Domestic Violence In Today’s Society
All over the world today, there are countless issues, yet not all of them are widely known. Domestic violence is one of these topics that needs to be recognized. Abuse affects numerous families and individuals. It deserves the attention of the people who want to change it and are willing to put in the work to end it. One in every four women and one in every seven men will be physically abused by an intimate partner in his or her lifetime. Statistics like these show that the problem affects a large number of people, and that they deserve attention and assistance. The National Domestic Violence Hotline spreads awareness, information, and help to those affected by abuse and allows survivors to share their stories on the hotline website. Domestic abuse is a topic that needs to be taken seriously and eventually ended.
Domestic abuse is an often forgotten, yet highly important and necessary point to be spoken about in the social awareness conversation. Countless women and children are damaged by domestic violence, however many never find the courage or have the assistance from loved ones to stop it. On the National Domestic Violence Hotline there are numerous heartbreaking, but inspiring stories, one of which is “Shana’s Story.” Shana shares her frighteningly truthful story of overcoming a past of domestic abuse. She begins by saying how important but rare it is for survivors to share how they feel after escaping their abuser, as opposed to the many details of the abuse itself. Shana happily married her husband at age 19, and 15 months later, the physical abuse began. She stayed with him for three and a half more years, until a dangerously large fight finally drove her out. After the fight, she stayed in the same town as her abuser for three months after her escape, going to work, sleeping on a friend’s couch, and acting as though everything was fine, all the while conning nearly everyone she knew into thinking that she and her husband were still happily together. He would come to her work, enticing her with the things she could have if she went back to him, but Shana did not play his game again. She planned to finally take all of her things out of his house and move away, but when she tried, he attempted to kill her. However, after managing to free herself, she moved out. She came into contact with her abuser 18 months after her escape, but seeing that he had not changed, she once again broke free, later adopting a little girl and marrying a good man; finally finding happiness again. As a reader, one is able to read Shana’s story, realize that abuse is a serious subject that needs to be talked about, and that the people affected by it deserve the support and love of those willing to change things.
Shana was able to share her story through the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is a website that educates hundreds of women, children, and people all over the world on what abuse is and how to get help, and eventually escape their abuser if that is the necessary outcome for the specific situation. The hotline shares statistics and facts about abuse, as well as stories from survivors. Through these facts and stories, the hotline educates and gives hope to the many abused people in the world that are afraid or unable to get help on their own. On the hotline website, there is help for every situation involving abuse, including: LGBTQ abuse, help for abusive partners, abuse involving immigrants and the deaf, and legal assistance. The National Domestic Violence Hotline also has a number for people to call for a chat session with a representative of the company. Donations are always encouraged and accepted at the hotline as well. Overall, the National Domestic Hotline is a highly valuable resource for those affected and involved with abuse to turn to and get help.
There are countless issues in today’s world that need attention, domestic violence being one of them. Abuse spreads like a disease from generation from generation, and needs to be stopped. It is possible to end domestic violence, which is visible when survivors like Shana share their stories and words of hope, and through organizations like The National Domestic Violence Hotline, which assists those affected by abuse. Domestic Violence is a huge problem, but with attention, help, and persistence, the world can work together to put an end to it.
Works Cited:
"The National Domestic Violence Hotline." The National Domestic Violence Hotline. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2016. <http://www.thehotline.org/>.
"Shana's Story." The National Domestic Violence Hotline. National DomesticViolence Hotline, n.d. Web. 22 Feb.
2016. <http://www.thehotline.org/portfolio-item/shanas-story/>.
Vagianos, Alanna, ed. "30 Shocking Domestic Violence Statistics That Remind UsIt's an Epidemic." Huffpost
Women. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 23 Oct. 2014.Web. 2 Mar. 2016.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/23/domestic-violence-statistics_n_5959776.html>.