Thesis Statement Essay

Studies have shown that an increasing trend of domestic violence is being perpetrated in heterosexual households. Many of these cases involve the male abusing the female, and the female actively attempting to maintain an outward appearance of normalcy despite the silent suffering. This outward image is nothing but a cover to maintain an illusion to the world that everything is good in the relationship, and also in many cases for fear of further abuse for drawing attention to the issue. As a result a closed loop of suffering, pain, and violence is created. Annotated Bibliography What is Domestic Violence? (August, 2014) The United States Department of Justice. http://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence The U.S. Department of Justice profiles the various ways in which domestic violence can be perpetrated by the aggressor. The manners in which the aggressor may enact the abuse are; psychological, economic, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. From this study the USDOJ is able to show how domestic violence is inflicted on females and the methods males use to gain control. The studies also show that abuse crosses all age and socioeconomic group boundaries. This study is credible as it comes from the U.S. Department of Justice. The USDOJ enforces laws and defends the interests and wellbeing of the American people. The USDOJ is continually researching various crimes, one of which being domestic abuse. This continual research gives women everywhere a continually growing source of knowledge to aid in prevention and protection. This study provides details into the domination of females by their male partners in emotional, financial, and physical realms. Effects of domestic violence (2013). Stop Violence Against Women. Retrieved August 12, 2014, from http://www.stopvaw.org/effects_of_domestic_violence This article highlights the various impacts that domestic abuse has on women. It looks at the scars, mental and physical, left by violence such as beating and choking. It also covers how domestic violence has a reaching effect on children whom live with the abusive male (father figure). This website is a credible source due to its’ ties with the project of the advocates of human rights. This project is a collective forum which is  dedicated to women’s rights and protection against violence. This source provided information directly relating to the effects of prolonged exposure of this type of violent home relationship on a woman and the family. It delves into the cycle of fear which women are stuck in and how they fear for their lives in many cases. Bancroft, L. (2003). Why does he do that?: Inside the minds of angry and controlling men. Penguin. In this book, the author takes a deep look into the mental pictures of men whom have been noted as angry and highly controlling. Further, it looks at the effect of this type of man on his spouse over long periods of time together. Finally it ventures into some of the warning signs that could be picked up on, problems faced when trying to get legal help to combat the issue, the abusive personalities of men, as well as the change management required to correct the issues, and escape them for the women. This is a highly credible source as it was written by Lundy Bancroft. Bancroft has had over 15 years of experience in this exact field of study. He also served as one of the directors of â€Å"Emerge.† This was the very first program in the United States which was explicitly for abusive men to come and get help. This book gives great detail toward validating my thesis, particularly r egarding how males become violent in the quest to control the female partner. Counts, D. A., Brown, J. K., & Campbell, J. (Eds.). (1999). To have and to hit: Cultural perspectives on wife beating. University of Illinois Press. In this book, the research ties together the issue of domestic abuse (physical), into the cultural aspects which are apparent throughout history in many countries around the world. In many of these cultures, the female is still viewed as less than equal, so many of the males have this societal reinforcement of an idea of superiority over females. The book also shows how in many cultures the male still has the â€Å"right† to hit women. The credibility of this source comes from the author, Judith Brown. Her research in this field has been extensive, even including time spend as a scholar at Stanford University. Her books, and various speeches are well known. This book affirms the silence that many females feel they must maintain regarding this abuse, and is where my thesis of the closed loop of  suffering stems from. Steiner. L (2013), Why abused women stay in bad relationships; Retrieved August 16, 2014, from http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/10/opinion/steiner-domestic-violence This source documents research on females whom stayed in an abusive relationship fearing of retaliation or in a hope of changing the abusing partner. The research shows the complications to the situations, particularly how a woman who’s being abused still tries to maintain a positive image to the world about their relationship. Some of the women who attempted leaving the relationship ended up with no societal support, or worse yet, died. This article gains credibility from its’ author Leslie Steiner. Leslie is volunteers for the National Domestic Violence/Abuse Hotline, and is also on the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project. This article supports my thesis by showing the why behind the silence that many abused females choose to maintain. Cycle Of Violence – Domestic Violence. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2014, from http://www.domesticviolence.org/ This website serves as a resource for information regarding every form of domestic violence for all to learn from. This site not only discusses the violence women endure, but also the effects it has on them, the families, and specifically the children. The chart on the website shows the continual cycle that many women face with the abusive partner and how it repeats. This source gains credibility from the work done by the Oakland County Council Against Domestic Violence. This website provides information into the specifics of how males will manipulate a female partner into a situation they are or feel, trapped in. Myths and Facts about Domestic Violence (2014). Retrieved August 13, 2014, from http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/domviol/myths.htm This site is a information portal provided by the prosecuting attorney in Clark County, Indiana. This site dives into many of the myths associated with domestic violence. Highlighting that males can be the victim in domestic abuse, but that statistics show the female is most often the one whom is the victim. This is a credible source as it’s written by a prosecutor whom sees these cases on a regular basis and is able to get the facts of the case. This source gives credibility to the thesis statement by bolstering the fact that  many women feel trapped by various means. Herman, J. (2002). Trauma & Recovery: The aftermath of violence from domestic abuse to political terror. This is a non-fiction work which shows how society can make the experience of being abused even more traumatic on a female. It shows how sexual abuse against a female can link to domestic terrorism. The book brings about some interesting parallels between a public trauma (terrorism) and a private trauma (rape). It also discusses the way that these public traumas can leave scars, which is akin to the lasting scars and loss of self respect which can occur within a female who has suffered sexual abuse. This source gains credibility from the author, Dr. Judith Herman. Dr. Herman is a professor at Harvard University and also the director of training for victim violence at the Cambridge Hospital. This book is a source which will reinforce my thesis, and show how males obtain sexual control over females and the effects this exertion of control has. Adams, A. E., Sullivan, C. M., Bybee, D., & Greeson, M. R. (2008). Development of the Scale of Economic Abuse. Violence Against Women, 14(5), 563-588. http://vaw.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Scale-of-Economic-Abuse.pdf This study reviews the cases of economic abuse on women, committed by their respective partners. The study scope covered 103 females whom had suffered economic abuse by their partner. This study highlights that males not only use sexual and physical violence, but also are found to use economic violence. This study gains credibility due to its’ composition by a portion of diverse scholars at Michigan University. Megan Greeson, Adrienne Adams, Deborah Bybee, and Cris Sullivan are professors at Michigan University whom have been engaged in community based and highly collaborative research. This study was published in 2008 and was put together with first hand details given by those who experienced the domestic abuse. This study affirms the thesis showing the way males attempt to gain control over females and using economic abuse. It shows how economic abuse affects victims by making them feel helpless. These feelings cause them to then give in and give the abuser what they want. Price J.L., Lee S. S., Quiroga S. S., (December 2000), Meeting the Needs of Survivors, Department of Status of Women, City and County of San Francisco. Retrieved August 9, 2014, from http://sfgov.org/dosw/violence-against-women-girls-san-francisco This source is a survey conducted by members of Department of Status of women, city and county of San Francisco regarding why women don’t fight back against domestic abuse. This survey was conducted via telephone interviews with approximately 25% of the female population in the county participating. Results clearly showed that females tolerated the abuse to attempt to maintain a stable relationship, and positive appearance to society. This source gains credibility from the scholars conducting the research: Jennifer L. Price, Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, Seline Szkupinski Quiroga for Department of Status of Women of City and County of San Francisco. These surveys were completed personally by calling women and asking about the factors related to domestic violence and abuse. This source affirms my thesis, and provides statistical data regarding the silence of females in an abusive home.