Violence Against Women in the U.S.
While activist organizations have worked for more than three decades to solve the problem of violence against women in the U.S., the pace at which women are raped in the country remains troubling.
Gender Violence in the U.S.
Violence against women is one of the biggest forms of gender violence in the U.S. The problem is experienced by intimate partners or family members and mostly affects young people, particularly from low-income backgrounds (Johnson 215).
The national surveys approximate that nearly 2 million women every year are mistreated by their love partners in the United States (Johnson 215-217). The common forms of abuse include sexual and physical violence at home or in the workplace.
Continued Efforts
Despite continued efforts by agencies such as NOW to end violence against women in the U.S., the practice still occurs at an alarming rate in the country.
Major Health Problem
Physical and sexual violence against women is a major health problem in the U.S.
A significant number of women are still sexually assaulted at home or in the workplace because they are perceived to be weak and depend on male counterparts.
Alarming Statistics
The National Crime Victimization Survey found that more than 232,900 women in the U.S. were sexually abused in 2006.
NOW, which is a professional organization, reported that "more than 600 women every day" were sexually assaulted in 2006 (para. 4). However, such statistics are low since they only rely on data obtained from law implementation organizations. Most victims do not report because they feel that "nothing can/will be done" (NOW para. 4).
Shocking Statistics
Statistics for domestic violence in the U.S. are shocking.
The state Center for Injury Prevention and Control (CIPC) records nearly 4.80 million physical abuse cases conducted by intimate partners (NOW Para. 3).
The CIPC reported that "women experience about 4.8 million intimate partner-related physical assault and rapes every year" (NOW Para. 3). Intimate partners should protect but not abuse each other. Unfortunately, "less than 20% of battered women seek medical treatment" (NOW para. 3).
Main Targets of Violence
Low income, young, and women from minority groups are among the main targets of violence.
The level of dependency on family members and husbands is higher among women in these groups than in independent, mature, and American women, thus exposing them to mistreatment.
Women from low-income households, African-American women, and those aged 20-24 years are at higher risk of violence than those from other categories due to their dependence on them for support (NOW para. 5).
Greatest Risk
Experts warn that "women ages 20-24 are at greatest risk of nonfatal domestic violence" (NOW Para. 5). People should not take advantage of women's situations to abuse them sexually or physically. Women, regardless of race, income level, or age, deserve protection like other humans.
Dependence on Intimate Partners
Women from low-income backgrounds experience about six times the rate of violence perpetrated by intimate partners.
Depending on intimate partners for financial support in colleges or at home exposes women to abuse.
The U.S. Justice Department warns that "one in five women will experience rape during their college years" (NOW para. 5). Unfortunately, "less than five percent of these rapes will be reported" (NOW para. 5). Failure to report such cases increases chances of repeated rape among other forms of abuse.
Fear of Reporting
Women who experience the problem for the first time might experience it in a lifetime.
Most of the victims fear to report their husbands or family members, especially if they depend on them for support.
Studies indicate that about 13% of women in the U.S. who experienced the problem do not report (NOW para. 3). As such, it is difficult to treat them.
The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control cite that "less than 20% of battered women sought medical treatment" (NOW para. 3). The fact is, if they do not report the problem, it can cause trauma among other health issues (NOW para. 6). Reporting and seeking treatment minimize the impacts.
Conclusion
Violence against women, which mostly occurs in the form of sexual and physical abuse, is still rampant in the U.S. Low-income and young women make up the majority of victims because they depend on family members and husbands for support, thus making them vulnerable. Most victims do not report the violence, thus making it hard to address the issue.
Works Cited
NOW. Violence against Women in the United States: Statistics. National Organization for Women, 2017. Accessed 16 January 2017.
Johnson, J. Andy. "Religion and Men's Violence against Women." Minnesota: Springer, 2015. Print.
