic violence in the country.
However, in spite of these essential developments, the absence of the unified legal framework
and policy for determining, recognizing, and reacting to domestic abuse has delayed progress.
The existing law that is adopted or used in the cases of domestic abuse is spread all over in
the numerous statutes. Besides this, there has been a huge delay in presenting the first draft of
this bill because it was promised to be introduced in the year 2017. These delays have
resulted in legitimate problems that are dominating the business of the government, but there
is various criticism that these delays are the picture of the government failure in taking into
account the domestic violence seriously (Bows, 2019).
Reflection Statement
The above discussion is presenting different aspects of the Domestic Violence on Women
and the policies and laws that are implemented in the United Kingdom. When I was assigned
to work, I was very excited to know the depth knowledge of Domestic Violence because this

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is presently being considered as the major social issue worldwide. While working on this
assignment, I understood the concept of domestic violence and how it is impacting not just
one individual, but also the whole society and the country. From this proposal, I learned that
domestic violence that is being experienced by women has numerous impacts such as
physical, health, medical, mental, social, as well as economic impact. After understanding the
significance of this issue, I have worked on this topic and framed the research question.
Besides this, working on this topic will help me in presenting solutions or framing
interventions against domestic violence in the United Kingdom. Further, as I identified in the
above study that London is most vulnerable to domestic violence cases, so in the future I
would like to present some solutions by presenting detailed research for this specific topic. In
addition to this, with this research, the government bodies will realize that the UK lacks in a
complete law against domestic violence and they need to give it a look to reduce the number
of cases in the country.
Research Question and Outline Proposal
Research Question
How Domestic Violence Impacts the social and health care of Women?
Research Aim and Objective
The aim of this study is to discuss about domestic violence on women and their impact on
their health and social care. In order to meet this aim, the research has prepared some of the
objectives that need to be met for getting better results of this study. Two objectives of this
research are discussed below.
Objective 1: To discuss the concept of domestic violence
Objective 2: To identify the impact of domestic violence on the social and healthcare of
women.

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According to the research question and aim and objective the research methodology that will
be followed by the researcher is discussed below:
For conducting this research, the mixed research method will be used that is comprised of
both qualitative and quantitative data that reveals a depth understanding of the research topic.
Hence, for collecting the data, the use of primary as well as secondary data collection
methods will be used in order to have complete knowledge of the topic and such that viable
results can be identified. Secondary data is the information that has been already collected by
different authors and scholars. The sources that will be used for this are journals, articles,
government reports and websites, and books. Primary data is the information that is freshly
collected by the researcher with the use of different methods like survey, questionnaire, case
studies, group studies, interviews, etc. (Mesly, 2015) In order to collect data, the primary
sources that will be used by the researcher are survey through a questionnaire.
In addition to this, the method for sampling that will be used in the further study is a
probability sampling method for the selection of research participants under the primary
method. Under this, the random sampling will be selected such that equal chance can be
provided to the entire selected population and reliable data can be gathered. Besides this, the
method of data analysis that will be selected for the research study is the statistical data
analysis method. With the use of this method, the stakeholders will be able to get the statistics
of the research topic in tables and graphs. Further, the MS-Excel will be used to present the
statistics and graphs for the collected data.
Furthermore, while conducting the research, the ethics of the research will be taken into
consideration to prove the reliability of the presented and collected data. Some of the ethical
considerations that are taken into account are maintaining the confidentiality of the private
information of the research participants, providing the credit to the researchers or scholars