Removal of Abuse Against Women and Children: A Sociological Report

This reflective report delves into the pervasive issue of abuse against indigenous women and children, examining it through various sociological perspectives. The introduction highlights the historical context, emphasizing the double abuse faced by indigenous women and children at the hands of both settlers and male community members. The analysis employs symbolic interactionism, functionalism, and conflict theory to reveal how cultural norms and societal structures contribute to the problem. The report discusses the impact of abuse on the victims' psychosocial needs and overall quality of life, as well as the measures taken by government and non-profit organizations to address the issue. The author reflects on their understanding of the issue and underscores the need for a shift in the mindset of indigenous men to effectively combat abuse. The report concludes by reiterating the significance of addressing this critical issue and its adverse effects on the lives of indigenous women and children.

Running head: REMOVAL OF ABUSE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Removal of Abuse against women and children in indigenous communities
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1REMOVAL OF ABUSE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Analysis of the issue from sociological perspective..................................................................2
Analysis of my experiences.......................................................................................................4
Influence of the issue on my perception....................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
As opined by Swift (2017), the indigenous people in the different nations of the world
have been subjected to various kinds of evils over the years at the hands of the settlers. Peters
and Wolper (2018) are of the viewpoint that one of the most evils that the indigenous people,
especially the women and the children had to face is the evil of abuse. More importantly, it is
seen that the women and the children are the victims of double abuse, that is, they had to face
abuse at the hands of the settlers and also at the hands of the male members of their own
community as well. This is important from the perspective of the women and children
because of the fact that it hinders the effective fulfillment of their basic psychosocial needs
which in turn significantly stunt their growth or development (Grusky, 2018). In this regard,
it needs to be said that the indigenous women and children are at three times more risk of
facing different kinds of abuse like domestic violence, sexual abuse and others at the hands of
their family members and also others in Canada. In this reflective report, I will analyze the
issue of removal of abuse faced by the indigenous women and children through the
sociological perspective.
Analysis of the issue from sociological perspective
Montesanti and Thurston (2015) have articulated the viewpoint that three of the most
important sociological perspectives which are being commonly used for the analysis of
different social issues are the symbolic interaction, functionalism and conflict theory. I would
say like to say that an analysis of the issue selected here on the basis of these sociological
perspectives would reveal insightful information regarding the issue itself. As opined by
Boyden (2015), the symbolist interaction requires the sociologists to consider the different
symbols as well as the details of the everyday life of the individuals for the analysis of the
different issues. In this regard, I would like to say that the abuse that the women and the

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children had to face within the indigenous community is a symbolical representation of their
culture and tradition wherein the men are attribute the maximum amount of power. More
importantly, I found that within these communities the male members are not considered to
the symbolical head of the family but at the same time have to authority to inflict abuse on
their wife and children. On the other hand, Michau et al. (2015) have stated that the use of
functionalism perspective articulates the viewpoint that all the aspects or the entities of the
society are interrelated to each other and this in turn contributes towards the effective
functioning or the working of the society. For example, I found that the problem of abuse
against the indigenous women and children hinders these individuals from the effective
realization of their societal functions which in turn had significantly affected the actualization
of the society or the community of the indigenous people. As articulated by Abramovitz
(2017), the conflict theory focuses on the negatives aspects of the society which hinder the
effective fulfillment of the actual goals or the objectives of the society. In this regard, it needs
to be said that the issue of abuse that the indigenous women and children had to face within
the societal framework significantly adds to the negative aspects of the concerned society and
thereby affects the society of these people in an adverse manner.
The problem of abuse that the indigenous women and children had to face within the
societal framework not only hinders the effective fulfillment of their basic psychosocial needs
but at the same time adverse affects the quality of life that they lead (Ross, 2017).
Furthermore, taking the gravity of the issue into account, the national government and
Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA) had came forward with different measures
like “Executive Committee (EC) to End Violence Against Indigenous Women”, “Walking
Together: Ontario’s Long-Term Strategy to End Violence Against Indigenous Women” and
others for the resolution of the issue (Vawlearningnetwork.ca, 2019). Needless to say, these
measures of the national government and the others taken by the non-profit organizations of

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the concerned nation had not only tried to address the issue under discussion here but also
improve the quality of life lead by the indigenous women and children as well. However, I
would like to say that although these measures have tried to enhance the benefits that are
available to the beneficiaries yet at the same time it is seen that the issue still persists. This
can be explained on the basis of the fact that these measures have failed to change the
mindset of the indigenous men who are major perpetrators of the abuse that the women and
the children of the indigenous community had to face (Vawlearningnetwork.ca, 2019). Thus,
I would say that an analysis of the issue from the sociological perspective reveals the fact that
it is deeply rooted within the society as well as the culture of the indigenous people and thus
for the resolution of this issue a change in the mindset of the male members of the indigenous
community is needed.
Analysis of my experiences
I would like to say that I haven’t had any real experience with the indigenous people
and their way of life however I have read about them in the newspapers and other sources of
information. Needless to say, I was completely taken aback by the abuse that the women and
the children had to face at the hands of the male members of their family and also within the
framework of their society. More importantly, I firmly believe in the fact that in the present
21st century the women and the children should not have to face any abuse or other forms of
abuse at the hands of the male members of society whether they belong to the indigenous
community or others. In this regard, I would like to say that the evil of abuse significantly
affects the mental as well as physical health and this in turn hinders the effective fulfillment
of their jobs or the tasks that they have to complete in their daily lives. Furthermore, if the
individuals are facing the problem of abuse then this could significant affect the effective
fulfillment of their basic psychosocial needs which in turn is likely to substantially reduce the

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quality of life that they lead. It is on the score of this fact that I completely support the issue
of removal of abuse against the indigenous women and children.
Influence of the issue on my perception
The analysis of the issue of abuse against the women and children on the basis of the
different sociological perspectives had a significant influence on my perception and also
understanding of the relevance of the concerned issue as well. For example, I found that an
analysis of the issue under discussion here on the basis of the different psychological
perspectives clearly reveals the fact that this issue faced by the indigenous women and
children is not only derogatory but at the same time hinders the effective fulfillment of their
psychosocial needs as well which in turn significantly reduces the quality of life lead by
them. More importantly, I would like to say that this is in synchronicity with my own
perception and also the knowledge that I gained through the course which I am undertaking
presently. Furthermore, it is seen that the abuse that the indigenous women and children had
to face with their community significantly affects the societal paradigm of the concerned
society as well (Boyden, 2015). In this regard, it needs to be said that the abuse that these
women and children face had become a part of their reality as well as their social paradigm.
Thus, I would like to say that the issue and its analysis on the basis of the concept of
sociological perspective and social paradigms confirms my perception regarding the issue
and in order to bring about a change for the resolution of the concerned problem the
authorities would have to foster a change in the mindset of the indigenous male individuals.
Conclusion
To conclude, the issue of abuse that the indigenous women and children had to face at
the hands of the male members of their community is an important and also adversely
affecting the quality of their lives. For example, it is seen that the concerned issue adversely

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affects the effective fulfillment of the different psychosocial needs of these people. Thus, it
can be said that the resolution of this is of paramount importance from the perspective of the
different indigenous women and children. These aspects become apparent from the above
analysis of the issue of abuse that the indigenous women and children had to face from the
different sociological perspectives.

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References
Abramovitz, M. (2017). Regulating the lives of women: Social welfare policy from colonial
times to the present. Routledge.
Boyden, J. (2015). Childhood and the policy makers: A comparative perspective on the
globalization of childhood. In Constructing and reconstructing childhood (pp. 185-
219). Routledge.
Grusky, D. B. (2018). Social stratification: Class, race, and gender in sociological
perspective. Routledge.
Michau, L., Horn, J., Bank, A., Dutt, M., & Zimmerman, C. (2015). Prevention of violence
against women and girls: lessons from practice. The Lancet, 385(9978), 1672-1684.
Montesanti, S. R., & Thurston, W. E. (2015). Mapping the role of structural and interpersonal
violence in the lives of women: implications for public health interventions and
policy. BMC women's health, 15(1), 100.
Peters, J. S., & Wolper, A. (Eds.). (2018). Women's rights, human rights: International
feminist perspectives. Routledge.
Ross, J. (2017). Violence in Canada: sociopolitical perspectives. Routledge.
Swift, K. J. (2017). An outrage to common decency: Historical perspectives on child neglect.
In A History of Child Welfare(pp. 61-81). Routledge.
Vawlearningnetwork.ca, (2019). Indigenous Women, Intimate Partner Violence & Housing.
(2019). Retrieved from http://www.vawlearningnetwork.ca/indigenous-women-
intimate-partner-violence-housing

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