1. Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is one of the most serious problems there is today. Although
violence against women and children has decreased with the passage of tougher
domestic violence laws, it is still an issue. Family violence effects thousands
of people each year. It can be anything from physical abuse to emotional abuse.
Even nasty words can constitute domestic abuse. This seems strange to some
people, but once you think about it, the reasoning is clear. If a kid is shouted
at and told he is no good all of the time, he might just grow up thinking that
is true. This is abusive behavior, and no one should have to put up with it.
Domestic abuse is probably as old as human history, but up until recently, no
one took it seriously. If a woman would report that her husband had beaten her,
the police would call it a “domestic matter“ and do nothing about it. The same
went for child abuse inside the home. The man was viewed as the head of the
household, and anything that he wanted to do was thought to be essentially his
business.
Although this is still the way it works in some projects, in most places
domestic violence laws have changed things for the better. Nowadays, there are
laws in place in many states that require the police to always react to reports
of a domestic conflict. If they go into a house and find that there has been a
fight and someone has been hurt, they are required by law to take someone into
custody. Although in practice this does not always happen, things are still
getting to be a lot better than they once were.
Even so, we still have a long way to go as a society. The very fact that there
are still battered women shelters and domestic violence support groups testifies
to the obligation we all have to make things better. One of the best things that
you can do is to spread information. Most domestic violence organizations have
pamphlets and other educational materials that you can take. They will help you
recognize the signs of abuse, so that you will be ready when you come across it.
You can also donate to these organizations, since more money is always
appreciated. Finally, you can get involved yourself. Many of these groups are
mostly run by volunteers, so you can immediately start making a difference by
getting involved.